Let the Budget debate set a positive tone

The ceremonial opening of Parliament for the 2025 year took place yesterday afternoon with all the pomp and ceremony bequeathed by colonial authorities. These precede far more important happenings, the presentation of the nation’s 2025 Budget, debate on it, and expected approval by the House of Assembly.

It is most likely that this will be the last national Budget before the holding of general elections, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves having signalled that he is likely to “ring the bell’ sometime this year. However, it is possible that elections may not be held until 2026 since constitutional provisions open such an option or, Heaven forbid, we may once again be affected by a natural disaster.

Historically, the pre-elections Budget debate has proven to be a contentious experience with both sides of the House seeming to focus more on improving their chances of winning support in the run-up to the elections than on the thrust and content of the Budget proposals themselves. For this reason, the pre-election Budget has been long baptised as an “election budget” and its proposals have tended to be foreshadowed by its perceived impact on the fortunes of the competing political forces.

Given this history, many Parliamentarians often seem to lose focus and test the patience of the Speaker in keeping the debate on track. While it is natural that with this perhaps being the last major occasion to convince the electorate of their capacity to lead the country forward, the parties will do their best to display their political wares, it is important to exercise restraint on the matter. Too often in the past the standard of debate has deteriorated, placing stress on the Speaker to enforce proper Parliamentary standards and, frankly speaking, we can ill afford the sort of histrionics exhibited by some noted offenders. Surely, we can do better.

Quite naturally, the main focus of the debate will be on the Budget proposals especially on how realistic they are and whether, as the Opposition will no doubt argue, they are grounded in realism or are simply vote-catching proposals. The debate on substantial matters like the national debt, constantly raised by the Opposition, can, if properly handled, help to educate listeners on aspects of the Budget and national policy, to which not enough attention is paid.

Given the politics of the moment, it will be interesting to note whether both sides of the House would pay serious attention to the upcoming elections and preparations for its conduct. Historically, too, we have had a number of unfortunate confrontations and clashes over electoral arrangements which were entirely avoidable. It is imperative that sensible people behave sensibly and act responsibly.

This requires cross-party exchange of ideas and cooperation, not grandstanding and rabble-rousing. If there are aspects of arrangements for elections that require scrutiny or amendment, lets try to do it now before we get into the heat of the battle in which the contesting sides seem to have only one ear each.

We urge our Parliamentarians to act responsibly and lift the standards of parliamentary debate and conduct during Budget Debate 2025.