Chairperson, the global economic crisis is one year old - if one measures from the time it became public when several major American financial institutions were on the brink of collapse owing to dubious credit practices. Since that time the effects triggered by that financial crisis have reverberated around the world and have even been felt in countries, like our own, where stringent financial and credit regulations are in place.
We do not dispute that the global economy has had an effect on us, but we should not lose sight of two important factors. Firstly, we knew about this crisis from the outset and that government was in a position to devise adequate responses.
Secondly, external pressures do not negate the constitutional obligations of government, nor do they nullify the promises upon which the ruling party won its electoral mandate. It is exactly this context that should have made the government use each cent wisely and stop turning government functions into extravagant and costly pageants that are barely disguised political rallies for the ruling party. Thank you.