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…even as he calls for a rework of the national budget All recipients of radio frequencies must be subjected to scrutiny on par with those who are required to reapply and as well as those who are now applying to be so licensed. At least this was the conviction of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Executive Member,Eduardo Vargas Chile Jersey, Joseph Harmon, when he took the spotlight as the budget debates continued in the National Assembly Friday evening.Harmon insisted that the allocation of radio frequencies by former President Bharrat Jagdeo shortly before he demitted office “in the manner and the numbers given to his party comrades is wholly unacceptable and the APNU views this as an improper exercise of his discretion.”APNU Executive Member, Joseph HarmonHarmon alluded to the pronouncement of Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman,Cheap NFL Wholesale Jerseys, who according to him was moved to describe the former President’s decision as obscene. “He said that it was an obscenity and I agree with him,” admitted the APNU member.Harmon in pointing to the fact that much of the information relating to the award of radio licences is already in the public domain disclosed that “what I would wish to say is that the persons who have been issued with these licences must be subjected to the same scrutiny to which the persons who are now applying for licences have been subjected to and those who have been asked to reapply.”According to him it has now become essential that the Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority, Bibi Shaddick, seeks to act and must be seen to act on the crucial matter.“Equity and justice demands it…If the Chairman and others can’t get it right, then let them resign,Cheap Soccer Jerseys China,” stated Harmon.Turning his attention to the recently presented national budget,Chris Chelios Jersey, Harmon said that the APNU will in no way be supporting the $81 million that Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, assigned to the National Communications Network (NCN).This decision, he explained,China Jerseys Authentic, is premised on the fact that President Donald Ramotar who also fills the capacity of Minister of Communication is yet to release the report of the investigation into wrongdoings at NCN.Harmon disclosed, too,Jim Palmer Orioles Jersey, that this state of affairs had seen the Office of the Leader of the Opposition inking a letter to the President’s office on two occasions with the only response being that “we are considering the report. We need the report; the public needs it,” insisted Harmon.The APNU executive vocalised his belief that the national expenditure fails to address the true realities of Guyana even as he asserted that the choices made by the Minister in allocating the resources of the country would not reflect the urgent priorities in physical infrastructure.He alluded to the country’s flagship projects such as the Marriott Hotel, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion and the Amaila Falls. “All suffer from one fatal defect – public buy-in. These projects were conceptualised in secret and their executions still contain certain elements of secrecy,” said Harmon as he sought to reiterate the position of the APNU for open debate on such matters.“Bring all the information on these projects to the National Assembly and let us have an open debate on them. While we appreciate the efforts made by the Government to share some classified information to a small group of persons we believe anything short of bringing information to parliament is unacceptable,” added Harmon.According to him there is a need for broad stakeholders’ involvement in the infrastructural development of Guyana even as he amplified the importance of a revised National Development Strategy as a useful starting point.Harmon added, “I believe that this budget has given the wrong priorities for allocating resources and requires rework…as such I would not support its passage in its present form.” |
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