The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has considered fully and carefully the 2019 National Budget presented by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan on November 26. The Federation takes this opportunity to complement the Minister on the largest ever Budget and the longest ever Budget presentation.But, for us, those are the only remarkable features of Budget 2019.
From the workers point-of-view, there is nearly nothing that the workers could point out to say what this ‘the biggest budget in Guyana’s history’ will do lessen the heavy burdens that have been placed on their backs. Indeed, taking into account the substantial jump in tax revenues, it appears to us, that the clutches of taxation will tighten even more in 2019. At the same time, the stifling cost-of-living remains unchecked and will more than eat away at the crumbs that have been thrown to the workers. The Federation has seen the Government going on a propaganda offensive as it seeks to convince Guyanese that Budget has their interests at heart. For instance, the Department of Public Information says the Budget introduces no new taxes, but really there is hardly anything left to tax apart from the air we breathe. Clearly, the Budget illustrates how much disconnected is the Government from the ordinary people.
The FITUG is most peeved to recognise that none of the rational suggestions it advanced during the Budget consultation process, it appears, were taken on board. We wonder yet again whether these engagements were serious as they should be or is the Administration going through a ritual for public consumption. While we hope that the former is the case serious credence is given to whether the latter is really the reality. Certainly questions about the unaffordability of what we proposed seem moot recognising that budgeted expenditure has risen by 12.5 since the 2018 Budget. Quite obviously monies are available but the lack of emphasis about the concerns of our people sticks out like a sore thumb.
The Budget, it seemed to us, is largely a rehash of what we saw before and, it appears, that the Government is numb to the realities facing the Guyanese people. The FITUG had high expectations to learn about policies aimed at re-building our foreign reserves; reducing the Government’s Bank of Guyana overdraft; to reduce inefficient and extravagant expenditure; to improve our communities; to meaningfully address the growing unemployment; to really assist our elderly and vulnerable who are being crushed by the realities of life in Guyana, and to confront the spiraling criminality in our midst. Disappointingly and disturbingly, there seems to be no real serious concern about these matters and the ‘tax, borrow and spend mentality’ is rigidly held on to though the shortcomings of that approach are visible for even the blind to see.
Given the absence of really anything for the ordinary man, woman and child, the FITUG is perplexed to know where the large sum budgeted will really go. It seems, to us,that a significant sum will be gobbled up by the bloated State bureaucracy; no doubt millions, if not billions, will be used to jet off to all corners of Guyana and the exotic locales of our globe, and quite possibly an obscene sum will be channelled to pay the super-salaries and superior perks of our nation’s large pool of Ministers. While monies are going in this direction, a lot of people have really serious troubles to put meals on their tables; to send their children to school; to pay their bills; to have adequate shelter, among other things.
The FITUG, and indeed all Guyanese, will pay close attention to the upcoming Budget debates and consideration of the estimates. The Guyanese people need to know where their hard-earned tax monies are being utilized and how the debts that are taken in their, their children, their grand-children and, probably, their great grand-children names, are going to be used in their interest now and in the future.
For the FITUG, Budget 2019 is a great disappointment filled with hollow rhetoric. It is clear, that the promise of a ‘Good Life’ has lost all its lustre and meaning.
