Parliament rejects PNCR Motion on National Development Strategy
Kaieteur News
December 16, 2006
The Motion tabled in the National Assembly by PNC/R-1G MP Winston Murray to have the measures and policies contained in the National Development Strategy (NDS) accepted as a strategy for pursuing the economic transformation of Guyana was, on Thursday, rejected by Parliament.
Murray received the support of all the Opposition Parties in the House, but that was, however, not enough to have the Motion accepted.
Government is seeking to have the Bill modified.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had sought to amend the National Development Strategy, but those amendments were rejected by the People's National Congress Reform – One Guyana (PNC/R-1G)
The opposition had wanted the National Assembly to direct that the NDS be placed before a Special Select Parliamentary Committee to commence consultations immediately with the private sector, wider civil society, and other stakeholders.
During the debate of the Motion, both Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud highlighted to the National Assembly some of what their respective Ministries have done in terms of executing aspects of the NDS.
Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Raphael Trotman said that his party supports the Motion, but that this was done with great disappointment.
The AFC Parliamentarian said that it was only a year ago the said Motion was debated and passed.
He noted that it was very disappointing to know that the same persons who gave their approval a year ago are now opposing the same Motion.
Winston Murray, in his closing submissions, told the National Assembly that “notwithstanding all their claims… if all of our strategies were followed, it is forecasted that the average annual growth of the country's Gross Domestic Product, between 2001-2010, will be nine percent. We are convinced that even if the strategies are not followed optimally, at the very worst, barring a series of cataclysms, the average GDP would be up to the order of six percent,” Murray said.
He added that, over the last five years, the economy barely grew.
“It grew at an average of no more than 0.5 per cent. So we are long, long shot.
The Motion had sought to have the National Assembly direct the cross sectional group to report periodically to the Special Select Parliamentary Committee, and that the final updated NDS document be submitted to a Special Select Parliamentary Committee to make recommendations to the National Assembly for consideration and adoption.
Additionally, the Motion had to have the National Assembly Sartorial Committee on Economic Services monitor the policies and implementation of the NDS.
Last Thursday, Murray requested that Parliament defer the NDS Motion for a week, since the Prime Minister had submitted amendments to the Motion, and this required some time for him to hold discussions with party members.
As such, the Motion was debated on Thursday.