| By Jenelle CarterAs the 2011 budget continued in the National Assembly yesterday, PNCR Member of Parliament, Amna Ally continued to level accusations of corruption and managerial deficiencies against the government.Ally in her presentation took time to point out numerous outstanding irregularities and failed attempts to implement vital programmes within the education sector.“This year’s budget is structured for political convenience, an election budget, and one to make us believe that it is all rosy. Not so sir, we note that the presentation did not only evaluate the year 2010 and give projection for 2011, but caricatured the PPP’s last five years in Government.”As she reflected on Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s presentation, Ally said she is concerned about the possibilities associated with the intended provision for young people to be given the opportunity to have access to the education system. She cited as examples, the national school feeding programme, the school uniform project and the war against social ills in society.“There is no doubt that a large sum is allocated to the Education sector but I must point out early that, outstanding irregularities,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, managerial deficiencies, discrimination and corruption loom largely in this sector.”She noted that the achievability and the time frame of successful implementation of the National Strategic Plan leave much to be desired.“The programme outlined by the Minister is good no doubt, but its achievability is stagnated by managerial deficiencies, discrimination and corruption, hence the end result which should see our children being the beneficiaries of quality education is compromised”.“I must forewarn, Sir, that we should not be the beneficiary of taxpayers’ money and funding from the International donor agencies and lack the capacity to ensure they are channelled to the real beneficiary.”Ally further pointed to $24.3M, which has been allocated this year to the sector for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan.“That plan was started in 1990 by the late Dereck Bernard and is now being built on by this Government which is a good thing; the new version has completed three years and is now in its fourth year, but many of its projections have not come to fruition within the given time frames.”She further alluded to the fact that one of the indicators says that by 2008 the new Education Bill would be presented to the National Assembly for approval and not in 2011. And still, she stressed, it has not yet reached the Assembly, three years later.“Is there a problem with the Government and its own task force which was set up to deal with the Education Bill or is the problem at the foot of an inefficient Attorney General Chambers?”Ally went on to talk about the failed implementation of the revised Technical and Vocational curriculum, which should have been fully implemented by June 2009, and the Monitoring Evaluation Reporting and Development Unit. She noted that the monitoring of education of all districts is becoming questionable.“Let me offer some advice, be mindful of your management systems, as you are confusing your very school managers and you are inhibiting progress.”Ally further pointed out failures in Education delivery, which she said is at an all-time low.Some of these she said include poor examination results, a gloomy remediation programme, poor salaries and conditions which offer no motivation for teachers, too many senior acting appointments and automatic promotion. These and other issues, she said, inhibit the delivery of quality education in Guyana.“Guyana’s historically high literacy rate, estimated at around 96% and one of the highest in the region and the Western Hemisphere was an acknowledged achievement of our education system. The policy of free education provided under the PNC from Nursery to University level was clearly to maintain this standard. Today, despite large programmes and financial injections, that percentage of literacy has fallen dramatically.”Ally further urged the PPP administration to examine the real reason for the decline.The Ministry of Education’s automatic promotion also came in for criticism by the PNCR parliamentarian.Meanwhile Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud in his presentation said he would join in commending the Finance Minister for his erudite presentation “which is giving Guyana hope and confidence for years to come”.Persaud said when one looks at the analysis, which is provided in the budget given the day-to-day reality, Guyana is fortunate when, compared to countries with similar socio-economic standing.“We in Guyana are fortunate to have a Government and to have policies, programmes and projects in place where we can see an enlargement and expansion, and increase in spending in our people, and a reduction in taxation …nowhere else we can see a reduction in taxation…nowhere else in the world are we seeing this.”Minister Persaud pointed out that there are few economies where people are seeing investments.“The Government has been able to increase its investment in people’s future…if we look at the impact on global fuel and food…the global economic crisis, Guyana has come out well and that is because of the sound and prudent management of the country.”The Minister drew the National Assembly’s attention to the International Monetary Fund Assessment Report and the 2010 World Bank report, which he said, show that Guyana has exceeded many other countries with similar status.“We ought to be proud of that, and this is to the credit of the people of Guyana and the Government.”Persaud also noted that Guyana was among three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to have successfully achieved one of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to reduce poverty and reduce hunger.“This again tells of good management. Just look at the recent reports of major businesses like Banks DIH, which recorded billions of dollars in profits, as well as Republic Bank, which recorded five years of consecutive profit in the region. We must be proud of where we are going if we look from whence we came, very few countries will be able to make that rapid progress…we were able to transform this country…the IDB describes us as a shining light and global player.”Persaud further noted that the budget projects a 4.6% growth, which is ahead of the World Bank’s projection for the entire region.He added that Guyana has also move ahead as it relates to debt management and level accountability for public funds. The minister added that the budget has once again provided for all sectors and serves to provide for people of every class. |
