This year's $68 billion budget, like previous ones, has placed a tremendous amount of emphasis on investing in human capital, recognising that the country cannot move forward without such an approach, according to Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Clement Rohee.

Rohee, making his contribution to the budget debate last Tuesday, pointed out that investment in human capital is reflected in the increasing allocations being made in the health, social and education sectors. "I think the record speaks for itself..." the minister said.

According to him, at no time in the history of this country has so much resources been allocated to the social sector to ensure that there is a healthy and well-educated population.

On the question of no new taxes, Rohee said that this "seems to be a matter that people are now taking for granted," stressing that in many countries around the world new and additional forms of taxation are being levelled.

He said that in Guyana there have been a number of consecutive budgets without any additional taxation being levelled against the population, adding that this should not be taken for granted as it deprives the government of badly needed revenue.

Rohee, dealing with the question of attracting investment, said that there was a total of 45 new and expanding projects to a value of $74.3 million in 2001.

In 2002, 22 new and ongoing expanding projects to the tune of US$28.5 million have so far materialised, amounting to a total of US$102.8 million and accounting for approximately 3,447 jobs.

Rohee pointed out that all this is happening in a situation where a small developing country like Guyana was confronted with a hostile international environment and domestic political situation.

The minister focused a major part of his speech on the PNC/R's absence from the budget debate, and said that since the presentation of the budget there has been a "hue and cry" from the opposition benches that issues pertaining to governance, democracy and inclusiveness have been scuttled by the administration of the day.

"And this attitude has manifested itself in the voluntary absence of the members on the other side of the house from the debate," the minister said.

He pointed out that one of the arguments that is being used is that the dialogue process and the committees that flowed from it have either not been functioning or have been functioning in a rather "lethargic" manner and what was expected of them in terms of their mandate leaves much to be desired.

The minister said that the PNC/R is accusing the government of acting in bad faith but pointed out that when one examines the facts that accusation ought to be turned in the opposite direction. Rohee said that "it is very sad" that the PNC/R is seeking to hold the democratic process "hostage" to its own political designs and this is "entirely unacceptable."

According to him, the PNC/R wants to get out of the dialogue as much as it could but without putting anything into it to make it successful.

He said that the opposition is attempting to send a signal internationally and locally to create the impression that Guyana is a country in crisis. The opposition, he said further, is not participating in the debate pertaining to the budget thinking that the international community would give it some comfort zone.

According to Rohee, referring to what he described as "a rather interesting saga of events" associated with the non-functioning of the Ethnic Relations Commission, it was his understanding that instructions were issued for invitations to be sent out to various committees and organisations soliciting names of persons to serve on the commission.

And as events turned out, Rohee stated, the instructions to have the invitations issued were not carried out and enquiries had to be made of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Frank Narain as to why the invitations were not issued.

The minister produced a letter which he stated was written by the Clerk of the National Assembly to President Bharrat Jagdeo explaining why the task was not undertaken. Rohee said that in the letter dated February 9, 2002 the clerk informed the president that "due to mental tiredness ... and a lack of enthusiasm", he has been unable to fulfill the duty of issuing the letters inviting persons to be part of the commission.

He said that the clerk also appealed to the president that he wanted to be urgently relieved as he needs a break and vacation.

"It goes without saying Mr Speaker, that it had nothing to do with the government not wanting to take the process forward in respect to the establishment of the ethnic relations commission," Rohee pointed out. The minister noted that the opposition has representation on 50 boards already. He posited that the public ought to know that the question is not about PNC/R representation on boards as that issue has already been settled as a matter of principle. Rohee added that there have been difficulties with respect to the establishment of the parliamentary committees and no agreement could have been reached because the PNC/R was demanding a majority on the committees as well as the chairmanship.