PRIME MINISTER LEFT HANGING AS MINISTERS REFUSE TO SUPPORT 2014 BUDGET History was made today in the parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as Prime Minster Hon. Ralph Gonsalves who presented the 2014 Budget, wound up the debate, after none of his Cabinet Members and Parliamentary Colleagues rose to support the presentation made by their Leader. After none of his cabinet colleagues rose speak on their plans and programmes, or progress made by their particular Ministries, A self proclaimed ‘General’ Gonsalves proceeded to wrap up the budget debate. This, despite the fact that Gonsalves had previously in the very same sitting of Parliament indicated that each of his Ministers would speak on their particular portfolios. The Hon. Arnhim Eustace Leader of the Opposition had presented his reply, when the debate was open to the floor. At no time did the Government Members rise to support or present any position whatsoever, notwithstanding the obvious challenges facing the nation and its people at this time. With a more than 900 million dollar budget, the Opposition considers this silence among the ministers a sign of them throwing their hands in the air not knowing quite what to do. Among those ministers are the Prime Minister’s cousin, Senator Julian Francis, Minister of Works and his son, Senator Camillo Gonsalves Minister of Foreign Affairs. Expressing no surprise that the Government Ministers obviously felt there was nothing they could support in the Budget this year, Vice President of the NDP the Hon. St. Clair Leacock wondered whether the ULP forgot that they were the ones proposing the budget: “What it appears is that they hoped the Opposition would propose their budget and they would defend it. Where in the world does a Government sit silent hoping that the Opposition does the Government’s job? They cannot speak in Parliament and even during the estimates debate many of them do not. We will not help to cover up their incapacity….These are serious times and the people deserve serious representation.” The NDP will hold a press conference on Wednesday Jan, 22nd, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. at its party headquarters. END./
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 11:11:44 +0000
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