No extension

GEORGETOWN, Guyana:

President Donald Ramotar says he is not in favour of an opposition request for an extension of the debate on the GUY$209.8 billion (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) budget and urged legislators to put aside their differences for the betterment of Guyana.

Debate on the fiscal package which began on March 25 is due to end today and Ramotar said he has not seen "anything during the debate to make me very optimistic that they (opposition) are ready to want to see our country move forward.

"At this point in time, I think they are still trapped in their narrow political agenda," he said during a television interview.

"We have brought our country to a level of development where we can really launch it forward ... and anything that is done to affect that growth in the country will throw us back, and will slow down the development of our society."

The ruling People's Progressive Party/CIVIC (PPP/C) does not control the majority of seats in the 65-member National Assembly.