Unions, PSC says Parliamentary leaders deliberately avoiding meeting on Budget

Almost one week after sending a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, workers unions and the business community have bemoaned the lack of response to their request.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG) and Private Sector Commission (PSC) dispatched letters on Friday, 9th December 2016 to the Leaders of the National Assembly seeking a meeting on the 2017 Budget.

The intention was “made specifically to have our opinions considered in the deliberation of the Supply Committee” the bodies said. The Committee of Supplies will conclude their consideration on tomorrow (Friday, December 16, 2016).

In a statement on Thursday, the bodies revealed that only the Leader of the Opposition has responded to their request .

“Efforts to date to have audience with Messrs. Nagamootoo and Scotland have been unsuccessful. Mr. Jagdeo has committed to meet with us, though it remains our desire to meet with the three collectively, consistent with their shared responsibility and constitutional roles in government, and more particularly the nation’s highest decision-making forum” the civil society bodies said.

Following the lack of response, it is their view that “deliberate efforts” are being made to avoid having engagement with them, however, they are still hoping that “the constitutional parliamentary leaders will respond favourably to the people’s desire.”