Focus 2018 begins with a correction of a statement in Focus 2017 that Budget 2017 was the earliest national budget ever been presented in post-independence Guyana. In fact, the earliest was in 1975.
Budget 2018, the fourth by the APNU+AFC Government, continues the annual trend of a bigger budget over the preceding year. Budgeted expenditure for 2018 is projected at $267.1 billion, or 7.1% over total expenditure in 2017. This represents a 20.5% increase over 2016, the first full year of this Administration.
At June 30, the midyear report by the Minister of Finance had reported total revenue of $97.2 billion, expenditure (capital and revenue) of $97.3 billion, inflation of 1.1%, and real GDP growth of 2.2%.
The Minister reported that real GDP growth