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Government speakers, during the budget debates on Thursday evening last, slammed their opposition counterparts for making arguments out of context.Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn,Brandon Dubinsky Jersey, who took the floor first, told the House that efforts made by the government to develop the country has to be viewed in an international context which he said the opposition speakers are avoiding.He pointed out that there has been positive growth in Guyana over the past four years when the international landscape did not achieve such growth.According to Benn,Mike Modano Jersey, Guyana did not have to implement any massive stimulus packages in order to survive the global financial meltdown. In light of the Bauxite industry that is facing a somewhat crisis situation in Guyana,Antoine Roussel Jersey, he drew reference to the fact also that in Jamaica,Neal Broten Jersey, their industry has had to practically shut down in face of the global situation.He urged the opposition to desist from the scaremongering that they have waged on various policy issues such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy.Benn sought to remind the House that, “we have to develop the country in a rational manner,Sean Couturier Team North America Jersey,” adding that the opposition continues to impute sinister motives by the Government in face of continued progress.“If they can’t hear,Travis Moen Jersey, see or feel development they are dead…any citizen in Guyana would agree with us that there has been steady progress in Guyana.”He cautioned the Opposition to,Sergei Bobrovsky Jersey, “stop playing with matches…we went through a time of slow fyaah and mo fyaah…we have fires too, but it is celestial and relates to the progress and development of Guyana.”He said that despite the efforts on the part of the opposition to turn back development,John Gibson Team North America Jersey, the Government will not be stopped. Minister of Foreign Affairs,Robert Bortuzzo Jersey, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, supported her colleague Minister that the Opposition arguments were out of context.According to Rodrigues-Birkett, while some try to trivialise the progress made by the ruling party over the years, the arguments must be put in context of what they acquired in 1992.“Context is very important…when we speak of Guyana it must be put in context.”She said that Guyana is a country that is just 44 years old and for the greater part it was mismanaged.This mismanagement she said happened at a time when other CARICOM countries were developing themselves and as such, when comparison is made to those countries, it must be placed in context. She said that at present Guyana is in good shape given the amount of time that was, “squandered.”The Minister told the House that the ruling party inherited a country with little or no infrastructure and with an external debt that was strangling it.Rodrigues-Birkett said that Guyana is now at a stage where it is time to transform the economy. |
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