Gov’t lack of accountability for taxpayers’ money frightening

Dear Editor,

I am appalled at the spending and lack of accountability of taxpayers’ monies by the PPP/C regime.

The regime laid in the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, two Supplementary Financial Papers for 2022. They are now seeking approval for a sum of $2.9B, allegedly ALREADY SPENT on emergency works, from the Contingency Fund; and an additional $44.4B to be approved, from the Consolidated Fund, for the period ending December 31, 2022. These new requests represent an increase of 16.5% increase in the initial budgetary funds of $552.9B in February 2022 and First Supplementary of $44B passed in August 2022. These sums, they claim, are being sought primarily for infrastructure works currently ongoing in several areas across the regions.

Taxpayers must know that apart from the approved budgetary sums in February 2022, the regime took a Supplementary Financial Paper to the National Assembly, totaling $44B, on August 8, 2022, a day prior to the Assembly going into recess. From all accounts, the PPP/C regime has shown their unwillingness to competently manage the nation’s financial resources. They have embarked on a spending spree on unbudgeted and questionable initiatives which are in no way improving the quality of life for the average Guyanese. How is their cost of living being addressed by this spending, budgeted or otherwise?

An assessment of the Public Sector Investment Programmes (PSIP) across the Ministries will show that their performances are below 50%, but the regime continues to disburse funds to select programmes for the benefit of one section of the society. Additionally, many of the Infrastructural projects currently ongoing are lagging behind. Some projects approved under the Ministry of Public Works in the 2022 Budget are yet to be commenced. For example, the construction of “Complexes,” to house government offices, for which the sum of $1B was budgeted, is yet to commence. Messers Edghill and Indar must explain what has become of this project and whether there were any disbursements for this project.

I note with interest too that several paved walkways have been done on the Lamaha Railway Embankment from Parade Street, Kingston to Irving Street; Vlissengen Road from Lamaha Street to David Street, Kitty; Houston East Bank Demerara and Independence Boulevard. Also, construction of drainage and fencing of the Cemetery of the eastern and western carriageways on Cemetery Road. As far as I am aware there was NO PROVISION for these projects in the 2022 Budget.  Editor, may I be pellucid, I am not against the improvement of infrastructure. What I am against, is the modus operandi of this regime, their discrimination and blatant disregard for accountability and transparency!

My concern, as a representative of Guyanese, is that the working of the National Assembly has become a “pappy show”. There is no attempt at accountability in the conduct of government’s business in and outside of parliament. The PPP/C is handling the nation’s financial resources and national patrimony as if it were the Party’s resources.

Editor, I do hope that during the consideration of the Supplementary Financial Papers 2&3 respectively, come Monday, December 5, 2022, the regime will feel compelled to provide appropriate responses to the questions that will be put to them by Opposition Parliamentarians. I also expect that at that sitting, full disclosure of the amounts withdrawn from the Natural Resource Fund and a disaggregation of funds spent on each project, as of November 30, 2022.

On behalf of all of Guyana I demand accountability for our financial resources and national patrimony from the PPP/C regime! Enough is Enough!!

Yours in service,

Annette Fergusson

Member of Parliament