The Alliance For Change wishes to place on record its willingness to approve the $450 million allocation for the University of Guyana Student Loan Subvention. The subvention was ‘not approved’ after the PPP Government refused to delink it from contentious allocations that the AFC had no intention of supporting, those being the allocations for NCN and GINA.
During the 2014 Budget debate the AFC pleaded with the government to remove the allocations for NCN and GINA from the line item so as to allow passage of the subventions for the University of Guyana and others such as, those for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology, the Office of the first Lady, Office of the President Security, the Guyana Office for Investment, the Integrity Commission, the Office of the Commissioner for Information and the Guyana Energy Agency. The government blatantly refused and adamantly held its position that the entire line item inclusive of the amounts for NCN and GINA be put to the vote.
Even as the AFC voted not to approve the Line Item as put forward in the Budget, the Party made it clear that it was willing to support the non-contentious allocations should these be brought in a Supplementary Financial Paper. The AFC remains committed to approving these allocations.
The present situation where students cannot access the low interest loans is entirely the making of the Government and could have easily been avoided. Even now, it can be resolved. It is up to the government.
The University of Guyana through its Vice-Chancellor, student body, staff and lecturers need to press the Government to return to the National Assembly immediately with a Supplementary Paper for their Subvention. Be assured the AFC will approve the allocation.
On the broader problems plaguing the University, the Alliance For Change repeats its call for a complete revamp and de-politicisation of the Council. [END]
May 29, 2014
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