Eustace knocks late delivery of 2011 Estimates

An hour after receiving the Estimates for the 2011 National Budget, Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace took to the airwaves slamming the Prime Minister with charges that the late provision of the documents “is an attempt to deceive the public.”{{more}}

On Tuesday, January 18, Eustace expressed displeasure about receiving the Estimates close to 11a.m. that day, less than 24 hours before the Finance Committee of the Parliament was scheduled to meet.

The Opposition Leader contended that the members of Government who are new and never had the opportunity to deal with Estimates before have an advantage over the new members of his team. He said this is because the Government members of the House had to participate in the preparation of the Estimates.

“I think it is grossly unfair,” said Eustace.

He reiterated that there is a need of about two or three days to digest the Estimates properly in order to make a proper contribution in the Parliament of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Estimates are said to be 659 pages long.

The time for presenting the Opposition with the Estimates is too short, said Eustace, adding that despite this, he and his team will debate it.

He further stated on the Nice Radio’s “New Times” programme: “What really annoys me this morning and which is a sign of the creeping dictatorship in the country is that when I took out the document for the Estimates there were two other small bills for Parliament that were in the envelope.”

Eustace has been complaining publicly about the Government’s late delivery of the Estimates since Monday of this week. (HN)