Budget debate shifts to Senate

DEBATE on the 2003/2004 Budget shifts to the Senate tomorrow, starting at 10 am. The Budget was passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, following three days of heated debate and political duelling between the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM)  and the Opposition United National Congress (UNC). In wrapping up the Budget debate, Prime Minister Patrick Manning praised Gerald Yetming and Winston Dookeran as the only UNC parliamentarians who made meaningful contributions but chastised UNC MPs Ganga Singh and Manohar Ramsaran for trying to score political points by delivering race-loaded contributions. Tomorrow’s session of the Upper House will also see the introduction of the Summary Courts (Amendment) (No 3) Bill 2003 and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill 2003 by Attorney General Glenda Morean.