McDonald calls budget ‘anti-poor,’ ‘anti-working class’

APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Coretta McDonald on Wednesday labelled the proposed $552.9 billion national budget anti-working class and “disrespectful” to Guyanese.

McDonald, a labour union leader, made these remarks during day three of the budget debate, where she noted that the opposition and others had expected the budget to announce game-changing programmes. These programmes that were expected, she said, included free electricity for poor families, subsidizing of mortgages, free housing, earned income tax credits.

She also contended that the budget should have included supplemental security income programmes that would provide cash to low income families, as well as temporary assistance for needy families where non-cash benefits such as child care and job training would be made available.