Beckles questions timing of Sparrow funeral, budget debate

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has rejected criticism from Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles over the decision to hold the funeral for calypso icon Slinger Francisco, better known as Mighty Sparrow, tomorrow, the same day as Beckles’ response to the national budget.

On Monday, during an Opposition post-budget news conference the Opposition Leader expressed disappointment that Friday’s start of the budget debate at 9.30 a.m., which she will lead off, will clash with the funeral for Francisco. Beckles questioned whether the Government had sought to employ a “strategy” in coinciding the events.

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She said it might have been intended that the Opposition MPs would have attended Sparrow’s funeral and not be present in the Parliament, “after which anything could happen”.