Guyanese citizens must understand what the 2013 budget contains – Dr Singh

The national budget is an extremely important tool that affects the life of every citizen, and its presentation is looked forward to, because of the relevance it has to everyday life. This is the view of Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, who made the remark while speaking at a community meeting in Rose Hall, Region Six where discussions were centred on the developmental projects included in the budget.
“It is important that the citizens of our country understand what the national budget contains, and how it is of relevance to them under any circumstance… but under circumstances where you have an opposition, as we have in Guyana, with a tiny majority that has shown its willingness to use the majority to oppose even that which is good and to force through Parliament even that which collides with the Constitution. We run the risk of an opposition that could potentially frustrate the passage of the budget, notwithstanding that the budget is good for Guyana,” Dr Singh said.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that similar meetings were held with residents in Regions Two, Three, Four and Five, at which other government ministers made presentations.
Minister Singh indicated that the intention is to have community leaders speak to their villagers about the budget, so that they can understand why the budget is good for them, and why they must speak out for the passage of the budget and condemn efforts to frustrate its passage, he said.
The meetings follow similar ones held with stakeholders from the religious community, unions, NGOs, and even the private sector.
“I am convinced that from every stakeholder group, and pockets of citizens, the resounding unanimous view is that Budget 2013 is good for Guyana,” he noted.
Minister Singh indicated that the situation now is that the only people who do not believe the budget is good for Guyana are the members of parliament of the combined opposition.
“Many of them are struggling in the debate because there is so little they can find to criticise,” he added. This includes the opposition’s lead speaker Carl Greenidge whose only criticism of the 2013 budget was a legal technicality.
“For you to say that you will support or not support a budget, because you have a political campaign against a distinguished minister like Clement Rohee means that you are not a nationalist… the test to determine whether you would support something in the Parliament must always be the answer to the question – is it good for Guyana?” added Dr Singh.
Minister Singh explained that  a growing economy touches everyone in many ways, and  this is evident in the production of more goods that are exported that would generate greater export receipts, that will contribute to stronger balance of payments, and  that will result in the accumulation of external reserves.