By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul has warned the combined parliamentary opposition that any cuts applied to the National 2014 budget could result in them ultimately cutting their seats in the House.
He was at the time making his contribution to the debates of the National 2014Budget on Tuesday, April 01.
“If you cut the budget you will cut your votes and cut your seats,” Dr. Gopaul stated, adding that “another election is not the answer.”
Gopaul’s warnings comes on the second day of the commencement of budget debates where the Opposition has made its intent to disapprove the allocation to the Guyana Sugar Corporation of $6B more pellucid.
To this end, the Minister, holding to the promise of former speakers of the government side said sugar will be improved before the end of the year.
In relation to the Skeldon factory which has been used to point out the dysfunction of the industry, Dr. Gopaul said “the problem of Skeldon had to do with a management team brought in by the PNC… but since the matter is in Court I will not comment further.”
His comments caused uproar of heckling in the House by members of the Opposition. Gopaul charged that members of the AFC who came from the bowels of the PPP, will cause former President and PPP Leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan to ‘turn in his grave’ if they do not support the sugar subvention.
The administration in the last few years has provided billions in subsidies to the sugar industry, however the Opposition contends that this is unsustainable and the government must provide how the money will be used to bring the necessary relief.
“If they are supposed to behave as a government in waiting and then they should do things objectively.”
He appealed to the members of the Opposition to work together, “as politicians we have to work together and do what is in the interest of these people.”
Dr. Gopaul told the House that the government will continue to work feverishly to build a better Guyana for all Guyanese.
par for the course
WOW, he’s rather powerful. This is ignorance, not politics!! So nobody should question the budget, just let it pass. What a democracy!