A stormy budget session?

21.JAN.11

The opening salvos in what is expected to be a very stormy Budget debate were fired yesterday when Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. The Hon. Ralph Gonsalves laid the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2011 before the House of Assembly. In fact even before the House convened, there were protests from the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) about being given insufficient time to prepare for the debate on the Estimates.{{more}} In turn, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Opposition had been given far more time than it had allowed its Parliamentary opponents when the NDP was in government.

The new alignment of forces in Parliament following the general elections of last December means that the Opposition bench is much stronger, and, given the sparks generated in previous debates, one can only expect political fireworks over the budgetary provisions. What one hopes, is that our parliamentarians will uphold the dignity of the House and lift the standard of debate to focus on real policy issues and the content of the Budget, rather than lapse into personal clashes as has happened in the past.

In this context, it is important that the Prime Minister himself, as Leader of the House, take the lead and set the standard. There has been, historically, much political bad blood between both sides and the recent contentious elections would not have helped either. But PM Gonsalves has created a new portfolio, that of a Ministry of Reconciliation, the focus of which is still unclear to the general public. The government’s attitude to the Opposition during the Budget debate, and the extent to which the Opposition reciprocates, would indicate just how far both sides are prepared to go along the path of national healing.

That healing and reconciliation is a prerequisite for advancing national economic and social goals. Too much of our attention is diverted to internecine political warfare between the NDP and ULP at the expense of the national good. It prevents us from focusing on the strategic tasks so urgently required of small developing countries like ours in a largely hostile world. Debate over policy directions is healthy for our democracy, but it is important that the debate is not allowed to degenerate into hostile confrontations and vitriolic personal attacks as evidenced in the past. The role of the Speaker and the level of respect for that office on the part of Parliamentarians will be crucial here.

Clouding the budget debate and threatening to distract from its content is a row over proposed legislation by the Government to amend the law governing private criminal proceedings and to also amend the Representation of the People Act. The Opposition, which has filed several complaints under the current law, has objected vociferously, and yesterday called out its supporters in protest, also appealing to the general public to give its support as well. This appears to have the potential to become a major political issue and is therefore bound to influence the tone of the conversation in the House.

In all of this, we appeal to all our Parliamentarians not to lose sight of their grave responsibilities and the interests of the people whom they represent. Hold firm to your beliefs but do not allow your differences to be placed above the interests of all our people. Respect the House and uphold its dignity. Be shining examples to the youth of our nation.