By Fareeza Haniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Even though the combined political opposition have expressed their disappointment with this year’s budget and signaled their intention to disapprove several sections, President Donald Ramotar remains hopeful that “good sense will prevail.”
At a press conference at the Office of the President on Thursday, March 27, Ramotar reiterated that the budget is aimed at improving the lives of the Guyanese people and is urging A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to support the $220B budget.
“I hope better sense prevail…the budget will impact positively on people’s lives…I would hope that we begin looking at the interest of all our people,” President Ramotar said.
According to him, he finds it hard to understand why the Opposition will vote against development of Guyana.
“I find it hard to see how the Opposition will vote against these things. Had I been in their place, I would probably call for more but to vote against it seems to me to be illogical and in some ways trying to affect people’s lives. I know they did it in the past, I know they are capable of doing it again…but I’m an optimist, I hope that they will vote for this and we can move our country forward.”
When asked what measures his government will take if the Opposition votes against it, the President said, “If they don’t, then we will cross our bridges when we come to them.”
Soon after the 2014 budget presentation on March 24, Opposition Leader, David Granger told reporters that he was unimpressed with it.
The Opposition Leader opined that the budget is not developmental and will not substantially affect the lives of the masses, particularly poor people.
“It is simply not a development budget and country will be in the same position it is today come March 2015,” Granger had said.
The APNU has already stated that allocations for projects such as the Amaila Falls, the Specialty Hospital and the Guyana Sugar Corporation will not be approved.
