Declaring that the $267.1B 2018 National Budget is “disastrous” and “pathetic”, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said last evening that it failed to live up to the government’s promise of a good life.
“There is nothing here that inspires. Nothing that says to the private sector…to any group of Guyanese whether you are a young person, a pensioner, a child going to school, farmer or a bauxite worker or anyone working in retail trade, the public servant that `I have a better year to look forward to based on this budget’. There is absolutely nothing in it”, Jagdeo said in an initial reaction to the budget which was presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan moments earlier.
Speaking at a press conference held at Parliament Buildings, Jagdeo said that based on what was read it was clear that the government has “lost sight” of what is important for Guyana. The budget lacked vision and supportive policies to take the country where it needs to go, he stressed while adding that pensioners and the youth were all left disappointed.