AFC voices support for national budget

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has expressed its “unequivocal support” for the $300.7 billion 2019 national budget, which was presented in the National Assembly on Monday by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

Commending Jordan for the presentation of the budget, the largest to date in the history of national budgets, AFC General Secretary Marlon Williams told a press conference at the AFC’s headquarters yesterday that the budget was “designed to bring relief and benefit to the people of Guyana.”

He said the AFC particularly welcomed the measures which target small business development, growth and expansion and persons living with disabilities.

The AFC ministers in government, Williams said, “worked tirelessly in lobbying, preparing and making representation for a budget which is directed towards improving the lives and welfare of our Guyanese people.”

The party commended government for the continued investment in education, which has been allocated $52.2 billion and which Williams said was necessary in light of Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector and for it to take its place among knowledge-based economies.

The AFC, he said, was also pleased that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, a portfolio held by the AFC in the coalition government, has been allocated $38.5 billion while another AFC ministerial portfolio, public security, has been allocated $35.6 billion to carry out their functions. He noted that the ministries of agriculture, and public telecommunications, portfolios which are also held by the AFC, have together been allocated $21 billion.

“The party is also pleased that there has always been heavy investment and emphasis on the HEYS (Hinterland Employment and Youth Services) programming which is transforming the lives of hinterland youth,” he said.

The Linden to Lethem and Parika to Bartica road projects and a new four lane high span bridge across the Demerara River are three major projects which the party looks forward to, with 2019 being a signal year in their commencement, Williams said.

Looking forward to the full implementation of the budget, Williams said the party is also pleased with the allocations made to the Judiciary, Parliament, Guyana Elections Commission and constitutional agencies and looks forward to the Local Government Commission being added to the schedule of constitutional agencies in 2019.