Guyana: Jordan Critiques Parliament’s Oversight on Government Spending

Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan has raised concerns regarding the Guyanese government’s recent request for an additional $54.8 billion, shortly after the approval of the national budget of $1.558 trillion. In an interview with HGP Nightly News, Jordan criticized the government’s planning and accountability, suggesting that Parliament is failing to adequately scrutinize public spending.

Jordan noted that while supplementary budgets are not uncommon under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, the scale and timing of this latest request should alarm citizens. He stated, “If you go back throughout the history of the PPP government, this is not new,” but emphasized that the current request indicates poor management of public resources.

He expressed skepticism regarding the government’s explanations for the additional funds, particularly references to accelerated work programmes, arguing that such vague justifications are insufficient when requesting billions shortly after the national budget’s passage. Jordan believes that Parliament should demand detailed answers before approving significant supplementary requests.

Jordan further criticized the government’s use of its parliamentary majority to evade accountability, stating, “The government feels, with a runaway majority of six seats, that it doesn’t have to be accountable.” He compared Guyana’s parliamentary process unfavorably to that of other countries, such as the United States, where opposition lawmakers actively question funding requests.

He pointed out that members of Parliament should be able to inquire about previous allocations and their expenditures, but often face obstacles in obtaining full answers from ministers. Jordan claimed that ministers frequently promise to provide documentation later, but such documents are rarely delivered, undermining Parliament’s oversight role.

Jordan described the current state of Parliament as disappointing, stating, “Of the three branches of government, the Parliament is the worst of the lot in Guyana.” He noted that public sentiment towards Parliament is increasingly negative, with many viewing it as ineffective. He emphasized that the amounts being requested are significantly larger than in the past, raising concerns about the lack of rigorous examination of spending requests.

Additionally, Jordan criticized the quality of post-spending accountability, asserting that audit reports often fail to thoroughly assess outcomes or question the effectiveness of expenditures. He concluded that the recent supplementary budget request highlights broader issues of planning, oversight, and accountability within the government.

Source: hgptv.com