A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has told the minority People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government that it can no longer pretend it speaks for the majority of the population even as the opposition group extended an olive branch to end the stalemate over the national budget.

"It can no longer claim that it alone has all the answers to the questions of national development," said APNU leader retired Brigadier David Granger in an address over the weekend.

On Friday night, President Donald Ramotar severely criticised the position adopted by the two opposition parties that have used their majority in Parliament to railroad the GUY$192.8 billion (One Guyana Dollar =US$0.004 cents) national budget presented to Parliament last month by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh.

In a nationwide broadcast, Ramotar said the opposition - APNU and the Alliance for Change (AFC) - have used their one seat majority 'to cut the budget by some GUY$20.9 billion. The APNU and AFC control 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly'.