PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION (2012) OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA HELD IN THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN 9TH Sitting Thursday, 12TH April, 2012 Assembly convened at 1.10 p.m. Prayers [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER Thanking the Deputy Speaker Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon Hon. Members. There are a number of announcements. Firstly, I would like to thank the Hon. Member Mrs. Deborah Jan Backer, Deputy Speaker, for presiding over the Assembly yesterday. From all reports, everything went better than when I am here. Thank you Mrs. Backer. Training for Parliamentary Staff Mr. Speaker: The second announcement that I wish to make is that the Parliament of the United Kingdom, through the good offices of the British High Commission, Georgetown, has granted the National Assembly two spaces at an upcoming programme on parliamentary democracy for attached Clerks and senior officers. The programme is being conducted at the British High Commission from 23rd April to 3rd May, 2012 and the Assembly has suggested the names of two persons to represent it. I believe that it is worthy to note that the British Government is fully funding the participation of one candidate coming from this Assembly. I wish to take this 1 opportunity to thank both Her Majesty‟s Government and our own Government of Guyana for collaborating to realise a vision of a highly trained and motivated parliamentary staff. The names of those persons will be released later. Publication and presentation of book by Rev. Dr. Kwame Gilbert Mr. Speaker: Thirdly, the Hon. Member Rev. Dr. Kwame Gilbert, has published a book, aptly entitled Transformational Leadership. I have been reading it and I recommend it highly. At 4.00 p.m., at the break, the Hon. Member will be presenting copies of his book to the parliamentary library and the press is invited to witness the event, and any other member may be present. I take the opportunity, as well, to encourage all Members of Parliament and staff, and all those with an interest in parliamentary democracy and governance issues, to share their writings with the library and I would love to facilitate formal or ceremonial handing over of such material. Visit by the Students of Camilles Academy Mr. Speaker: Fourthly, we have with us, this afternoon, thirteen students of Camilles Academy, located at Soesdyke, and their teacher. Could they please stand as we recognise them and give them a good National Assembly courteous welcome? Thank you for coming. Dress Code Mr. Speaker: Owing to many phone calls, emails and other entreaties that I have received from members of the public, I wish to remind Hon. Members that there is a dress code in effect. Also, Members are reminded that no food or drink is allowed in the Chamber, or is to be consumed in the Chamber. Only the water provided by the Assembly should be consumed. I have had recourse to Parliaments around the world and it is the same. However, if a Member has medicinal needs, or any other requirements, and wishes a dispensation, I will be more than willing to accommodate that Member. Reading of Speech by Members of the National Assembly Mr. Speaker: Lastly, Members are being reminded, and again I have been approached by many members of the public, that reading of speech is unparliamentary , though you may refer to your notes, but we expect that you will, to the best of your ability, not read your speech. 2 The Clerk just reminded me that reading can be done with my permission. Permission ought to be sought. Thank you Mr. Isaacs. MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND MOVED BY A MINISTER SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER NO. 71 (2) WHEREAS Standing Order No. 71 (2) provides for five (5) days to be allotted for the debate on a motion for the approval of the Estimates of Revenues and Expenditure; AND WHEREAS it is anticipated that the five days allotted by Standing Order No. 71 (2) would be inadequate for the debate on the motion for the approval of the 2012 Estimates of Revenues and Expenditures; AND WHEREAS recognising that time was limited, the Government at a meeting of the Parliamentary Management Committee on March 28, 2012 proposed that the sitting commence at 10 a.m. and conclude at 10 p.m.; AND WHEREAS the APNU proposed that the sittings commence at 1 p.m. and conclude at 10 p.m., and the said meeting of the Parliamentary Management Committee agreed to proceed with the APNU‟s proposition for the period of the general debate of Budget 2012; AND WHEREAS in response to a request of the Opposition for a further extension of time to six (6) days instead of five (5), the Government agreed to propose that the debate be extended accordingly, “BE IT RESOLVED: That Standing Order No. 71 (2) be suspended to enable the debate on the motion for the approval of the Estimates of Revenues and Expenditures for the year 2012 to be extended to six (6) days.” [Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs] Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs [Mr. Hinds]: This motion comes to this House with the support of all of the parties and it stands in my name. It is a simple motion 3 that “WHEREAS Standing Order No. 71 (2) provides for five (5) days to be allotted for the debate on a motion for the approval of the Estimates of Revenues and Expenditure;” We had some discussions at the Parliamentary Management Committee. It was felt that five days would be inadequate. The Government had proposed that, maybe, we considered meeting from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. over five days but that was not convenient, and not supported by the other parties. There was a proposal from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to go from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., which has been useful. Up to now we have not been going later than, maybe, 10.30 p.m. to 10.45 p.m., but there is still the need for an extra day and so the Government is proposing that we suspend Standing Order No. 71 (2) so as to allow for a sixth day during this debate. I so move and I expect that the other parties would support it. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Prime Minister, there is one small correction. The proposal for 1 p.m. was made by me, as Speaker, which the APNU agreed to. Ms. Ally: I rise to second the motion, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: I believe that the motion is self-explanatory. Given the nature of the Tenth Parliament and the budget before us, it is that we go for six days as against five days. Question put, and agreed to. Standing Order suspended. PUBLIC BUSINESS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MOTION BUDGET SPEECH 2012 - MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 2012 “WHEREAS the Constitution of Guyana requires that Estimates of the Revenue and Expenditure of Guyana for any financial year should be laid before the National Assembly; 4 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 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of Guyana for the financial year 2012 have been prepared and laid before the Assembly on 2012-03-30; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2012, of a total sum of one hundred and seventy nine billion, six hundred and ninety six million, five hundred and forty six thousand dollar ($179,696,546,000), excluding thirteen billion, and eighty four million, seven hundred and thirty five thousand dollars (13,084,735,000) 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 make further provision in respect of finance.” [Minister of Finance] Assembly resumed budget debate. Dr. Roopnarine: Allow me, Mr. Speaker, before I begin my contribution to the Budget 2012 debate, to join with my honourable friend, Mrs. Indranie Chandarpal, in extending congratulations to the young women Members of Parliament, in particular Hon. Member Dr. Persaud, Hon. Member Ms. Ferguson and Hon. Member Ms. Marcello, who have enriched this honourable House with their fluency, grace and feeling. [An Hon. Member: What about the men? Why are you discriminating?] I am discriminating. As I listened to the Hon. Minister that Friday afternoon, at the end of March, it occurred to me that he was not at his most energetic. I missed the flamboyance and the sheer physicality, not to mention the histrionics, of previous performances, as we saw most recently in his spirited, creative defence of Financial Papers Nos. 7 and 8. When I saw the Hon. Minister a few days later, more recently, in the course of a televised press conference with three of his colleague Ministers, it was in a kind of preemptive, anticipatory defence of Budget 2012, and I thought that he was more of himself – upbeat, exuberant, argumentative and combat-ready. He even set up 5 some straw men whom he proceeded to knock over with relish. Of course, he was, no doubt, that Friday, constrained, somewhat, by the podium from which, traditionally, the Minister of Finance delivers his budget.