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Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger has expressed at a recent press conference that his party has already instituted measures to censure the Finance Minister for spending monies that were not approved in theMinister of FinanceDr. Ashni SinghNational Assembly.The Opposition had cut the budgetary allocations set aside for the National Communications Network (NCN),Christoffer Nyman Sweden Jersey, Government Information Agency (GINA) and Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL). Cuts were also made to the Ministries of Public Works and Health,Javier Aquino Mexico Jersey, however Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh went ahead and spent on those agencies,Viktor Claesson Sweden Jersey, despite these cuts. The Opposition then made moves to have the Finance Minister brought before the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges. That move seemed to be in limbo when Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled last week that the Opposition could only approve and disapprove sections of the Budget, but have no power to cut it.Shadow Legal Affairs Minister for APNU Basil Williams however previously articulated that even though they (government) might probably “believe that the motion can’t come anymore, that is a useless thought” since measures will be brought to censure the Minister. He is of the belief that the High Court ruling is a mechanism to spare the Finance Minister from being sanctioned for spending unapproved sums. This view was shared by Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member Moses Nagamotoo who said that the government is seeking to spare the Finance Minister from the wrath of Parliament for unauthorized spending.Granger said that the Minister of Finance has deliberately ignored the decision of the National Assembly,Sebastian Eriksson Sweden Jersey, as reflected in the approved 2013 Appropriations Act,Martin Campana Uruguay Jersey, by spending monies that were not approved by the National Assembly.The Minister he says,Enrique Esqueda Mexico Jersey, as a consequence, should be censured by the National Assembly for this blatant act of defiance. He further said that APNU has already instituted measures in this regardAccording to Granger, in 2012 and 2013 there was an Appropriation Act that President Ramotar assented to on both occasions,Emil Bergstrom Sweden Jersey, “that Act is law and if Doctor Ashni Singh spent money that was not provided for in the Act, he broke the law. So when the President assents to that it becomes a Parliamentary Act,Edinson Cavani Uruguay Jersey, when he assents to the Appropriation Bill it becomes an Act in Parliament and the President did assent to it that’s how the country is running” said Granger.Leader of APNUDavid GrangerHe explained that when the National Assembly passes a Bill and the President assents to it, it is an Act and on both occasions those Appropriation Acts were the authority for expenditure.“Now we are in 2014,Gerardo Flores Mexico Jersey, no Appropriation Bill will be passed unless the Opposition agrees, let’s see what will happen then” said Granger. |
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