Hughes slams govt for dissolving ‘progressive telecommunications ministry’

Former Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes on Tuesday chided the PPP administration for scrapping what she described as a progressive ministry.

The new government broke up the ministry and handed the portfolio to Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

On day two of the budget debates Hughes, heavily criticised the PPP government for dissolving the ministry stating that it placed Guyana at the cusp of becoming a digital nation. Hughes did not hide her feelings regarding the scrapping of the ministry, which she said was crucial in this technological era, more so with the advent of oil.

She said she met the public telecommunications sector in the dark ages when it came to digital communication and was able to transform this with the support of cabinet. “Over 120+ ministries’ departments were connected with secure internet through an e-government network which was established long before 2015 but never was operationalised. With this network in place, we connected over 158 primary schools, 105 secondary schools, 30 technical and vocational institutions, opened 173 ICT hubs, provided free internet to RDC and NDC offices…..not forgetting the safe city solution with cameras, connectivity at markets, police and fire stations,” she stated before questioning, “why would you dissolve this ministry which provided dedicated focus on the expansion of infrastructure and services, the training our people and which was becoming the envy of many a sister Caribbean country?”

Regretfully, she said that a solid digital infrastructure was in place by her administration, and the dissolution of the ministry will hamper its progress. She remains proud however with the strides that were made under the former telecommunications ministry to expand connectivity and bridge the digital devide; a divide that more than ever needs bridging during the current pandemic, to be able to deliver education, health, a safe city and other services.

Hughes also flayed the PPP government for not yet appointing a Minister of Finance while also highlighting a plethora of other misgivings in the 2020 budget, which she believes will not put Guyana on the secured economic and social footing as she claimed was done by the Coalition. She described the overall budget as a ” no frills one” with nothing close to which a prosperous nation can be built on and was already being built by her administration which is evident in the overall 5.4 per cent end of year growth and several sectoral growth including rice, mining and even bauxite. “….I was hearing the words of the current government but I was hearing the words grown, increased and expansion many, many times. Mr. Speaker on page 10-12 of this budget speech- the words growth, expansion and increased appears more than 12 times on these two pages. How can this be….in 2019 when the economy was under the management of the APNU-AFC Government?” Hughes sarcastically asked. Hughes called on the PPP Government to put shame aside and put Guyana first by being honest with the facts, give jack his jacket, stop painting a picture of doom and gloom and build on the good already started by the APNU/AFC Coalition.