Ramsaroop urges focus on ‘fundamentals’ as budget 2026 debates begin

As parliamentary debates on Budget 2026 commence this week, Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Ramsaroop has urged Guyanese and investors to focus on economic fundamentals rather than what he described as “predictable noise” from the parliamentary opposition.
Ramsaroop, speaking ahead of the budget debates, criticised opposition figures for what he said were recycled economic ideas, some now being advanced under new political banners.
“You will hear a lot of noise this week,” Ramsaroop said. “What makes it almost laughable is that many of the same voices – some now rebranded—are recycling the very economics that failed Guyana between 2015 and 2020.”
According to the MP, no amount of political rebranding can erase past performance. “You can change your party name, your logo, and your colours, but you cannot change your record. Failure has a memory,” he added.
He said that the country’s economic trajectory remains firmly grounded in President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Vision 2030, which prioritises long-term growth, productive investment, education, skills development, and modern infrastructure.
“This growth is not accidental,” he said. “Under President Ali’s leadership, Guyana is building an economy by design, planned, disciplined, and focused on results, not improvisation.”
He pointed to the Government’s 2020–2025 performance and the provisions contained in Budget 2026 as evidence that the approach is yielding results.
“Guyana already tested their economics once. It failed. The people rejected it. No amount of political rebranding can resell a rejected product,” Ramsaroop stated.
Ramsaroop outlined several key economic areas addressed in Budget 2026, which he said would strengthen Guyana’s competitiveness and long-term productivity.
In education, GYD 14.5 billion has been allocated to the University of Guyana in 2026, alongside continued free tertiary education, expanded technical and vocational training, and Government coverage of CSEC and CAPE examination fees.
On cost-of-living and productivity, Ramsaroop noted that budget measures for 2026 will inject more than GYD 100 billion in disposable income through cash grants, tax relief, increased wages and stipends, and targeted support initiatives.
“These are not giveaways,” he said. “They are targeted productivity measures that help businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen the economy over time.
Significant investments are also earmarked for the energy sector, with continued funding for the gas-to-energy project, power generation, and transmission infrastructure aimed at reducing electricity costs and improving reliability.
In transport and logistics, over GYD 200 billion continues to be invested in roads, bridges, hinterland connections, ports, river facilities, and logistics hubs to lower transportation costs and improve market access. Ramsaroop further highlighted that agriculture and agro-processing have been made tax-free, describing the move as a major boost for farmers, processors, and exporters.
“When farmers and agro-processors keep more of what they earn, production expands, value-added increases, and more Guyanese goods reach local, regional, and international markets,” he said.
Housing has been allocated GYD 159.1 billion, with the government committing to the construction of 40,000 new homes, while healthcare will receive GYD 161.1 billion in 2026 to strengthen hospitals, regional services, and workforce stability.
“These are real economic levers,” Ramsaroop said. “Lower energy costs, tax-free agriculture, efficient ports, educated workers, and manageable living costs—this is how productivity rises, and competitiveness is built.”
He added that stable leadership, clear policy direction, and tangible results remain the key considerations for investors and citizens.
“So as Guyanese listen to the debates this week,” Ramsaroop said, “they should be clear about what they are hearing. The opposition may change names, but failed economics do not change. Guyana is not recycling the past—it is designing the future, and the results speak for themselves.”