Financial Paper No.1/2014 which has triggered torrents of accusations from the opposition that Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has illegally spent $4.5B is not up for consideration at Thursday’s sitting of Parliament.
While it appears on the Order Paper for Thursday, the financial paper carries the indication that it will not be proceeded with at the sitting.
Financial papers are usually proceeded with immediately and on some occasions the relevant standing order has been suspended for them to be immediately addressed. This particular paper has fuelled outrage among the opposition groups in Parliament as they say Singh has illegally spent money not voted for by Parliament and for programmes which he is fully aware that the opposition majority in the House is against.
Singh has denied that the spending is illegal and has cited article 218 of the constitution and previous instances when the opposition-led House voted for similar expenditure as grounds for his move.
The financial paper has sparked talk among the opposition groups of action ranging from legal proceedings to a motion of no-confidence which can bring the government down.
