Resources absent to fight corruption-- PNCR frontbencher
Kaieteur News
February 11, 2007
PNCR Member of Parliament, Winston Murray, has said that corruption is rampant and he pointed to the absence of resources allocated to fight corruption.
During the budget debate that opened Friday night, he pointed to the need for Government to establish the Public Procurement Commission, instead of the National Tender Administration which is appointed by the Finance Minister.
Murray implored that Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, should ensure that the names of contractors are disclosed at the same time that he announces an award of a contract during his post-Cabinet media briefings.
He also pointed out to the continued absence of projected income from the Guyana Lottery Company and the continued insistence of government to withhold revenue generated by the lotto.
Murray also called for a reform of the Tax system and urged that a special group comprising government, private sector representatives and employee organisations to review Corporation Tax rates, and the personal Income Tax threshold.
And during the debate Member of Parliament Aubrey Norton urged that the government take account of the hostile global economic environment.
He said that Guyana needs to be part of an initiative that coordinates the activities of small states in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with the aim of satisfying its interests.
Norton said that Guyana should develop a strategy to work with India, Brazil, China and other emerging states to forge an alliance aimed at developing an economy that is more responsive to the concerns of small states such as Guyana.
He also took note of the interest and the widening of the government's vision of the role foreign policy can play in the development of Guyana.
“We must intensify the diplomatic effort to rid our oil of troubled waters. To do otherwise will result in a repeat of what happened to CGX a few years ago.”
He was critical of the absence of the budget not taking into account the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plan 2005 to 2009.
“There is need to take a holistic approach in which the Ministry's capacity is developed and the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seen as being a significant contributor to the development of Guyana,” Norton stated.