$54.9B supplementary budget approved to fast-track housing, energy, other projects

The National Assembly on Thursday gave the green light to a supplementary budget amounting to $54.9 billion, a move Minister with the Officer of the President Responsible for Finance Dr Ashni Sign said underscores his Government’s determination to accelerate priority projects across housing, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and public utilities. Monday’s passage came without opposition support the sitting did not see any contribution from the Opposition on any of the items on the Order Paper and instead, they attempted to drown out the proceedings with chants and the drumming of tables. When the House changed to the Committee of Supply to determine the estimates for both current and capital projects, the Opposition’s stance did not change, even as Dr Singh explained that the sums include $4.7 billion in current expenditure and $50.14 billion in capital expenditure. According to Singh, the additional resources are essential to ensure that projects already in motion are completed on schedule and without disruption with the largest allocations, some $17.5 billion and 19 B, being earmarked for the Housing and the Gas to Energy (GtE) Project respectively. Reelecting the administration’s continued prioritisation of housing as a cornerstone of national development, he said that this injection of funds supplement the $159 billion already allocated to the Ministry, and will sustain the rapid expansion of the Government’s housing programme, designed to deliver serviced lots, modern communities, and improved water access nationwide.
Under Ministers of Housing Colin Croal and Vanessa Benn, the Housing Ministry has consistently been positioned as one of the Government’s flagship sectors, with authorities emphasising its role in creating livable communities, stimulating construction activity and supporting Guyana’s broader urbanisation strategy.

Gas‑to‑Energy Project
With regards to other sums in the supplementary budget, the Office of the Prime Minister (PM) secured $19.1 billion with much of which directed towards the GtE Project in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and has been touted as critical to lowering electricity prices, diversifying Guyana’s energy mix and reducing reliance on imported fuels. While the supplementary allocation provides additional resources, the estimates note that the project is expected to become operational months from now. The Ministry of Public Works has been allocated $8.5 billion to advance its work programme with miscellaneous roads and drainage getting $6 billion to finance upgrades across communities. Hinterland roads will see $2.5 billion dedicated to these projects that aims at improving transportation links in remote regions, reducing travel times, enhancing access to markets, healthcare, and education. Agriculture also features prominently in the supplementary estimates, with the sector receiving an additional $8.3 billion. Included in that allocation is $3 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) with the document stating that part of the funding will provide for retroactive payments to workers employed by the corporation. The supplementary estimates also provide $600 million for the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, targeted at maintaining coastal airstrips, facilities that are critical lifelines for hinterland communities, enabling passenger travel, medical evacuations and cargo transport.

Water interventions
Additionally, $496.3 million has been allocated for water interventions, including the establishment of water filling stations to improve access to potable water. The Ministry of Home Affairs received supplementary funding to bolster the Customs Anti‑Narcotics Unit (CANU). Overall, the supplementary budget channels resources into the Government’s major investment programmes, with housing, infrastructure, agriculture and energy accounting for the largest shares.