Budget Debate 2013

Hits: 3447 | Published Date: 04 Apr, 2013

| Speech delivered at: 43rd Sitting- Tenth Parliament

| Speech Delivered by : Mr. Faizal M. Jafarally, MP

Mr. Jaffarally: Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues on this side of the House in congratulating the Hon. Minister of Finance and his technical team for the 2013 National Budget as presented by him. This budget shows our Government’s commitment to our people.
Whether you are in business or mining; whether you are an ordinary worker or a taxi driver; whether you are a market vendor, there is something for everyone in the National Budget 2013.
The PPP Government and the Hon. Minister of Finance should be commended for their work in presenting the 2013 Budget without any new tax, while governments all over the world are forced by slow or negative economic growth to cut back. We in Guyana have been able to present a budget which is, once again, the largest budget in the history of our country.
This is possible only because we have a caring Government which believes in a people-oriented approach to development. This country, in the face of a global economic slowdown, maintains a path of steady economic growth over the last eight years and we need to commend the Hon. Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, for steering the economic ship of this country for the last eight years. At the same time, inflation has been the lowest in many years.
In the past, when the PNC Administration presented their National Budget to this National Assembly under the distinguished Former Finance Minister, the Hon. Carl Greenidge, we hear a number of the slogans tighten your belt, austerity measure, devaluation. Those were the expressions of the past.
This PPP/Civic Government…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, this is the last presentation for the night. The Member is entitled to be heard. I am asking for quiet and order, please.
Mr. Jaffarally: The Amerindian Communities of Orealla and Siparuta, like all of the other Amerindian Communities across Guyana, have benefited significantly in term of development by the PPP/Civic Government over the years. In Orealla and Siparuta demarcation of the land has been completed. A revolving fund has been established in Orealla and Siparuta for the benefit of the citizens of those communities and managed by the people of Orealla and Siparuta.
In healthcare delivery a medics’ station at Orealla and Siparuta and periodic visits by medical outreach with doctors who go to Orealla and Siparuta… an Information Technology lab has been established in Orealla. Pure water supply is in Orealla. Electricity is at Orealla.
Recently, the road from Orealla to Siparuta was done by the people of Orealla and Siparuta, themselves, thus creating employment. Revetment at the waterfront was done by people of Orealla and Siparuta.
In 2013, I am being advised by the Hon. Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, that a boat and engine to bring the produce out of Orealla and Siparuta will be purchased for the people of Orealla and Siparuta.
Our brothers and sisters of Orealla have been benefiting significantly under the PPP/Civic Government.
My Hon. colleague, Mr. Trevor Williams, in his presentation, he remarked about what took place at the Whim sports ground. I am being advised by the Regional Chairman that what transpired at Whim with the removal of the fence is a malicious act by the Hon. Member, Dr. Ramayya.
In 2011 and 2012, $3.2 million was spent to upgrade that ground which includes the rehabilitation of the pavilion, land filling, shaping and grading of the ground. Presently the pitch is being laid and the drains around the ground are being cleaned. My colleague also mentioned that no sport ground is being developed and asked what the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport is doing. In Region No.6, recognising the importance for sports and creating an environment for our young people that can use their energy in an efficient manner, thus enabling us to build a health nation and prepare themselves for the competitive world of sports, a number of grounds were rehabilitated in 2012 which include the No. 53 Sports Club, Line Path Sports Club, Stanleytown Savannah Community Center Club, Fryrish Cricket Club, No. 48 Cricket Club, Sisters’ Cricket Club, N0. 54 Cricket Club, No. 71 Cricket Club, Belvidere United Cricket Club, Sports Club of No. 43, Glasgow Community Sports Club, Young Achievers Sports Club of No. 60 Village, [inaudible] Lancaster Sports Club, Young Achievers Cricket Club of Canefield and the Whim Cricket Ground.
In addition, a number of sports grounds were provided with sports gears and I want to thank my colleague, the Hon. Neendkumar, and the National Sports Commission for providing these sports gears to a number of clubs which include No. 48, No. 55, No. 61, No. 68, Skeldon, Fryrish. All of these grounds were provided with sports gears during 2012.
I am pleased to announce to this National Assembly, like the Providence Stadium, Albion Sports Complex will be having floodlights. The contract is already signed and in another three months the lights will be assembled at Albion Sports Club, thus we can have night cricket, foot ball and other cultural events at the Albion Sports Club.
I am pleased to announce also that a school of dance has been established already in New Amsterdam and in the Corentyne.
Our sugar workers are hardworking people and they are making a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this country and we need to commend our sugar workers. The 10,334 sugar workers at Rose Hall, Canje, Albion, Port Mourant and Skeldon have produced 157,000 tonnes of sugar in 2012,
Too often we refer and believe our sugar workers are not important people but because of the opportunities made available by the PPP/Civic Government. Today we find that our sugar workers’ children are doctors, engineers, professionals, lawyers because sugar workers are hardworking people and they are contributing to the growth and development of this country.
Our sugar workers, over the years, have benefitted from improved cane cutting incentive schemes. During normal working weeks, workers enjoy a 90% prorate weekly production incentive, improved payment for breaking and loading bell loaders, bundle when in-field conditions are wet.
Training on the Job: Indoor training on safety, substance abuse and quality of work are given to sugar workers.
Increased wages and salaries, job evaluation average an increase of 67%.
Education: Our Government recognises the importance of education to the growth and development of our country and over the years we have seen an increased budgetary allocation in this sector. Driving by the mission to realise equity and increased access to quality education, the Regional Administration of Region 6, through the Department of Education, has placed every emphasis in in-service training of our teachers at all levels. Supervision and instructional programmes, and monitoring of resource utilisation for efficient school management and curriculum delivery and greater effectiveness in the education system.
In 2012, the total budgetary allocation was $1.8 billion for Region 6, where approximately 90% went towards wages and salaries.
The performance of our students in Region No.6 at CXC, grades 1 to 3, has been sustained over the years and has been about the national average over the past three years. In 2012, we netted 63.50%, passes in grades 1 to 3, which is 5% above the national average. A total of 11,156 students wrote the CXC Examination.
The National Grade 6 Assessment results yield 93% access to general secondary school across our region.
It is worthy to note that our teachers’ motivation level has risen, measured in extremely low absenteeism. This is due to an increased remuneration for teachers graduating from the University of Guyana and at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the release of hundreds of teachers annually to addend these institutions during working hours. In Region No.6, at present, we have a total of 1,416 teachers employed across the Region and more than 70% are graduated teachers.
The University of Guyana, Tain Campus, established by the PPP/Civic Government, continues to provide an opportunity for our young people to acquire higher education in various fields of study. In 2012, 231 students graduated from the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, in the field of Agriculture, Social and Natural Sciences, Education and other fields of study. In 2012-2013 the total enrolment at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus is 757 students.
Recognising the importance of information and communication technology and the need to prepare our next generation for the participation and access involving the information super highway, we have ensured that all of our secondary schools and a limited number of our primary schools in the Region are equipped with state of the art IT labs.
We have also been involved in the distribution, in Region No. 6, of laptops from the One Laptop Per Family. In 2012, 8,368 persons received their laptops from the Government of Guyana. At a simple calculation of four members per family, it means that some 33,472 persons will benefit from the laptop distribution in Region No. 6 in 2012. This represents recipients coming from 153 communities across Region No. 6, including Haversham, Liverpool, Manchester, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Black Bush Polder, Albion, Chesney, Canefield, Goed Bananen, Gangaram and other areas. The list is available. [Mr. Neendkumar: Whim too.] Whim also.
In 2013, we are expecting to distribute a further 6,966 laptops across Region No.6 including Orealla and Siparuta.
Mr. Speaker: Excuse me. Ms. Selman, are you trying to make a Point of Order?
Ms. Selman: No, Sir.
Mr. Jaffarally: Pure water supply: In this area of pure water supply there has been a tremendous improvement over the years since our Government has been in office. Over the last five years or so Region No.6 has been in excess of $6 billion in capital investment across Region No. 6. This will benefit some 122,000 persons across Region No.6, which has included the construction of two state of the art water treatment plants at No. 52 Village and Queenstown.
Rose Hall Improvement Water Project: Installation of transmission mains at Skeldon, No. 74 and No. 75, No. 61 and No. 62, Letter Kenny, Adventure to Alness, Fryrish, Black Bush Polder, Canefield, Manchester.
Upgrade and distribution of No.51 and No. 73 Villages, No. 1 to Whim, Whim to Bush Lot, Banana Land. Drilling of a new well in Canefield in excess of $50 million. Drilling of a new well at Rose Hall, distribution of grades at Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam. Mibikuri to Lesbeholden- transmission main. Canefield to Reliance- transmission main. No. 76 to No. 78-transmission main. In 2013, a new well will be drilled at Lochaber, West Canje.
Region No.6 is an agriculture producing area. In 2012, 55,000 acres of land was under rice cultivation across Region No. 6. In Black Bush Polder, 17,215 are under cultivation. No. 51 Loan Field Frontlands with 19,000 acres under cultivation. No 52, 74, 15,400 acres, Crabwood Creek at 3,500 acres. No. 19 at 500 acres and for the first time we are breaking new ground. Rice is now being cultivated at Barakara on the Upper Canje River and at Orealla and Siparuta.
I am happy to note that my Hon. colleague, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj visited Orealla and Siparuta and provided technical help to the people of Orealla and Siparuta and very shortly the Hon. Member will be going to Barakara. The average production per acre is around 35 bags in Region No. 6.
Very shortly, we will commission the $164 million seed facility plant at No. 56 Village, which is ready for commission. With the commission of this plant farmers in Region No.6 will be provided with a better quality of seed, thus enhancing production and productivity.
The two-door sluice that is presently under construction at No. 42 Bengal… installation of that pump will provide additional drainage to 4,000 acres of land in the Joanna/Black Bush Polder Area. This is some of the development in terms of the rice sector in Region No. 6.
In terms of cash crops, we have 15,000 acres of land under cultivation -at Crabwood Creek, Nos. 52, 74, East Bank Berbice, Black Bush Polder.
Region No. 6, itself, in terms of cattle and meat production, is self sufficient and we are exporting to other Regions, including Georgetown and to Caribbean countries.
In terms of poultry supply, we are also self sufficient. In 2012, we spent $122 million in our capital programme under Drainage and Irrigation across Region No. 6 which includes: the main drainage canal at number 51, Manarabisi cattle pasture was de-silted at a cost of $7 million. Reconstruction of the Joanna Cattle Bridge, construct RC regulator and timber revetment at Manchester Village. Construct timber revetment on the East Bank of Berbice. Construct timber revetment at Plegt Anker Access Road. Construction of structure at Highburg on the East Bank. These are some of the infrastructural works that were done in Region 6.
Housing is another success story in Region No. 6. We can start with Little Africa on the Upper Corentyne Right down to Glasgow on the East Bank of Berbice and we will find thousands of young Guyanese, ordinary Guyanese, teachers, public servants, market vendors, who are able to acquire their own homes under the PPP/Civic Government.
In 2012, we have distributed 927 house lots to young Guyanese. A visit to these communities one will see more than 70% occupancy at the various housing schemes across Region No.6 and this is because of the PPP/Civic Government working with the financial institutions, ensuring that our home owners are provided with loans at a very low cost of interest. In many of these housing schemes and squatting settlements, I am very positive colleague, we have the basic necessities – roads, drainage and irrigation, electricity, potable water. We will continue to provide these facilities across our region.
Under the Citizen Security Programme, six police stations were equipped with computers and internet connectivity and linked with integrated crime information centre and continue to provide reports on crime and data centres to the Guyana Police Force Head Quarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs for the use of operational matters. Some of these police stations that were rehabilitated during 2012 include Reliance, Albion, Whim, No. 51, Springlands. These police stations are now equipped with computers. Under the community component some 600 young people were trained under the Citizen Security Programme; 600 young people who were given a second chance in life. They were trained in computer science, auto mechanics, garment construction, cake decoration, fabrication and welding, computer repairs, auto body repairs and jewel craft. These young people came from communities of Angise Avenue. They came from communities of Fryrish, Port Mourant, Chesney, Edinburg.
A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Citizen Security Programme found that 80% of these young people who were trained were either employed or self-employed, thus creating a positive image in our community.
Mr. Speaker, under our Justice Improvement Programme we have seen that our magistrates and members of the legal profession are now having a better building to work in. The rehabilitation of the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court and the Black Bush Polder Magistrate Court were rehabilitated under the Justice Improvement Programme.
We continue to work with the various communities across Region 6. There have been constant outreaches and engagement with various stakeholders in the communities across Region 6 by the Regional Administration, by Members of Parliament for Region 6 and our Cabinet Ministers and the President, himself, from time to time, who would visit and interact with communities.
In conclusion, I wish to refer to part of the 2013 Budget Presentation by the Hon. Minister of Finance, and I quote:’
“With this constantly in mind the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government remains firmly focused in building a better Guyana for all Guyanese and firmly committed to working as closely as possible with all like-minded stakeholders, both within and beyond the hallowed walls of this honourable House. In pursuit of that objective we continue to value our ongoing stakeholders engagement and we continue to receive these engagements as important inputs into our national policy-making deliberations. I urge once again that even after the most vigorous of debates this House learns to speak more frequently with one voice, only that which is good for Guyana.”
As I have said at the start of my presentation the budget is about the people of Guyana, which our Government represents – all the people of Guyana. 2013’s National Budget will give us an opportunity to improve the quality of lives of the people of this country. I now recommend this budget to the Members of this noble House and look forward to the year ahead to see its implementation. Thank you very much. [Applause]