Home Top Stories “You want to stand on legs of credibility, come with clean hands...
…as MP’s trade taunts over stewardship of Local Govt Ministry
Wednesday’s parliamentary session erupted in fireworks, as Local Government Minister Sonia Parag squared off against opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul and urged him and the rest of the opposition to ensure that when they come to the house to criticize, they must come with clean hands.
During Day-four of the budget debates in the National Assembly, Mahipaul used his time to critique the slate of government Ministers. In particular, however, he zeroed in on Minister Parag, whose ministry he shadows in parliament, questioning the achievements of her ministry.
“From my research, even previous PPP/C Ministers were achieving their targets, except for the immediate past one. No target set by this Ministry was achieved under honorable Sonia Parag. The Local Government Sector Strategy, not achieved. The completion of a sanitation sector plan, not achieved.”
“Establishment of the monitoring and evaluation framework, not achieved. Completion of the Ministry’s strategic plan, not achieved. Completion of the regional strategic plan, not achieved,” Mahipaul further said.
When it was her turn, however, Parag reminded the House and in particular, Mahipaul, that when persons come to the National Assembly to cast stones, they must ensure they have clean hands. In addition to going over Mahipaul’s record as a Community Development Officer prior to 2020, she went on to read a newspaper article dating from 2013, in which Mahipaul had admitted to misusing funds while serving as President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS).
“Mr Mahipaul comes to the honorable house and he pontificates and he brings a 97 per cent AI speech. And he comes like he knows everything that’s going on. And he’s the most pious individual… the regional officers could not find one thing that he did in the communities of Region Three as the Community Development Officer! Collecting a salary from the Government of Guyana at the time and doing nothing to develop any community.”
“When you come in this house… you must come with clean hands. This honorable member, who stood up in this house and made allegations by shouting and pontificating… this is the headline from the Kaieteur News, May 8, 2013. UGSS President admits to misusing funds. To be sent on leave to facilitate internal audit… when it was brought to the public’s attention and he admitted to misusing funds, he retracted and said he borrowed it,” Parag also said.
The minister meanwhile went through not only her Ministry’s achievements, but also what they plan to achieve. And contrary to criticism made by Mahipaul about the PPP not adequately supporting the local government organs, Parag pointed out that the PPP/C has actually been giving extra support to them.
“Pensions right now are being paid in the communities. And the bare minimum standards will be established and are already being established, at the health centers and schools across the country. One of the first service meetings we had this year, was with the Ministry of Education, Health, Local Government, RHO’s, REO’s, to ensure we implement these things.”
“All the regions, we have done tremendous work through the Ministry of Local Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. And I will close by saying, no weapon formed against the development and progress of this country shall prosper!” Parag said.
The Local Government and Regional Development Minsitry was allocated billions in the 2025 budget, including $13.2 billion to improve solid waste management nationwide and money for the additional market areas and landfill sites that are planned. (G3)
