As budget debates continue: Stop using AI to write your speeches in parliament – Pres Ali to MP’s

– lambasts opposition for obstructionism against development in budget
– says to transform Guyana also requires a change in mindset of Guyanese

As budget debates continue today, President Dr Irfaan Ali had strong words for the parliamentary opposition, members of whom have been accused of a range of missteps, from using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write their speeches to insulting hospitality workers… all on just the first day of debates.
At the commissioning of the US$300 million Vreed-en-Hoop shore base on Saturday, President Ali, who was the feature speaker, reminded Members of Parliament (MP) of their duty to analyse and critically evaluate… and to not abuse AI in generating their speeches.
“I want to remind debaters in parliament, that AI is a tool. Be careful. AI is a tool to help you. It is not a thinking platform. It is not a management platform. And it is definitely not a public policy making platform. It is but a tool. Stop generating AI speeches and regurgitating.”

“And I asked the Speaker of the National Assembly to save us from those who use this tool, as their thinking and policy-making platform. AI is just but a tool. It does not negate the human power to think, to analyse and to critically evaluate,” President Ali said.
During Friday’s budget debates, Opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes had drawn much condemnation for downplaying the jobs done by hospitality workers, who are vital parts of the tourism sector.
According to President Ali, one of the things transforming Guyana will require is a change in mindset of Guyanese.
“We have to build a tourism sector that is second to none, and we have to change. From the parents to the children, we have to change our philosophy too. Yes, it might be great to see your child leaving in the morning with a shirt and tie, going to work as a clerk behind a desk at the bank. And earn $170,000 per month. But your child can also do six weeks of training as an operator and earn $600,000 per month.”
“But it requires a philosophy and an ideology. I listened to some of the comments in parliament. I don’t call it a debate because some lack anything that is close to a debate. Comments that seek to reduce the value of persons who are coming up in the hospitality and tourism sector. We have to understand what are the requirements of this country moving forward.”
President Ali pointed out that with Guyana currently being in an election year, the Government could have crafted a budget that pleased everyone. However, he stressed the fact that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) Government is one that believes strongly in responsible leadership and policy making.
“I see people asking questions about the investment in infrastructure. It’s an infrastructure budget. Well, if you don’t have infrastructure you have to build it. Because development follows infrastructure. If we don’t have that four-lane bridge completed, all this investment on this side of the river can hardly be optimised,” President Ali said.
“And let me give you a simple calculation. You have about 20,000 vehicles crossing the Demerara bridge every day. And Timothy Tucker would (say) that you lose about three hours every day, in productive time waiting in the traffic.”
But President Ali noted that even if just one hour in productive time is lost in traversing the bridge, this can have a detrimental effect. For instance, if four persons are in the vehicle, that amounts to 80,000 hours every day in productive time lost while vehicles on the bridge wait in traffic.
“And if you use an eight-hour day, that is 10,000 man days we are losing just waiting in traffic because of inadequate infrastructure. And let me tell you something about borrowing, because this is another thing I see. What is it we’re borrowing for? The US$500 million on the Gas to Energy (GtE) Project, is not coming from recurrent expenditure.”
“It is not going towards public service wage bill. It is going towards improving the competitiveness of our country. It is going to an investment that will enable us to bring jobs to Guyana, to develop a first world industrial manufacturing, agro-processing sector in this country.”
The budget debates are slated to continue until Thursday, January 30, 2025.
A period of examining the budget estimates in the committee of supply will then follow, after which the $1.3 trillion budget will be passed.