
In a fiery exchange during Wednesday’s budget debate, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag, and Opposition Parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul clashed over subventions for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities.
The debate, which saw the two MPs trading barbs on the government’s handling of local organisations’ funding, saw heckling in the Chamber reaching disturbing proportions that forced the Speaker to interrupt the presentation of Parag to restore order.
Mahipaul, representing the APNU+AFC opposition, accused the PPP/C government of failing to meet its promises to increase subventions to NDCs and municipalities. He argued that these crucial grants had not seen the expected increases under the current administration, leaving local governments struggling to provide for their communities.
But Parag swiftly rebuffed these claims.
“When you come in equity, come with clean hands,” Parag stated, accusing Mahipaul of hypocrisy, as she highlighted the opposition’s previous failures to deliver on their promises.
The Minister noted that under the PPP/C government, NDCs—regardless of whether they were under APNU control—received grants every year since 2021.
In fact, Parag revealed that these grants had ranged from four to five million dollars annually, with a total of $2.8 billion allocated under the subvention programme this year alone. She assured the House that the government would continue to ensure that these funds were properly used to enhance local development.
On the other hand, Mahipaul stood firm in his criticism, arguing that since the previous APNU+AFC coalition had left office in 2020, there have been no changes to the subventions for NDCs and municipalities.
“We left the subvention at $5 million for NDCs and $18 million for municipalities, with Georgetown receiving $30 million in addition to the Georgetown Restoration Programme,” he pointed out.
Additionally, Mahipaul lamented that under the current administration, Georgetown had deteriorated, describing the city as “back to being garbage city.”
In a bold statement, Mahipaul declared that should the APNU+AFC return to power, they would double the subventions. “We did it before, and we will do it again,” he confidently asserted.
Parag, however, was not impressed by Mahipaul’s promises. Holding up a 2015 APNU+AFC manifesto, she reminded the House of the opposition’s past failures to follow through on their pledges.
“You failed then, and you will fail again,” Parag warned, accusing Mahipaul of recycling unfulfilled promises.