Dear Editor,
With the 2021 Budget slated to be presented on Friday, Guyanese are waiting eagerly to see the reforms as promised by the People Progressive Party/Civic to bolster the economic environment, revive ailing industries, and enhance the socioeconomic welfare of the citizenry.
The budget this year will no doubt focus on the COVID-19 pandemic which is challenging the economy, and taking the lives of so many brothers and sisters. I hope the Government comes up with adequate resources to handle the finances as well as the interventions that are needed to fight this pandemic. Also, the Government needs to balance its work in the health sector by making sure that it finances its hallmark programmes for people who are suffering from long term illnesses and non-communicable diseases.
Social sector initiatives should target our elderly folks as well as our vulnerable communities; public assistance should reflect significant increases. I expect budget 2021 to have a second round COVID-19 cash grant; a food voucher of $10, 000 dollars, and a voucher for pharmaceuticals totaling $2, 000 and $30, 000 hard-cash for struggling families as a whole. This is outside of the round that targets families that are still waiting on the first and second rounds of the grants to be winded up.
On the capital side, the budget must continue to focus on building and upgrading the roads, bridges, pavements and other walkways. Special projects such as new and upgraded hospitals, schools and centers, and airports are welcomed too. I am sure the minister with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and other ministers of government, know what to do in their respective areas. This budget will sure be bigger than the last one. I just hope it is futuristic and innovative in meeting our needs, both short term and long term.
Yours truly,
Attiya Baksh
