Coye praises the process for transparency
Despite Barrow’s graphic metaphors, the government side of the house was not without some life of its own. The emphasis of the PUP presentation was less on the how we got here, than on where we are headed. For Minister of Works and financial point man Joe Coye, the budget’s greatest accomplishment was the process by which it was created.
Jose Coye, Min. of State, Ministry of Finance
?What comes before us today is a product of transparency, of broad-based consultation, and for all to participate in. Madam Speaker, the fundamental principles of budgeting have been initiated, are being implemented. Affordability, prioritisation, and operational efficiency is a commitment that have been undertaken and is in the process by the government. But we must not forget Madam Speaker, that the economy is not just about the public sector, which is certainly necessary in providing the fertile enabling environment for the productive sector. And there is overwhelming evidence in the composition of the budget to show that whilst there is a decline in the G.D.P., because indeed we are moving away from the grandioso projects to the smaller projects that will impact directly on the lives of the masses of our people. And consequently there will be a decline coming from the public sector growth. But what is more important, because what is indeed sustainable and what indeed will continue to sustain and to develop the productive sector in the creation of jobs is because of what we did then in the past, and the evidence is overwhelming that the economy is growing. The productive sector is growing and there are signs that it will be sustainable because of the inputs the public sector have made in the past.?
?The budget was prepared not by members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet set the policy and the principles that were to activate the preparation of this budget. The financial data were prepared by men and women of integrity and professionalism. This is not a figment of the imagination of the members of the Cabinet or the public finance committee. This was brought out of professional, professional expertise coming from our civil servants. So Madam Speaker, to suggest that it?s a fake, among the other different words that was used to discredit it is discrediting our over professional public officers with their competence and their integrity. And that to me Madam Speaker must not be taken lightly.?
