Leader of the Opposition Godwin Friday says Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves must explain to Vincentians as to why he (Gonsalves) and other ministers refused to debate the 2024 Budget, which wrapped up on Wednesday morning.
Friday at a press conference on Wednesday evening said: Ministers of government, who had responsibility for over $476 million worth of programs and projects, that were outlined in the budget, did not speak.
“They did get up to support, to expand on or to do whatever they chose. In response to the presentation that was made by the Minister of Finance, not even the Prime Minister did that.”
Friday said: “After the speaker of the House called for further debate and no one rose to speak, on the urging of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance terminated further debate”.
“The Prime Minister did not speak on the budget.“ Think of that. This is extraordinary. The Prime Minister did not speak on the budget of his government, even though he was in the House at the time when the Speaker called for further debate. He looked around and tried to urge, from what I gather, the members on his side as to who was going to speak. There seemed to be no discipline whatsoever in their team as to who was going to speak and when”.
Friday stated that the actions of the Prime Minister is contemptuous of the people of this country.
“How can you take the budget seriously when the Minister presents and the Prime Minister is present and does not address what is presented?”
Meanwhile Opposition MP Daniel Cummings on Wednesday evening said that the breakdown in the Parliament lies squarely in the lap of a Prime Minister, who is tired.
“The breakdown in parliament lies squarely in the lap of a Prime Minister who is tired very, tired and is afraid of the disclosures that we have on the weaknesses, the inaccuracies, the crap, literally, that is presented for our budget”, Cummings said.
