By FareezaHaniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] –The main opposition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has taken note of the $92 million which was allocated to the Customs Anti – Narcotics Unit (CANU), while the Government Information Agency (GINA) was allocated $139 million in the 2014 budget.
Opposition Leader, David Granger believes that this is unfair and that the budgeted allocation for CANU is inadequate.
When questioned about the issue at a press conference on Friday (March 28), Granger explained that this action demonstrates government’s neglect of the public security in the country.
He criticized the lack of a National Drug Strategy Master Plan, which expired some five years ago. Granger also expressed his dissatisfaction with the general management of CANU.
“We were concerned in previous budget debates about the administration of CANU, it is run directly by the Minister of Home Affairs, we are not convinced that it is under the type of management which security agencies such as the Police Force and Fire Service is under….but there is no architecture and that architecture comes from the National Drug Strategy Master Plan,” Granger said.
He explained that the “inadequate structure” of CANU seemed to be more concerned about preventing drugs from leaving the country, rather than tackling its importation.
“That is the problem we’re having with CANU…there is no indication that CANU is being equipped to prevent the entry of it, particularly cocaine into the country.
“The Police marijuana unit just do a few marijuana raids, they are not involved in serious cocaine cracking down. Too many important security agencies are being concentrated in a political ministry. Too many things being put on the Minister’s desk and I don’t think he can cope,” the Opposition Leader explained.
In his budget presentation on March 24, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said that a new National Drug Strategy Master Plan is being finalised to enhance Guyana’s ability to combat drugs at the local, regional and international levels.
