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– Mahipaul says of $330B estimates
Budget 2020, that was presented to the House a few day ago, is set out to make the rich- richer and the poor poorer. This is according to newly sworn in Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul. He fiercely debated that the budget deviated from its significance, which is to better the lives of the working class. On the contrary, he said the budget is a notorious plan to fatten the fat cats while starving the others.
He said this is so because the estimates lacked consultation during its preparatory stage, which the PPP had ample time to do.
Much to his dissatisfaction, Mahipaul said the budget failed to outline how jobs will be created for the common man, particularly youths. Mahipaul then chided the PPP for using the time to incorporate job creation measures to rather fire scores of government employees. He narrowed down his argument to scores of employees who were fired from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. “Today Mr. Speaker, after less than two months, the staffing at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is 131 and it continues to deplete because Soro and Doro are on a witch hunting exercise. From the Department alone, more than 40 hardworking Guyanese were terminated and Mr. Speaker, I don’t know how you can categorise drivers, office assistants, sweeper/cleaners and technical workers as political appointees,” Mahipaul claimed. He bashed the PPP for not fostering social cohesion and unity in its recent witch hunting at the various state entities. “Mr., Speaker, they talk about creating 50,000 jobs but so far they are in the process of taking away 50 000 jobs,” Mahipaul lamented. Returning his attention to the Ministry of Communities and the strides made by the Coalition to foster local democracy and to put the power of the municipalities, RDC’S and NDC’S in the hands of its constituents through their elected officials, Mahipaul said the coalition government had wasted no time in ensuring these bodies were financially empowered by incremental increases to its subventions.
Not only were the Councils empowered but its elected officials as well, who all received an increase in salary or stipend, the opposition MP said. “This remuneration would have no doubt motivated them to serve as they were expected.” Mahipaul also boasted of the strides made by the coalition administration to significantly improve the lives of the residents of his constituency: Essequibo Islands, West Demerara. All five programme heads were significantly improved under APNU/AFC, particularly health. Many healthcare facilities across the region were refurbished including the West Demerara Hospital. “The small islands in the Essequibo were not neglected as well such as Santa Aratack , Sand Hills and Endeavour. Several communities across the Region also benefited from physical enhancement with the construction of reinforced concrete bridges, asphaltic concrete roads amongst others. “These endeavours no doubt improved the lives of regular citizens in his district and Mahipaul debated that the 2020 budget fails to make provisions for such improved livelihood to continue across Guyana.
