“People First” budget delivers nationwide – Govt MPs – Budget 2026 debate

– back $1.558T budget; point to health, hinterland gains, no new taxes

Speaking with a unified voice in the National Assembly, Government Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday mounted a coordinated defence of Budget 2026, insisting the $1.558 trillion spending plan delivers tangible benefits across every region while maintaining tax relief and accelerating invest-ment in healthcare, infrastructure and hinterland development.

MP Sanjeev Datadin told the House that Budget 2026 is the largest in Guyana’s history and yet intro-duces no new taxes while reducing existing ones. He framed the budget as the first instalment of ful-filling the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) 2025 manifesto, arguing that the electoral man-date secured at the ballot box authorises the Government to implement its promises through the na-tional budget. Datadin rejected claims of inadequate consultation, saying the manifesto itself repre-sents nationwide engagement, and stressed that parliamentary approval of the budget enables the executive to deliver on commitments made to the electorate.
Government backbenchers reinforced that message by pointing to visible changes in hinterland com-munities, particularly in Region One. MP James Bond drew on his personal experience in Mabaruma, describing a transformation in access to healthcare, education and digital services. He noted that communities once cut off from basic diagnostics now have advanced medical equipment, including what he described as the country’s best x-ray facility, alongside maternity services and internet con-nectivity. Bond said the construction of six secondary schools in Region One also reflects the Govern-ment’s focus on expanding opportunity and reducing poverty through access, rather than short-term handouts.

Healthcare investment featured prominently throughout the debate, with medical practitioner and MP Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, outlining what he described as a fundamental restructuring of service delivery. Mahadeo told the House that telemedicine services have expanded from four sites in 2022 to more than 130, with plans to exceed 150 by the end of the year. He cited data showing thousands of patients accessing specialist care remotely, including ma-ternal and neonatal services, emergency referrals and chronic disease management.
Mahadeo also detailed major gains in dental care, ophthalmology and surgical capacity, arguing that these investments have saved households hundreds of millions of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs while improving outcomes nationwide. Meanwhile, the Head of the Guyana Office for Invest-ment (GO-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, said the budget prioritises long-term development over cash transfers, stressing that improved roads, hospitals, and schools directly shape quality of life.
Ramsaroop argued that infrastructure investment acts as a multiplier – driving employment, private sector growth and investor confidence. He pointed to expanding energy capacity, agro-processing and manufacturing as evidence that the Government is positioning Guyana for sustained economic growth rather than short-term consumption.
Government MPs maintained that Budget 2026 is designed to benefit every demographic and every region, from the coastland to the hinterland, and said its success should be measured not by political rhetoric but by its impact on people’s daily lives. They argued that reduced tax burdens, expanded health services, improved infrastructure and targeted investments together reflect a people-first ap-proach anchored in delivery rather than promises.