APNU/AFC disregarded welfare of citizens

– “kept their feet on the necks of public servants” – Min Parag

There was never a holistic plan for the welfare of public servants under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/ Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition Government during their tenure in office, which spans 2015 to 2020.
This was the sentiment of newly appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, the former Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, during her presentation on the National Budget Debates.
Responding to several allegations made by multiple Opposition Parliamentarians, Parag disclosed that public servants benefitted little to nothing from the coalition Government when compared to the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration’s three years in office. To support this argument, the Local Government Minister revealed that APNU+AFC trained 4931 public servants in various disciplines during its tenure, while PPP/C trained 4997 in three years. And she
Noted that this number would double in 2024.
Parag pointed out that the APNU+AFC Government had expended $700.4 million in budgetary provisions for the Public Service Ministry in 2015; $1 billion in 2016; $1. 2 billion in 2017; $1.6 billion in 2018, and $1.9 billion in 2019, while the incumbent Government had expended $9.58 million in 2020; $2 billion in 2021; $3.8 billion in 2022 and 2023 respectively for scholarships.
She explained that PPP/C doubled its spending for human capital development when compared to the coalition because its priority is to improve the livelihood of all Guyanese, despite their race, economic status and social standing.
“You had your feet on the necks of public servants…in addition to that, what you also did was to tax the very same money that you claimed that you gave them this huge salary increase…You also taxed everything, so you gave with one hand and snatched with the other. There was never a holistic plan for the welfare of public servants,” Parag stated.
Further, Parag pointed out that some 21,442 Guyanese have benefitted from Guyana Online Academy for Learning (GOAL) scholarships since 2021, including two members of the Opposition.
She explained that the Government had also rejuvenated the ministry’s personnel workshop, which provided the opportunity for public servants from various Government agencies to contribute to the improvement of public service across the country.

Budget 2024
The $1.146 trillion 2024 Budget was presented in the National Assembly on January 15 by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh. The estimate represents a 46.6 per cent increase in spending, and is the largest fiscal package in Guyana’s history. Among the menu of measures to address the rising cost of living in the budget is raising the income tax threshold from $85,000 to $100,000, allowing thousands of persons to pay less taxes or no taxes at all. Some 13,000 persons will no longer be paying taxes as a result of this measure.
Additionally, an increase in Old Age Pension from $33,000 to $36,000 will take effect from this month of January and provide $2.7 billion in additional disposable income to pensioners; and public assistance has been increased from $16,000 monthly to $19,000. This move, the Head of State said, is expected to provide about $1.2 billion in additional disposable income to thousands of persons.
For the first time also, other measures to support vulnerable groups have been announced. A $3000 voucher for eye test will be provided to over 205,000 school children and 76,000 pensioners. This new support should cost about $840 million. For those who require spectacles, a $15,000 voucher will be provided.
Further, the Government will provide an $8000 voucher to women aged from 21 to 65 to help meet the cost of cervical cancer testing.
The Finance Minister also announced that the minimum National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension has been increased from $35,000 monthly to $43,075. Over 27,000 persons are expected to benefit from this increase.
The survivor’s pension, which is payable to the dependents of a deceased insured person, has also been increased from $17,500 to $21,537; and an invalidity pension, paid to an insured person who is incapable of working other than as a result of employment injury, has been increased from $35,000 to $43,075.
A total of $7 billion has been also allocated for measures, to be determined after consultations with stakeholders, aimed at containing the impact of price increases.

Boost non-oil sectors
Government’s primary goal in 2024 is to boost the non-oil sectors while ensuring that Guyanese have access to disposable income.
Moreover, the sum of $10 billion has been allocated in the 2024 National Budget to continue the Government’s part-time job programme. However, major focus will be placed on ensuring beneficiaries acquire further skills and qualifications in order to help satisfy the skills gap in the labour market and ultimately transition them to full-time employment.
In 2023, over 15,000 persons from the 10 administrative regions of Guyana were employed through this programme. The sum of $6 billion in disposable income was poured into these households, and in 2024, this programme will continue and be expanded.

Small business
Meanwhile, $450 million has been allocated for replenishment of the Small Business Development Fund, and $331 million allocated for the Small Business Bureau. Some 100 loans would also be targeted for disbursement, and 1362 grants will be issued in 2024. These sums of money would support initiatives to grow small and micro businesses and promote entrepreneurship.
Government will this year provide incentives to banking institutions to make available loans above $5 million to small business owners, and a framework will be implemented to make access to funds easier for business owners, while ensuring that interest rates remain low.
Another $3.3 billion has been allocated this year to commence industrial development in Wales, Region Three, and advance similar works in Regions Two and 10.
Government is this year moving ahead with establishment of business incubators, and will be providing extensive training to 2800 business owners in five key sectors: apiculture, farming, livestock farming, poultry rearing, and micro-enterprise.
The Electronic Single Window for business transactions will come on stream this year with $600 million budgeted for that project; a National Quality Infrastructure Laboratory will move ahead with $1.25 billion budgeted for that project, and $500 million is budgeted to support the continued construction of the Food and Drug Department laboratory.
These measures will position small businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that abound.