Mahipaul accuses Government of limiting resources for Regions governed by Coalition majority councils

Opposition Member Ganesh Mahipaul told the Budget debate on Monday that there has been a reduction in the allocations for regional development works for the three Regional Democratic Councils controlled by the APNU+AFC.

Mahipaul accuses Government of limiting resources for Regions governed by Coalition majority councils

The Opposition has accused the Government of targeting those regions that have an APNU+AFC majority council in place.

Opposition Member Ganesh Mahipaul told the Budget debate on Monday that there has been a reduction in the allocations for regional development works for the three Regional Democratic Councils controlled by the APNU+AFC.

He noted that there were massive increases in the budgetary allocations for the Regions governed by PPP Civic councils.

According to Mahipaul, Regions 4, 7 and 10 which are controlled by the coalition, saw a small increase in their overall allocations, but it represents a decrease in funding for regional development when employment costs are subtracted.

“The regions won by the APNU+AFC continue to suffer with the decrease in resources, but the PPP/c controlled regions all have significant increases. It’s double standard and dictatorial, and yet this they don’t care regime wants us to believe that they are committed to equity and democracy,” Mahipaul said.

The Opposition Member of Parliament called out the Government for what he said has been its repeated failure to hold consultations with the RDCs to fully understand their needs and priorities.

He explained that in many instances the budget requests of the regions were completely ignored.

Mahipaul contended that the “underfunding” of Opposition controlled regions is deliberate and follows a trend.

He noted that Region Four, which has the largest population and is the home of the capital, continues to be treated with disdain by the Government.

“It is clear that there has been no real increase in the allocations for Regions 4, 7 and 10 RDCs and I urge this government to re-evaluate the allocations of funds to ensure that our elected officials have the resources they need to effectively represent their communities,” the Opposition MP says.

At the local level, Mahipaul argued that a similar situation exists where certain councils are being targeted.

He said there appears to be a deliberate targeting of Georgetown and the Mayor of Georgetown for failing to carry out instructions by the PPP government which are against the law.

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