A famous US Congressional leader back in the 1960s once criticised his Federal Government for throwing money at problems, and warned, “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money”!! Well, we’ve gotten used to hearing about billions in Government’s spending here for quite a while also, but is it real money?? We gotta remember that since it takes over 200 Guyana dollars to equal one American dollar, G$1 billion is only about US$5 million!!
So, in discussing the spending aspect of this year’s budget – as promised – your Eyewitness is gonna convert our Guyana dollars into US dollars. He wants us to keep our perspective as we check how the Government’s gonna fulfil its theme of “Staying the course: Building prosperity for all”. Right off the bat, as we contemplate our first TRILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET – G$1.146 trillion to be exact! – let’s understand that’s equivalent to US$5 billion!! So, are we finally talking about real money?? You betcha!! US$5 billion ain’t chicken feed nowhere in the world!!
Obviously, your Eyewitness can’t recapitulate the Finance Minister’s marathon performance, so he’ll just stick to some elements that take his fancy. The Govt’s certainly staying the course with the gas-to-shore project, that’ll not only banish blackouts, but cut our light bills by half!! They’re allocating US$400 million to keep going until the USEXIM bank financing goes through.
But this wasn’t all for the energy sector: another US$478 million was targeted for new generation and transmission of power on the present grid.
While most of us might be wondering what’s coming into our pockets, we gotta look to the future, where it’s not just cheaper home electricity bills, but the new rates will encourage manufacturing businesses to set us here and create employment. A virtuous circle!!
Health got a whopping US$650 million, to improve all aspects of dealing with our ailments and keep us healthy. This signals that, with all the Government’s focus on transformational infrastructure, it’s also concerned in the here and now about the wellbeing of us, the people. We’ve all heard about the dozens of hospitals and health centres being constructed across the country, from New Amsterdam to Suddie, but those will be augmented by massive purchases of equipment and erection of training centres.
Finally, your Eyewitness was intrigued by the spending on the Security Sector — which amounted to some US$45 million, of which just more than half has been directed at the GDF. With all the sabre-rattling from Mad Maduro out west – and with the steady stream of military big-wigs trooping through Georgetown – he’d expected this number to be quite more substantial!!
For one, we need quite a few more drones than the five Ramjattan bought to keep an eye on our border at Essequibo!!
…for the people
So, we come to the part where most ask, “What’s in it for me?” More specifically, “What’s gonna be in MY pocket?” Let’s start with the 76,000 pensioners in our fair land. If there wasn’t that much concern for the moral aspects of taking care of our oldsters, who had to have built our country, then there’s the not-so-insignificant fact that they represent at least TEN SEATS!! That’s the swing vote right there!! Well, on their pension – money in pocket – they’ll be getting another US$15, bringing their monthly take home now to US$180. For almost half of them, who are also on public assistance, they’ll collect another US$95. They’ll also be entitled to an annual US$15 for eye exams.
Now, your Eyewitness understands that with massive increase in social services and medical care spending – which the elderly are entitled to – their lot is improving. But for them to live in dignity, it’s the money in their pockets that counts.
Couldn’t we get pensions to US$250?
…for Trump
Trump cruised to a 30-point win over rivals De Santis and Nikki Haley in the Iowa Republican caucus. This definitely makes him the favourite against Biden in November. He promised “to straighten out the world”. This includes Maduro?
