APNU+AFC MP Chandan-Edmond praises PPP gov’t, budget

Last Updated on Friday, 24 January 2025, 22:29 by Writer

Opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, in stark contrast to her opposition colleagues, broke with customary harsh criticism and praised numerous aspects of the 2025 National Budget and government’s performance.

“It is only fair to acknowledge the achievements of this administration: investments in agriculture, infrastructure and education and expanded social programmes, the justice sector etc. These initiatives signal progress,” she said. At the same time she identified the need for more equity, equality, inclusion and action.

She welcomed several budget measures such as the planned 50 percent cut in electricity tariffs from the Wales gas-to-energy project, quashing of bridge tolls as that would reduce transportation costs, the GY$10,000 lab test vouchers, and the GY$11 million for the part-time job programme. “I have listened closely to what the Honourable Minister of Finance has said when he read his speech. It was not short on policies, programmes and projects. It highlighted what was achieved in 2024 and what is planned for this year.

“It was a budget that sought to capture some of the aspirations for our people and translate them into actionable measures. It is a budget that has announced some policies for community development,” she said. Ms Chandan-Edmond added that the budget addresses in “fair measure” some of what Guyanese aspire to be.

“I have taken note of certain measures embarked by President Ali and his administration and they appear to bear a mark of prudence, practicality and pragmatism. Some of these measures, it would seem, may well signify a serious and considerate effort to advance towards the fulfillment of the objective I have outlined,” she added. She said she could not honestly say that the 2025 National Budget was completely vacuous and lacked vision as there are some “fair measures” to cushion the impact of the increased cost of living. On that issue, she recommended that government abolishes the value added tax (VAT) to benefit Guyanese. She said the budget should not be a source of division once the opposition’s proposals and recommendations are accepted. She said the consistent work in communities by the government must be extended to all communities across Guyana.

Months before Guyanese go to the polls, Ms Chandan-Edmond said her task was to “faithfully and truthfully” judge the budget and believed that both sides of the National Assembly should be “batting for our country and our people” in their quest for the collective benefit of all Guyanese. She said the GY$1.382 trillion National Budget “offers a foundation but it is not an endpoint” but it is a call to action to do better for the people. “Consistent with my duty to act for the benefit for the people of Guyana, I lend my full support to the positive budgetary measures in this budget. Let us make this a moment where we rise above the fray, where we put the interest of our people first and where we demonstrate that we are worthy of the trust that they have placed in us. Measures that alleviate poverty , I support. I support progress, I support peace, I support prosperity, I support commitment. I also support ambition, I support liberty, I support inspiration,” she said, raising speculation in some quarters about the possible alliterative signals that she might be sending about her political change of heart.

The former PNCR General Secretary said the opposition’s role was not to obstruct progress but push for better outcomes by closing gaps, correcting mistakes ensuring that governance serves all people regardless of their religion, class or creed. She said former President David Granger’s slogan of “A Good Life” and President Irfaan Ali’s “One Guyana” must be more than aspirational. “Let us work together, not as adversaries but as stewards of the nation’s future to build a Guyana that is secure, prosperous and stable for generations to come,” she said.

She credited the Guyana Police Force with demonstrating “some commitment to improving law enforcement capabilities and professionalism and safety through extensive training programmes and resource acquisition.” She said that with the allocation of GY$250 million to the p0olice force, the priority should be on modern policing, training and capacity building.

In the area of education, she praised the government’s establishment of the “One Guyana Digital School” initiative, calling it a “bold step” towards modernisation. At the same time, she called for a thorough evaluation of its feasibility, inclusivity and sustainability.

She reiterated the need to invest in education beyond mere school buildings by putting in place systems to equip students with life skills, provide teachers with the resources they need and ensure that all children regardless of their background have the tools to succeed.

Ms Chandan-Edmond recommended “targeted intervention” to address disparities between coastal and hinterland regions, measures to reduce waste and mismanagement.