In a move touted by Government as grand history in the making, and regarded by the Opposition as an opportunity to evade scrutiny, the country’s National Budget 2017 will be presented to the National Assembly by Finance Minister Winston Jordan today.
Parliament Building of Guyana
Stakeholders have already weighed in their expectations and are adamant to hold the Government to task to ensure measures are put in place to address pertinent issues affecting the various sectors of the economy.
Today the Finance Minister will stand and detail, without disruptions, the policies and programmes the Government has budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year 2017.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, though his party did not participate in the budget consultations hosted by government, outlined a number of initiatives he expects to be provided in the Budget.
In essence, he explained that these expectations are based on the promises and pronouncements made by President David Granger in his most recent address to the National Assembly.
“We hope that the Budget will address or put in place measures to address the problems of our society that will enhance social welfare, increase public safety and improve livelihoods – that is, the creation of jobs and income for people. We will support any measure that does this, that will meet anyone or achieve any one of those objectives,” he stated.
Jagdeo wants to see comprehensive programmes to promote a green economy, for instance, how will Iwokrama be transformed into an international institute for biodiversity; the process of reclaiming mined out lands, the establishing of protected areas in each administrative region; planning units in all the ministries; internet connectivity to Government buildings; development of towns, expansion of agriculture; and venture into non-traditional agriculture like spices, coconuts, and aromatic rice.
According to the Opposition Leader, these are initiatives the public should expect based on the Head of State’s speech.
That aside, Jagdeo said he has some expectations of his own, including the restoration of certain PPP programmes the Government quashed, like the water and electricity subsidies for pensioners and the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for every student.
He also wants Government to reinstate the one-month tax-free bonus that was traditionally given to the Disciplined Services and for this to be further extended to all public service employees, including those working in the sugar belt.
Jagdeo also expects significant assistance to be offered to miners, loggers, and sugar workers.
Particularly, he hopes Budget 2017 will outline a detailed plan for the future of the Wales Estate: “We’re in favour of help for the sugar industry. We want a clearly defined plan with how the Government intends to move forward with the sugar industry. The Government is yet to clearly lay out how it plans to move with the industry. Do they plan to close factories, privatise factories, and scale down production? What diversity? Who did the studies? Are they economical viable social sector? We’re hoping that the Budget brings clarity.”
The Private Sector Commission also made some demands of its own, including for a permanent reduction of the Corporate Income Tax rate, over 10 years to 20 per cent; Reduction of Personal Income Tax, over 10 years to 20 per cent; increase income tax threshold to $100,000 per month; make all overtime earnings tax free; relief on outstanding loans for the rice industry; among others.
Both Opposition and PSC have called for concrete measures that will stimulate the economy and pave the way for Guyanese to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
