Dear Editor,
After a lengthy and rancorous debate in Parliament by both members of the Opposition and Government, the budget, estimated at $1.3 trillion, has been passed under the watchful eye of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Passage of the budget has made it easier for Government – led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo – to realize goals outlined in the PPPC manifesto. Those include modernization of the infrastructure across the country; expansion of healthcare and education systems; repair and construction of roads; and improving the lives of the poor, among other things.
Our leaders are dedicated and determined, and, despite some setbacks, are pressing ahead with development of the country with intent to move it from a Global South (Third World) country to a Global North (First World) nation status.
Proclaiming a new and robust phase of development across the ten regions, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has asserted that the PPP government has not only fulfilled the lofty promises in its manifesto, but has surpassed its commitments in achieving substantial progress in almost every region and every sector, including, public, private, education, health care and housing.
Not only has the government created more than 50 thousand jobs in four years, and increased wages, salaries, old age pension and the children’s cash grants, but it has also laid the foundation that generated one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately 45 percent.
Several economists from Forbes Magazines have stated that Guyana’s GDP is among the highest in the world. They had predicted that Guyana would become a leading oil producing country by 2026, and that with increased oil revenue, its GDP would rise above 50 percent.
In a powerful and credible budget speech in Parliament, Prime Minister Phillips had made it quite clear that the 2025 budget would build on the extraordinary success of the economy with huge allocations and novel, ground-breaking and resolute solutions to advance economic growth, create high-paying jobs, and thus improve the lives of all Guyanese, regardless of status, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or party affiliation.
According to Brigadier Phillips, the $1.3 trillion 2025 budget caters for every sector and for everyone in that it provides financial relief for workers, children, pensioners, the poor, and the more vulnerable segments of the population. He affirmed that the budget has increased the tax threshold, removed VAT on electricity and water, and provides subsidies for pensioners.
Brigadier Phillips outlined several initiatives as he impassionedly and energetically defended the Government’s spending proposals, pointing to a number of programmes and policies that have been implemented to advance the country’s economic growth and development and support the citizenry. The Prime Minister spoke extensively about the country’s efforts in renewable energy, and candidly stated that after four years of PPPC rule, Guyana is now positioned to attract investors, both local and foreign.
As was expected, the two main political Opposition parties, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), have vehemently criticized the 2025 budget, and hence the Government, for its excessive investments on infrastructure, particularly on roads and bridges, while the healthcare and education systems are in disarray. They have publicly stated that the citizenry cannot eat roads and bridges, and stressed that hospitals continue to offer poor service to the citizens and that the education system continues to fail students, especially in English and the hard sciences.
In a stinging rebuke, President Dr. Ali has condemned the Opposition for being immature and childish in criticizing the budget, and revealed that his government’s investments in education are to enhance inclusivity and to make sure that no one is left behind. He underscored the fact that education is free from nursery school to university.
In support of the budget, Vice President Dr. Jagdeo, in one of his fieriest speeches, accused the Opposition of being incompetent, amateurish, inept, lazy and hopeless; and said their criticism of the budget was shallow, uninformed and misleading.
The Vice President has not only defended the budget, but has also praised the Minister of Finance and his team for crafting a carefully designed budget that focused on poverty alleviation, economic growth, empowerment, and sustainable human development. He contended that the budget would undoubtedly stimulate further economic growth, which in turn would create greater wealth and job opportunities in that it captured the needs and aspirations of the people and is a continuation of the progress in the country.
Sincerely,
Dr Asquith Rose
