The second day of the 2024 Budget Debates began at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre with a presentation by the Opposition Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan.
He expressed his displeasure at what he calls a “lop-sided treatment” of the money, indicating his belief that the monies should have been more spread across the various sectors.
Khemraj stated the country is headed towards the Resource Course, lamenting the suffering of the fisheries and agricultural industries, in comparison to the infrastructure sector.
“When we go back to the practical reality of what it is that the construction contractors will make, it is generally in the vicinity of about 20% profit for each contract. 20% profit for each contract will make 133 billion dollars which will then go to some companies and private contractors and that is about a thousand of them.”
He then stated that this surplus, when compared to what public servants will be reaping from the budget, will create a “class system in the country”.
Ramjattan explained that the inequality will be so vast, that the economy will be controlled by the Government, with those of the upper class seeking to purchase friendships.
He stated that a lot of people have been indicating that life is difficult for some all across that country and that this deserves to be acknowledged.
“What is more important than standing with your people?” he asked.
“A nation must invest in ending poverty, and its working poor must get a better deal,” he opined, claiming that that did not happen with the budget, and it should be more “spread across”.
Ramjattan called for a rebalancing of the budget allocations, highlighting the need for a more equal division across sectors.
He said that these actions by the Government will create “disenchantment and resentment at the bottom there when people see that only some sets of people are getting monies, while others are not”
He stated that the Coalition had done way more for the people of Guyana with way less money, and so they expect the Government to do more to help those in the lower class.