No answers public finance lead to ‘speculation’, says GSD

The GSD has said it innocently speculated as to whether borrowing might go up only because without answers in Parliament it can only guess.

This comes in response to comments made by Minister for Economic Development, Joe Bossano, on GBC on Tuesday evening, as the spat between the Government and Opposition continues.

GSD shadow minster for public finance Roy Clinton said: “Nothing that either Joe Bossano or the Government have said alters the position that they will no longer disclose that which they willingly disclosed as recently as February this year.”

Mr Clinton said it is for the Opposition and not the Government to determine what financial information should be sought in Parliament to hold the Government to account.

“It is remarkable that the Government has by way of a press release given information as to the aggregate debt that it refused to give in Parliament on the basis that it could not be deemed accurate,” he added.

“Furthermore if we innocently speculated as to whether borrowing might go up it is only because without answers in Parliament we can only guess, which is why it is important the Government reverses its policy decision and give financial information as requested and when requested in Parliament.”

“It is not their money but the taxpayers and transparency is the taxpayers right.”