$811M boost in education, health, transport for Region 5

Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is set to benefit from $811 million in capital investments this year under the Government’s $1.558 trillion National Budget for 2026, with regional officials describing the allocation as transformative for education, health, and transportation services across the region.
Regional Chairman Ricardo Phillips said the National Budget, which was passed under the theme “Putting People First”, provides comprehensive interventions that will meaningfully impact residents.
“So the 2026 budget, a whopping $1.558 trillion, which was passed under the theme ‘Putting People First’, is a comprehensive and well-thought-out budget that has all the necessary interventions, programmes, policies and projects that the People’s Progressive Party, the civic-led Government under His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfan Ali, has put forward, and every single intervention will meaningfully impact the people of Region 5 and holistically the people of Guyana,” Phillips stated.
He added that clear interventions can be seen across key sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, social services, housing and water, noting that each sector has been addressed in a manner that will positively affect the lives of residents.

“Our President believes that every single resident of Region Five and of Guyana as a whole must have a life that has efficient, effective, and transparent delivery of public services so that they can have a comfortable life. And the 2026 budget forms part of that intervention,” the Chairman said, while expressing gratitude to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, for what he described as a well-rounded fiscal plan.
Detailing the regional allocation, Phillips said the $811 million earmarked for capital works will fund several major initiatives.
“So in Region Five, we have $811 million allocated for capital investments,” he explained, pointing to the extension of the area nursing school, construction of a technical and vocational block at the Mahaicony Secondary School, and the extension and rehabilitation of various other schools across the region.
In the health sector, expansion and rehabilitation works are planned for several health centres to improve service delivery, while transportation enhancements are also included in the programme.
Among the initiatives outlined are the purchase of a 30-seater bus for the Maikuni Branch Road, a 19-seater bus for the Bihue Branch Road under the education programme, a 19-seater bus for the health programme, and the acquisition of a 200-horsepower boat for the Maikuni River to assist with the transportation of children and residents along riverine routes.
Continued transformation
Regional Vice Chairman Kleon Lindey also welcomed the allocations, describing the 2026 fiscal plan as a catalyst for continued transformation within the region.
“Under the Irfaan Ali budget, led by a comprehensive budget by Dr Singh and his team, we can see in this budget the transformation and continued development in our region,” Lindey said.
He added that the people-centred approach ensures inclusivity across communities.
“Every community in Region Number Five is included in this budget, and the transformation of life is going to be 100 per cent, to an extent, for our residents in this community,” the Vice Chairman stated.