“Non-cooperating” PPP wants government to include its proposals in National Budget

Ahead of the presentation of the government’s 2018 fiscal plan to the National Assembly, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party has submitted a Motion in which it has outlined its own proposal to stimulate the economy and reduce poverty and hardships.

“Non-cooperating” PPP wants government to include its proposals in National Budget

Still refusing to be a part of any formal budget consultations with the government and amid insistence of non-cooperation, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo now wants the APNU+AFC government to include its proposed measures in its 2018 National Budget.

Ahead of the presentation of the government’s 2018 fiscal plan to the National Assembly, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party has submitted a Motion in which it has outlined its own proposal to stimulate the economy and reduce poverty and hardships.

Mr. Jagdeo told reporters today that the document contains over 120 measures, which he believes, the Finance Minister should include in his budget.

“We don’t want to sit in an office and be a part of any budget consultation… put our measures in the budget if you are serious about development,” Jagdeo said.

The opposition party said its proposal is based on the loss of jobs in the economy, imposition of taxes, setbacks in the sugar industry and contraction in the mining and quarrying sectors along with the financial and insurance services.

The PPP had stayed away from the two previous budget consultations but Jagdeo maintains that its measures are sound and should be included.

The PPP’s proposal includes changes to the government’s fiscal and taxation policies.

Among its proposal is to increase Wages and salaries in the public service and restore the annual one-month tax-free salary bonus for all members of the Disciplined Services, and negotiate actively with the unions for increases in salaries and benefits for public servants and teachers.

During its time in office, the PPP imposed salary increases on public servants, instead of negotiating.

The Party also wants a cap of Ministers’ benefits and allowances in keeping with the caps imposed on Former Presidents Benefits (Amendment) Act 2015 and for the government to allow public servants, particularly medical professionals, to choose whether to be on the pensionable fixed establishment or on contract.

The PPP called on the government to, among other things, reverse VAT on essential food items and electricity and water, restore zero-rated VAT for imports of household solar plants, remove VAT on all education goods and services, remove VAT on all pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and reverse taxes and fees on importation of inputs (raw materials) for local manufacturers.

The Party also wants the removal of taxes on mining and the removal of all forms of taxes and duties on fuel for the agriculture industry.

In the area of Transparency and Accountability, the PPP said the government must adhere to the procurement and financial rules and hire an international firm to trace assets held overseas by former and present government officials along with conducting a fact-based assessment of the acquisition of state assets from 1970 to the present.

The PPP’s lists of request was extensive but in the area of social services it wants the government to re-instate the Single Parent Assistance Programme with vouchers to assist with daycare costs; restore Public Assistance on a permanent basis for caregivers of disabled dependents and HIV/Aids patients; increase the rate of Old Age Pension to $25,000 per month from the current $19,000 per month and • Examine the introduction of evening and night child care centres for women who work the night shifts.

There were also proposals in the areas of health and business.

The PPP used the opportunity to again address the situation at the Guyana Sugar Corporation, calling on the government to take immediate measures to save the sugar industry and reverse immediately the decision to close down sugar estates.

The PPP believes its proposals are not exhaustive but their implementation is critical to the creation of an environment more conducive to the growth and expansion of the economy.

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