Dear Editor,
The horses are off as the Games began on Monday, filled with pomp and pretense as pampering is not prohibited among the honorable members in the House. This week, the Guyana National Assembly promises a display of fireworks, fun and frolic as the bigger, better and brighter PPP/C’s 2026 Budget debate begins. The 65 Members of Parliament consisting of 1 member from FGM, 12 members from APNU, 16 members from WIN and 36 members from the PPP/C, will, deliberate, discuss and debate the national budget in the House with Speaker Manzoor Nadir.
The Speaker will certainly have a time of his life as he officiates over the Honorable members whom he will definitely have to cajole, indulge and perhaps coerce, while trying to persuade them to maintain decorum and discipline over any disagreement.
The $1.558 trillion 2026 Guyana national budget was presented on 26 January 2026 by The Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister, Office of the President, with Responsibility for Finance. Having a majority lead of 7 seats, the PPP/C will have no problem in getting the budget passed and approved in the House, despite an anticipated walk out by the combined opposition.
With an enhanced colourful economy capitalizing on the exploration of the oil and gas industry, the expansion of the gold and timber industry and the extension of the holistic agricultural industry, the fear of the dreaded “Dutch Disease” will certainly be avoided. More infrastructure will continue to augment visitation, improvise efficiency and catapult development.
This budget is acclaimed to be in sympathy as a “people oriented” budget. Much empathy and emphasis will in particular, empower the existential benefits to service the inclusivity of the orange, blue, green and silver economy, and, not to exclude the white economy or sideline the gold economy.
With a GDP of US$31.62 Trillion and a GDP per Capita of US$92,883 in the world’s most powerful and wealthiest nation with the strongest economy, the United States of America, President Trump’s aim is to make America great again and put America first. Under the PPP/C Government from 1992 to 2015 and again from 2020 to current, the administration has managed to pull the once bankrupt economy from the jaws of death as the second poorest nation in this Hemisphere in 1992, to the state of being the world’s fastest nation for growth in GDP, as quoted by Worldometer.
As per the IMP, in 2025 Guyana boosted its nominal GDP to US$25.06 Billion, a 10.3 % growth from 2024. Its GDP per capita rose to US$ 31,378, a marginal increase of .59% over 2024. Under the APNU/AFC leadership and administration in 2019, Guyana’s GDP was US$5.174 Billion with a GDP per capita of US$6,953, without the benefits of the oil industry.
From “Better Days Are Coming,” the motto in 2020 for the Saint Lucia Labor Party changed to “Putting People First.” From 11 out of 17 seats, Prime Minister Honourable Philip J. Pierre, captured 14 seats to lead the island, people and party, with a supermajority. His policy is to focus on the people primarily. His Party’s principled interest is to address the people’s needs, the people’s lands, their patrimony, their heritage, their culture, and their history, as the centre of governance.
President Ali’s second term in office is saddled with a compact, unapologetic and flamboyant manifesto for his 2025-2030 duration. Many powerful promises were made during his election campaign and underlined with his governance strategy on the theme, “promises made, promises kept.”
Interestingly, Barbados Labor Party Leader, Mia Mottley, the incumbent Prime Minister, recently announced on her election campaign, “This Government is putting money back into your pockets immediately and that is what is going to make the difference. I have heard you on the cost of living, and we recognize that we are in a position now to give you back something.”
The BLP “has also pledged cost-of-living relief through targeted cash credits and tax measures if elected.” The recently read Guyana National 2026 Budget as presented by PPP/C Senior Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, has broadened the spectrum of the contemporary yet captivating and compelling theme, “Putting People First.” It has opened a cookie jar containing carrots, candies and chocolates while consisting of catches, clauses and curtailments. We learnt the hard way that, “All that glitters is not gold.”
It is worthy to note at this juncture in Guyana’s socio political and economic stature that, Guyana played a pivotal role in Exxon Mobil net production, reaching the highest level in more than 40 years in 2025 and reporting earnings of US$28.8 Billion. Sadly, Guyana is receiving “chicken feed” for revenue and royalty after signing the worst oil contract in the history of the oil industry, refusing to negotiate that contract and will not consider requesting any windfall tax!
It is not in despair but perhaps in hope for Guyanese when Dr. Ashni Singh said, “We are committed to doing all that is needed to ensure that Guyana becomes and remains globally competitive… Our government continues to take deliberate actions to ensure that Guyana’s oil and gas wealth is managed in a manner that delivers tangible and lasting benefits to the Guyanese people.”
Guyanese now have to be careful, cautious and cynical when listening to politicians making promises in crafted language, conveyed in convoluted clarity and communicated in conspicuous creoles.