…in criticising Budget 2014
GOVERNMENT’s Chief Whip, Ms Gail Teixeira, delivered blow and after blow to the combined Opposition on Monday night, recommending that their Members of Parliament (MPs) consult an ophthalmologist to address what is clearly a case of “tunnel vision”, in light of their criticisms of Budget 2014.
“Tunnel vision is a medical condition (in which) you can only see what is in front of you, not considering anything else…
“The Opposition is suffering from tunnel vision and needs an ophthalmologist,” she quipped.
Teixeira argued that the criticisms levelled over the last week of debates have failed to look beyond the present, and have ignored the fact that the Budget is a yearly plan to realise a broader vision for Guyana’s development.
TWO VIEWS
“The debates so far have all a bunch of flop…you don’t sit with us. If you don’t talk about partnership, how will we move? You think it is done by magic, by waving a hand?” she asked.
According to Teixeira, the debates in the House have so far presented two views, the “small world view” as expressed by the Opposition, and the “big world vision” as expressed by the Government.
Teixeira said, “We can forever complain…. The fact is that, with no global vision, we cannot solve anything.”
She stressed the need for the many transformational projects that have engaged the Opposition’s scissors in the last two budgets, and explained that Government is looking at meeting the needs of the Guyanese people, while at the same time looking at the future.
Teixeira said, “What we are seeing is classical small-mind vision…not one speaker said anything toward future Guyana…it seems that they want a ‘repair and maintenance budget’.”
She added that not one MP on the Opposition side had talked about the fact that, as a primary producer, Guyana must move to cheaper energy generation; or the fact that, given global advances, Guyana has to move upward in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) arena; or that climate change is a real problem, and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is a pioneering advance.
“All we got was a litany of woes… Tunnel vision!” Teixeira said.
She argued that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) seem trapped in a time warp of the 1980s.
She said, “Greenidge came with the same mantra, ‘reduce this and reduce that, increase this, increase that’, but not one idea of sustainably, not one idea of new venture, of expansion, was put forward.”
Teixeira reiterated that the 2014 Budget is one to do with the future of the country.
She lambasted one APNU MP for criticising the shortage of toilet paper at one public facility, stressing that the debate is on a national budget and such concerns can be made known at other forums.
Her comment prompted a heckle from the Government benches that the Opposition MPs suffer from “latrine vision” – a heckle that was repeated constantly before the end of the night.
The Chief Whip acknowledged the challenges facing Guyana, but called on the Opposition to do more and proffer solutions that are visionary. “Their recommendations have no vision,” she said.
Opposition for opposing sake
Teixeira decried the stance of the Opposition – opposing for the sake of opposing, rather than acting truly like a Government-in-waiting.
“The Opposition is trapped in opposition politics and cannot escape time warp… They are victims of their own making, and are making Guyana the victim too… They are opposition for opposing sake,” she lamented.
According to her, despite this disposition and its challenges, Guyana still had growth.
“The doubting Thomases can’t find the growth…they haven’t even a clue if they are right or wrong…they can’t even calculate GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” she said.
Teixeira stressed that Guyana’s eight years of growth is something for the nation and all Guyanese to be proud of. “It wasn’t handed to us on a platter,” she said.
The Government Chief Whip pointed out that the days of abject poverty are gone, the days of children pushing carts with water, the days when 54 per cent of children under five suffered from malnutrition, the days when many pregnant women suffered from anemia, the days when the educational needs of Amerindian children were neglected, among many other changes.
“Those days are over,” she said emphatically.
Teixeira pointed out that Guyanese children can today talk of dreams and a life that has seen upward mobility; and can boast of measurable successes.
Ultimate Test
She stated that the fundamental debate in the National Assembly is the philosophical and ideological difference as it relates to the separation of powers.
Teixeira noted that the 10th Parliament will be characterised by the Opposition’s understanding, or lack of understanding of this principle. “The Opposition cannot attempt to run the Government from the Opposition benches… This is a role they have difficulty understanding,” she said.
Teixeira made it clear that the ultimate test for local politicians will be the test of the people, the judgment of the electorate.
She said, “The public is waiting for you to pass this Budget, and whether you will pass it (the Budget) or create greater difficulties for the Guyanese people.
“…we are at cross roads, but the onus is on the opposing side and their judgment in estimates, which will decide Guyana’s fate.”
Teixeira warned that cuts to the national Estimates will be done to the peril of those who control the scissors. “The electorate is watching you and will judge,” she said.
In response to these sentiments, several Opposition MPs called on the Government to stop bluffing with calls of elections and “call um!”
(By Vanessa Narine)