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Guyanese, something is wrong with the governance of the PPP/C regime, led by Jagdeo/Ali! The raping of our Natural Resource Fund has become the main cookie jar for the regime, where they continue plundering at it, without accountability to the people of Guyana.
The established framework set out by the Coalition Government in January 2019 for the management of the oil and gas sector, was a superb piece of legislation to ensure that the monies were well accounted for. What is currently done in this instance, with the December 2021 Act, it has given the regime an easier access to have monies withdrawn. Though a committee is in place, the concern, is that there are no Press Releases from the chairperson, other than reports, of little consequences tabled in the National Assembly.
So far, for the year 2024, the regime has withdrawn a total of US$850M, when converted gives an equivalence of G$176.782B. During budget 2024, the nation was told that 28% of the budget was funded from the Oil Resource. While this may be the case, what is worrying to me, is that the nation is oblivious as to the amount funding the infrastructure sector, and the other sectors.
Cost of living is increasing exponentially daily, but the regime lacks any strategic plan to address this, but believes that by giving out cash grants selectively, predominantly to their constituents all is well with the Government and that people are satisfied.
A few days ago, a single mother poured her heart out to me, sharing the challenges she is confronting to build her home. She lamented that prices for building materials have increased drastically from 2020. The price of sand has moved from $20,000-$40,000.00, a mere 100%. While the Government through the Housing Ministry frequently boast of the removal of VAT from building materials, this is far from the truth. With all this, the regime finds it difficult to pay Public Servants a livable wage.
The National Assembly last met on July 8, 2024; and was adjourned indefinitely. However, on July 23, 2024; notices were sent out to Members of Parliament informing of a sitting on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. At the sitting of the National Assembly, there were two items for Government Business, with approximately thirteen questions on the order paper, tabled by Opposition Members.
At the 84th Sitting of the National Assembly, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the Government tabled two financial papers for 2024. Financial Paper One, is seeking the Assembly’s approval of $8,566,812.00. Note, this amount represents monies already spent. While the second Financial Paper, the Government will be seeking approval to expend the sum of $32,182,604,021.00, under its current expenditure.
When I examine the provisions, these are the thoughts that flow immediately:
- With a $1.146 Trillion budget approved on February 2, 2024, the government has NOT provided a summary of the percentage spent, from February 3, 2024 to July 31, 2024.
- It exposes the government lack of competence when it comes to budget planning and forecasting. What I do know is that they are architects at planning how to continuously plunder the Natural Resource Fund, without Parliamentary oversight and scrutiny.
The Government’s priority is NOT to better the lives of its ordinary citizens, but engages in multiple projects running simultaneously, with little monitoring. It is reasonable to say that they are biting more than what they can chew. Many of the projects running, are incomplete or are done substandard, at the expense of taxpayers. What is egregious of these actions, no one is held responsible. Typical examples where projects are overrun: the famous “Cemetery Road Expansion, Aubrey Barker Road, Railway Embankment (between Sheriff to UG Road), Lamaha Street (between Vlissengen Road to Sheriff Street), the Office Complexes (hasn’t gone anywhere yet, other than clearing the bushes and stocked piling of sand, etc.
The National Assembly meets irregularly, but when monies are to be approved, they find it conveniently to have sittings.
Hon Annette Ferguson MP
