Espat Says Budget Has No Credibility

Julius Espat

Following that back and forth Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, definitely not a favourite of the Barrow administration, got up to make his presentation on the budget. When the inevitable heckling from the government side died down, Espat gained no favour by claiming that the document disguised as a budget is useless.

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South

“What we are presented with in this book—can I have a copy of your book—in this book Mister Speaker, disguised as a budget is useless and has absolutely no credibility. I say so, Mister Speaker, because of the essence of what the Prime Minister said in his budget speech this year. And I will quote; he said the upshot is Mister Speaker that I serve notice right now that I expect to come back to this House with a mid-year supplementary for what I present today cannot long survive the tectonic shift caused by last week’s results…end of quote. You see, Mister Speaker, the Prime Minister’s continued use of supplementary appropriation bills and special warrants undermines the essence and purpose of what a national budget should be. This is a continued abuse of the financial regulations of this country, Mister Speaker. He in reality, Mister Speaker, uses this method of bypassing regulations to enable him to do his political spending.  Clear examples of this are his Christmas Cheer program, Mister Speaker; his Mother’s Day program, Mister Speaker; and his back to school program, Mister Speaker.”