The main Parliamentary Opposition has rejected the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha’s invitation to join the government on the “exciting journey into the future” promised by the 2021 National Budget.
Mustapha, this morning, said that it is imperative that the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) gets onboard, but Coalition Member of Parliament (MP), Dawn Hastings-Williams reasoned that her party cannot support the budget since it had no say in its formulation. She told the House that the APNU+AFC was not invited to the consultations.
She reminded that the APNU+AFC represents “more than half” of the population, and to not consult with it was a major disservice to the nation. Similar sentiments were made by APNU+AFC MP, Geeta Chandan-Edmond last Monday, when she accused the government of breaching the constitution by not having consultation with the Coalition.
The government, however, prior to the budget presentation, had met with other political parties, private sector groups and other factions of society. It is unclear whether the government had invited the APNU+AFC. Hastings-Williams is now challenging the government to provide proof that it invited the APNU+AFC.
