Ministries, RDCs, NDCs must justify every dollar spent – Jagdeo

…says no more “incremental growth”; spending must directly respond to citizens’ needs

With the Government in the process of preparing Budget 2026, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the various Ministries, agencies, Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) must be able to justify their spending and show how they are responding to the needs of the people. During a press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo explained that there was a recent Cabinet meeting with various agencies on preparing the upcoming budget, and it was emphasised that the traditional approach to budgeting will no longer be acceptable. “…where people can just put in incremental growth in a line item,” Jagdeo explained, noting that “they have to justify their expenditures through programmes, and the objective of each programme in every Ministry and every region in this country and at the NDC level would be how they respond to a particular need of the people”.
According to Jagdeo, “We have spent a great deal of time doing that sort of work”.
The VP said Budget 2026, which is expected to be presented early, will include funding to deliver on key promises made by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in its manifesto. Meanwhile, Jagdeo added that “all of the things that we promise in our manifesto, if they require a legislative change or new laws, those must be priority in the Parliament at this stage because it’s part of our fulfilment of the promises we made to the electorate for better education, housing, water, all of these things.” President Dr Irfaan Ali has already unveiled some of the measures that are expected in Budget 2026. “I’m going to announce before the end of the year a series of measures, not only looking at cash grants but also looking at the total empowerment of every Guyanese, whether you’re someone living with a disability, elderly, a child, a woman, a small business owner, or a farmer – you name it, every category,” the Head of State announced, noting that this comprehensive slew of measures will not only run into the new year but also into the Government’s cycle over the next five years.
Among the measures the Guyanese leader announced is a $150,000 subsidy to local fisherfolk.