[www.inewsguyana.com] – Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh has expressed the hope that the Political Opposition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) will rethink their stance and participate in the 2014 budget consultations.
“I don’t know whether they will shift their position, but as of now there is an open invitation from government to the opposition to meet with them on Budget 2014, and as of now, they have not accepted that invitation. Indeed, they have gone as far as to say that they have no intention of meeting with us,” Dr Singh said during an interview with the Government Information Agency.
The Finance Minister noted that the National Budget will be presented as it is constitutionally mandated, and he is hopeful that the opposition will be supportive of every ministry’s allocations.
“If they keep it up, at that rate, hopefully we’ll have a smooth passage of the budget, intact. They should meet with NCN and GINA…like I said, we welcome support from any quarter, but this opposition cannot be taken on their word as they have proven time and time again,” the Government Agency quoted the Minister as saying.
The APNU has refused to participate in the consultations as they claim that the government has not been forthcoming with the information that the APNU requested.
APNU Executive Member, Carl Greenidge had told iNews in January that the Party was invited for budget talks by the Finance Minister, however, Dr. Singh did not provide certain information which he promised, thus the APNU refused to partake in any discussions in that regard.
---
