Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton clashed on the food items that were banned in the 1970s.
Norton, the last opposition parliamentarian to address the 2025 National Budget Debate, said the party was proud of banning these food items decades ago.
The food ban was instituted by former President Forbes Burnham and the People’s National Congress (PNC) party that Norton now leads. Sardines, flour, corned beef and potatoes were among the imported items banned.
And the ban is still a sore point for many individuals.
“We are proud of it,” Norton said.
The Finance Minister expressed his disappointment at this statement during his wrap-up address on Thursday.
“Norton regaled us with a justification for banning basic food items in Guyana. I had to clear my ear and turn to Minister Edghill and ask if I am hearing correctly,” a seemingly incredulous Singh said.
He added, “Mr Norton comes today to say they are proud of doing that, without a modicum or morsel of regret for the people, without a modicum or morsel of regret for the thousands of people who were criminalised because they are potatoes or they ate split peas or dhal or because they had a roti made of flour.”
These statements, the Finance Minister said, demonstrate that the PNC and the opposition as a whole have not learned lessons in governing better. And for that, he said they would remain in opposition for a while longer.
