Opposition’s pressure on gov’t bearing fruit – APNU

By Pushpa Balgobin

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said it believes that the pressure the combined opposition has placed on the government is bearing fruit, but played down talks of moving a no-confidence motion against the government to force fresh elections.
At a news conference at his office, Opposition Leader David Granger claimed, “The government is against the ropes… public support has drawn away from the People’s Progressive Party; there is no leadership, no movement towards national unity.”
According to Granger, as a result of the current situation, the public has seen “no change in quality of governance”. Granger stated that the role of the opposition has to be one of checks and balances. He also lamented that while many agencies saw tremendous budget cuts that should have crippled their potential; they are in fact hiring staff and going forth “merrily”.

APNU Deputy Leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Granger noted that the opposition is currently looking at the accounts of various agencies to ascertain the sources of funding to enable their existence. Agencies such as the National Communication Network (NCN), the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the specialty hospital were stripped of their allocations in the 2012 Budget.
The opposition leader stated that these agencies have not changed their mandates and are clearly receiving funding from other various outlets. He noted that ministers and persons responsible for signing off “public funds that have not been authorised by the National Assembly, can be sanctioned”.

More transparency
APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon, boasted that much has been done with respect to the opposition’s militant stance.  He said the opposition has “made small steps, but steps in the right direction” when it comes to pressuring the government to remain transparent. He stated that the National Assembly is rife with questions that ensure ministries “go back and check with officers”, as to where contracts are going and how money is being spent.
He noted that market tarmacs across the country have been readdressed, funds have been documented, and work from inception to completion has been accounted for. Harmon stated that the Public Works Ministry had produced various contracts during the budget debates that the opposition is currently still reviewing.

Accountability
APNU deputy leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said the government is becoming more accountable, and was optimistic that the opposition, with its majority, can be more useful and bring about positive change.
Meanwhile, on the issue of the possibility of fresh elections, Dr Roopnaraine said it is not the goal of the opposition to call an election. “Yes, we can call it. We simply vote against the Appropriations Act…” But, he cautioned, “Do we have an electoral system that is ready; do we have a GECOM Secretariat that is ready?”
Dr Roopnaraine stated that while other agencies are being accountable, GECOM is rife with issues that the opposition would like to see addressed before any election is held, be it general or local. “We have some outstanding issues in relation to elections that we’d like to see resolved before elections are held, including local government,” Dr Roopnarine stated.
He is of the view that if the government called another election, it would be a “desperate act” as it would not have any grounds because the current electoral system is lacking.