This week the man/woman-in-the-street comments on the People's National Congress/REFORM boycott of the budget presentation by Finance Minister Saisnarine Kowlessar and the budget debate to protest a lack of action by the government in improving the functioning of parliament. They were joined in their protest action for the debate on the budget by the Guyana Action Party/Working People's Alliance MP Sheila Holder.

Herman Joseph - student: `Leadership comes from leading by example whether you are a father, husband, wife or teacher. If we do not have leadership we will go backward. The Bible says a lot of things about leadership but this comes to mind. It says spare the rod and spoil the child. The `rod' was not meant as a physical stick like some people believe. The `rod' is the word of God and if you spare the child from receiving the word of God it means that the child will be spoilt. It means that if we don't have leaders living by the word of God then our leaders will only have their interests at heart and mainly for self-gain. This will lead to a shaky situation comparable to a house if all the interests of the family members are not taken into consideration. According to the Bible the husband is the head of the home, the wife his deputy. This does not mean that his wife cannot voice her opinion and help in the decision-making process. It also does not mean that he ignores his children's concerns, leave them to rant and makes decisions without knowing what was really wrong. He has to listen to his children and share their concerns and this is how our own parliament should be run.'

Milne Seymour - teacher: `The boycott of the budget debate is necessary. The opposition can't continue to support the government on a budget that is destined to fail and doesn't take into account the economic realities of the country. So the PNC/REFORM or any opposition party should not stay in parliament at this time until government can come up with some practical solutions. The United Force is now united with the PPP/Civic so that is no opposition party. The budget debate is a waste of time. Is like you and your wife having a quarrel and she gone and leave you and you still quarrelling with yourself. The presence of (ROAR Leader Ravi) Dev and (Shirley) Melville (the GAP representative of the GAP/WPA alliance) is not important. Dev's release said everything so I don't know what he is doing in parliament still. He should be a leader and do what is right. The first time the PNC and WPA walked out of parliament, the government should have taken note. The second and a third and a fourth time the debate should have ended with the passing of the budget. They have the majority in Parliament. The ministers should have been in their office running the affairs of the country. If they wanted a debate they could have presented their speeches at the Stabroek Market Square or at the Square of the Revolution and put an open microphone for the man-in-the-street and debate the people.'

Gary Rajpaul - private sector employee: `I worked with both the PNC administration and the PPP/Civic and I can tell you it's not easy working with government. The first thing is that their wages are too small and because they pay you a measly salary they treat you like they own you. I thought that after the PPP/Civic took office they would have focused on the poor people and making things better for them but they are not fulfilling their duty to them. They are looking after the higher class of people. I feel the PNC/REFORM and the WPA representative are doing a good thing by boycotting the budget debate because their collective voice means nothing to the PPP/Civic administration. They should go and mark their names every time there is parliament and then leave. If the PPP/Civic can't do what they agreed to with the PNC then everybody can do whatever they please and that is why we will see more corruption and crime. I just bought my sister's groceries and they came up to $21,000. That is more than a month's salary for the government minimum wage worker.
Government saying it is looking at housing. I can't pay for the land much less build the house. I, as a low income worker have to work till I dead and still wouldn't get my house with the kind of wages government pay. I got to keep touring to get some decent money in another country where they see me as a Black man and a second class citizen but I have no choice because I really can't enjoy life in my own country.'

Bresha Macey - public sector employee: `As much as we are under pressure by some of the policies and decisions taken by government and even by the opposition parties in parliament, I don't think they should have boycotted parliament. The opposition should be the guardian of the people and shout when things go wrong. They should say what they have to say in parliament in the strongest possible way and have it on record and no one can then say that they did not try. Action could be taken in and out of parliament. They could then say that we told you so in the highest decision-making forum in the land. Their boycott will also have a negative impact on the economy especially if supporters of the government and related interest groups take up the cry of the opposition. It is scary to say the least. Right now workers like myself are eager to know what salary increases they are going to get. Right now it is a matter of living from one salary to another with the salary done in paying off debts alone, even before the new month starts.'

Govind Singh - businessman: `I think it was bad that the opposition had to resort to boycotting the budget debate. But it was unavoidable because their recommendations seen from a different perspective are not taken into consideration by the government. But boycotting parliament is not the solution because the PPP/Civic government will pass the budget anyway. As a businessman I am not satisfied with the economic situation. I'm being encouraged to sell my place and seek greener pastures. Years ago I could have saved on my earnings today I can't, not with a mortgage of $40,000 each month, a $12,000 light bill a month; telephone bills, water rates, among other expenses, including food bill and outfitting three kids for school every day. Businesses like mine are also not doing good because the roadside vendors are mushrooming all over the place and they are getting the customers. Even big businesses are crying out. The minimum wage should at least be $25,000 and tax free. It amazes me how the low income worker survives. You may not believe me but I welcome the US$100 or US$200 that my relatives overseas would send to me occasionally.'

Lolita Mapp - housewife: `The PNC/REFORM and the WPA had a right to boycott the budget debate to sensitise the people about what is taking place or what is not taking place in parliament. People, with the exception of a few of the elite, are feeling some sort of pressure all around. The purpose of the debate is to have an exchange of ideas at the highest level in the interest of the nation. But if the government sees only its point of view then what is the sense of a debate with the opposition. Not because the PPP/Civic is in power and have the majority in parliament does it mean that they must not heed what the opposition says. I agree with the PNC and the WPA. I listened to the budget presentation and the debate on television and I could tell the Finance Minister that the man-in-the-street is looking for relief, less taxation and reduction in food prices. He must not only look at relief for the investors and businessmen because their incentives are not trickling down to we, the poor people. Probably it would happen later but you know the story, when the grass growing the horse starving. Which reminds me that we eat more than we wear and food is expensive for the kinds of salaries paid. As a housewife I can tell you about the squeeze especially when my husband brings the money and tells me that I have to make it do. I can't tell the stores and the vendors to drop their prices.'

Ayube Mohamed - private sector employee: `Everybody speculated that the income tax threshold would have gone higher. Lots of people were surprised that in spite of the consultative process an increase was not considered. On the other hand, the cost of living is higher than ever. During the last election campaign a senior PPP/Civic functionary said that every community in the country has benefited since the party took office in 1992. Well I am one individual who has not benefited. My PAYE (Pay As You Earn) taxes are heavy and I can't see the relief because all my bills from rent, utility bills and food are extremely high. I applied for a house lot two years ago and they keep pushing me around. That is what I get for paying a high income tax. If the opposition, which would more represent me, can't have their voice heard then I agree with them for walking out. The crossing of the TUF leader to the government benches makes his budget speech useless.'

Ron Anthony - public sector employee: `The government is robbing us all the time. Everyday we go through a struggle and I been going through this struggle now for forty plus years. They use us to put them in power and now we don't know when they are going to come to their senses and really address the problems we face. It's only a matter of survival. You work for a `drillion' and you end up with a `lillion'. You can't die in this country when you funeral cost $30,000 and you minimum wage is $18,000. The government know what is going on but just playing they don't know. The opposition right to boycott Parliament because they could talk cheese and it will make no difference to the party in government. Something is wrong somewhere. We're about the biggest CARICOM country in which the Leeward and Windward Islands could fit and yet we can't get our act together. They aren't paying any interest in the system of governance and the welfare of the low income people and that is why there is going to be an increase in crime in general, including organised crime.'