PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION (2015-2017) OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA HELD IN THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN 78TH Sitting Friday, 8TH December, 2017 Assembly convened at 10.21 a.m. Prayers [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] PUBLIC BUSINESS GOVERNMENT’S BUSINESS MOTION MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 2018 WHEREAS the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana requires that Estimates of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for any financial year should be laid before the National Assembly; AND WHEREAS the Constitution also provides that when the Estimates of Expenditure have been approved by the Assembly an Appropriation Bill shall be introduced in the Assembly providing for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of the sums necessary to meet that expenditure; AND WHEREAS the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for the financial year 2018 have been prepared and laid before the Assembly on 2017- 11-27. 1 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2018, of a total sum of two hundred and forty three billion, three hundred and seventy five million, two hundred and eighty eight thousand dollars ($243,375,288,000), excluding twenty three billion, seven hundred and eighteen million, four hundred and eighty three thousand dollars ($23,718,483,000) which is chargeable by law, as detailed therein and summarised in the undermentioned schedule, and agree that it is expedient to amend the law and to further provision in respect of finance. [Minister of Finance] Assembly resumed Budget debate. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, the Assembly will now resume the Budget debate for the year 2018. This is day five of our debate. The first speaker has already delivered their statement on day three. So, the first Member to speak today will be the Hon. Raphael Trotman. You have the floor, sir. Minister of Natural Resources [Mr. Trotman]: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Colleagues and Members of Parliament. Mr. Speaker, in rising to make my contribution to this debate on Budget 2018, under the apt theme: The Journey to the Good Life Continues, I believe that my first duty is to join with Members of the House, both on the Government’s side and the side of the Opposition, to congratulate and thank the Minister of Finance and his capable team for presenting the fourth Budget of this A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government. This Budget, a mid-term Budget, is one that is designed deliberately and specifically to allow us to rise to the challenges that have been encountered and to foster the conditions for the creation of opportunities for the renewal and the expansion of the economy in order to secure the “Good Life” that lies ahead in the future. Our Minister of Finance has outlined a number of strategic objectives for 2018, which includes: “…consolidating the macroeconomic fundamentals; fostering higher growth for more and better jobs; improving the quality of life of our people; investing in skills development; 2 investing massively in infrastructure; doing more to facilitate business; stimulating growth and employment in the productive sectors; and supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, among others.” We recall that His Excellency the President graced this House with his presence on 2nd November, 2017, just a few weeks ago and adumbrated the Coalition Government’s policies on the common good, as he termed them, for the ensuing year. This Budget adds the proverbial flesh to the frame and the nuts and bolts to the chassis of the framework that the President has laid down on the 2nd November, 2017. This has been a challenging and testing year, both ministerially and politically. And yet, it has not been without its triumphs in each, such that we can say proudly that we had been embattled but we have not withered. We are fighting a good fight. We will finish this race and, at the end, we would have kept the faith; all the while, we recall that it is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts”, that we will overcome. I feel particularly honoured, this morning, as I am sure all of my Colleagues, feel the honour to be a member of a college of Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs), who are filled with a passion to transform this country. We are all committed in humility and with the wisdom that we have been bestowed to find ways to work through differences and difficulties that attend coalitions, in particular, and Governments, in general. I am proud of the leadership of President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo. And I have unmitigated admiration for my Colleague Ministers who persevere against great opposition and uncertainties. Yesterday, Minister Henry, in fact, showed emotion that we all feel inside and many of us contain. But those of us who have been privileged to serve the people of Guyana as a Minister, and there are many on that side, would know that it is no easy task. The Coalition is not without its challenges. But, as Leader of the AFC, I say that the Coalition is strong and the Government of this country is strong. The AFC is comfortable and happy with the leadership of Brigadier David Arthur Granger and we will fight to defend the legacy of the APNU/AFC Government, despite all of the attacks that are levelled against this Government. Today, we, as a nation, are faced with the terribly painful reality of the state of the sugar industry. Everyone who confronted this week’s newspapers must feel a sense of sadness and pain for those who have laboured today, yesterday and over the centuries for what was described at 3 one time as the sweet of Europe. All of us, save and except our Indigenous brothers and sisters, came here because of sugar. We well know the pain that was mainstreamed to that journey. Today, I wish to salute all of the workers and, hopefully, offer them a new vision that will take some time to fill, yes, but not so much time that we cannot plan now for it. We will not abandon the right of the workers to be treated with dignity and in keeping with the provisions of the law. The Government will not abandon you, I say to the workers, in your period of transition. In 2020, the first revenues from oil, a product that has created global upheavals over the decade, will come on stream, here in Guyana. We have heard little else, over the last few months, than words about disease, curses, corruption and disaster. But while we must ensure that none of that long list of what I have just read out becomes a reality, we should not let it become our vision of the future. Oil has the possibility, nay, even the obligation, to bring about change. We need an oil change in this country. Our centuries old engines are failing and our drivers, in every sense, have to be changed. We have a new product and we must create a new country where we retain and retool our old and young to take advantage of this. I am acutely aware of the anxiety and weight that the closure of sugar factories will bring to all Guyana. That is why I am both relieved and pleased to announce that the entire contract, as first revealed by Minister Harmon, of the ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Nexen will be revealed in the month of December, 2017. And when it is revealed, it will be seen that this contract is no different to any one that had been inked and signed by the previous Administration and I believe that many are going to be disappointed because they believe that something was hidden. Some of us who have had the fortune, online or to have seen the newspapers this morning, would have seen a front page on two newspapers, which, I believe, was deliberately organised to cause some embarrassment to this Government. But the Government is not ashamed, embarrassed nor afraid of any attempt to stymie it or to cause it to cower in fear. It is well known that we have entered into a contract with ExxonMobil and its partners Hess Corporation and Nexen. I wish to, for the benefit of this House, state some of the more salient aspects of that contract. I do not know if there is some move to say that there is something special about it. I should say, I recall, as my good Colleague, Minister of Public Health, pointed out a few minutes ago, that they meant evil by releasing this letter, which is a standard letter, but the Lord 4 meant it for good. I recall the words of Joseph to his brothers when it was that they thought that they had sold him or had gotten rid of him. But he had been sent ahead, in fact, to prepare for a famine that was to come. And he said to them, in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it unto good in order to bring to pass this present result to preserve many people alive.” Nothing that this Government has done, yesterday, today and will do in the future, was done and will be done except to preserve the lives of the people of Guyana.