Amid loud protests and interruptions, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh criticised APNU’s Parliamentary lead, Terrence Campbell, and his fellow Parliamentarians for offering poor representation of the decades-old PNC in the House.
Soon after starting the final contribution to the budget debate late Friday night, Dr Singh criticised the insults Campbell hurled at the private sector bodies, which signalled their support for the $1.558 trillion budget and the measures contained therein. A day before, Campbell said those private sector bodies had been “politically captured.”
According to the Finance Minister, Campbell could not comprehend that the budget was crafted after wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders, like the private sector, and warranted commendation because of how responsive it is. For Dr Singh, such consultations and responsive policy-making are crucial to good governance.
“It is because of that mindset that you are now sitting on that side of the house, leading the smallest group of PNC MPs in the history of this country,” Dr Singh retorted.
Then came a second criticism, more personal and direct. The Finance Minister said Campbell waxed lyrical about the prudent management of funds and the need for accountability but the businessman-turned-politician had asked for tax write-offs after failing to pay his taxes.
Campbell’s protests rang through the halls of the National Assembly, and he rose on a point of order objecting to Dr. Singh’s utterances. However, Campbell later conceded that he requested a partial write-off of the penalties accrued on taxes unpaid; he also posited that he eventually paid the taxes owed.
The Finance Minister also spoke on the dwindling legacy of the People’s National Congress (PNC) party, which is the major constituent of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). After being one of two major parties in Guyana’s history, the PNC had been reduced to a minority opportunity clinching only 12 of 65 seats in the last elections. And the Finance Minister argued Campbell was contributing to the further demise of the party.
“Mr. Campbell wants to run a country. Over the last two weeks… they could not agree on the matter of allocation of portfolios in a shadow cabinet,” Dr Singh bemoaned.
Point after point, the Finance Minister seemed intent on dismantling Campbell’s arguments. Before long, he bellowed, “Nobody on this side of the House needs validation from Terrence Campbell.”
The post ‘We don’t need Terrence Campbell’s validation’ – Ashni Singh says in stinging rebuke of APNU’s Parliamentary lead appeared first on News Room Guyana.
