Describing the decision by the Government to repeal the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2015 as “unconscionable,” Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said the move to provide former Presidents with uncapped benefits is an insult to taxpayers.

Mahipaul’s comments came hours after the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, disclosed that the Government will table a Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill on Friday to remove the restrictions that were put into law under the David Granger Administration.

The Attorney General argues that the 2015 Act was intended to curtail the benefits received by the former Presidents – Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Donald Ramotar. He said future former Presidents should not be subject to such measures.

But in a statement on Wednesday, MP Mahipaul explained that the 2015 Act did not deny reasonable benefits and protections to former Presidents, but instead introduced transparency, accountability, and sensible limits on benefits funded by taxpayers.

“Repealing those safeguards and returning to a system of uncapped and unrestricted benefits would take Guyana backwards at a time when citizens are demanding greater accountability in the management of public resources,” MP Mahipaul said.

He said the coalition is not opposed to former Presidents receiving benefits that reflect the dignity of the office they once held, but those benefits must be transparent, justifiable, and subject to reasonable limits.

“If the existing caps established in the 2015 Act require revision to reflect current realities and costs, then let that discussion take place. What we cannot support is a return to unlimited benefits funded by the taxpayers of Guyana,” the Opposition MP said.

He is therefore calling for the Bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee for input from all sides.

“The proposed bill should not be rushed through the National Assembly. Instead, it should be referred to a Special Select Committee where meaningful consultations can take place among all parliamentary parties and relevant stakeholders. Such a process would allow for careful examination of the legislation, consideration of appropriate revisions to existing benefit levels, and the crafting of a modern framework that balances respect for former presidents with accountability to taxpayers,” MP said.

He said in the end, it should be a fair, transparent and sustainable piece of legislation that can earn the unanimous support of the National Assembly and the confidence of the Guyanese people.

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