President calls on opposition to support Budget 2013

PresidentGeorgetown : President Donald Ramotar speaking to members of the media yesterday at his Shiv Chanderpauls’ Drive Presidential Complex said the Government is moving to the National Assembly on Monday, March 25 to present the country’s National Budget of 2013 hoping that it gains the full support of the opposition. He pointed out that the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)  key members stayed away from scheduled budget talks.

President Ramotar was doubtful that any of his pronouncements will influence the sober atmosphere that is needed if budget talks will yield any meaningful outcome.

“We have always been ready to talk with the opposition parties and we know the history of what happened last year… what I regretted is that more consultations didn’t happen before,” President Ramotar said.

This year’s budget gives priority to some key areas that government will advance in keeping with the goal of improving the quality of life for every Guyanese.

The opposition holds a combined one seat majority in the Parliament and last year cut $21B from key government agencies and projects on the premise that the government had ignored the priorities they had hoped to see included in the budget.