Following the Minister of Finance’s presentation of the 2015 Budget on 10 August 2015, the National Assembly began a week-long general debate on the budget speech, as provided for by Section 71 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly. The debate was to be confined to the financial and economic state of the country and the general principles of Government policy and administration as indicated by the Budget Speech and the Estimates.
It was a welcome relief that the Opposition Members of Parliament participated in the debate, notwithstanding their decision to boycott the proceedings on the day the budget was presented. The general debate concluded in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
It all started well with the Leader of the Opposition Leader pledging to lead a responsible Opposition and to hold the Government to a very high standard,
