Opposition Leader Brigadier (retired) David Granger has said that Opposition members in the House of Assembly will not be stifled by the ruling of the Chief Justice, which in his view seeks to restrict the functions of the Parliamentary Opposition.Yesterday, Granger indicated that Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang failed to acknowledge the existence of parliamentary procedures when he ruled that the Opposition cannot reduce budget estimates forwarded in the House by the government’s Finance Minister.Granger warned that a “car crash” may be the best description of the scenario that lies ahead in relation to the upcoming budget. He said, “We feel that if there was no consensus on the budget or, prior to its presentation or if the government went ahead to deliver a budget to the National Assembly which did not incorporate some concerns of the Opposition, it will be a car crash.”Granger said that no budget consultations were held for the 2014 budget, which by now would have already been completed. Coupled with that, the ruling by the CJ has failed to acknowledge the presence of parliamentary procedures.Granger explained that like any other Bill that goes through the parliament there is a process that must be followed. He said that the Minister would lay the budget and the Speaker would dissolve the House to the Committee of Supply, where the budget is debated,China NFL Jerseys, sometimes for weeks.He continued that each line item is scrutinized and voted on. However throughout the process the Opposition would indicate its approval/ disapproval before the final reading of the budget and its subsequent passing or refusal. He emphasized however, that this is the procedure with every Bill that is presented in the House and it should be no different when it comes to the budget.The Opposition Leader added that the CJ cannot change or alter the parliamentary procedures, and suggested that disapprovals will continue once the Opposition is not satisfied or convinced about the sums presented. Granger has added also that the CJ’s ruling will not deter the Opposition from taking action against the Finance Minister for the spending of unapproved sums used in the 2012 budget.The Opposition and the government had engaged in a blame game relating to the budget consultations. Both sides have been stating that no earnest effort was made to discuss the financial future for this year.While the Opposition has stated that they have not been invited to budget talks, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), through its General Secretary Clement Rohee stated that it is not the job of the party to call on the PPP-led Administration to initiate budget talks.Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, had previously stated when asked, that the CJ ruled that to use monies from the treasury, a majority legal authorization is needed from Parliament. Ramjattan stated also that while there will be an appeal of the CJ’s ruling, they are prepared to suggest the necessary adjustments to the budget where deemed necessary.
