Dear Editor,
On Monday, January 9, 2023, the Ali regime announced Monday, January 16, 2023 as “Budget Day.” This is the fourth budget of Ali’s regime, but truth be told, the past budgets were not “people oriented,” rather, they were “Private Sector driven.”
Under the Leadership of President Granger, the caring Coalition Government budgeted to ensure that his vision for a good life for all Guyanese materialized. Now, Guyana’s economy is considered to be the fastest growing, due to it being an oil and gas nation, there is enough wealth to make this a reality much sooner.
A cursory examination of the spending from Budget 2022 of $552.1B, followed by two Supplementary Provisions of $93B, reveals that mainly friends, family and favourites benefitted. The quality of life of the average Guyanese has not been improved by this exorbitant spending. This is despite the distribution of cash grants and other gifts from the national coffers to campaigning members of the government.
Editor, since the main Parliamentary Opposition was deliberately left out of the 2023 Budget consultation, I am advocating here for a 50% increase in salaries for Public Servants and an increase in old age pension to $50,000 monthly, the construction of houses for low- income earners, better health facilities, free education at the University of Guyana (as promised by the PPP/C) and better social services for all. I appeal also for provision to be made for the creation of meaningful employment for our young people, instead of the “part-time jobs” being offered in some regions. Young people need secure and permanent employment. Finally, government pensioners are finding it difficult to meet their living expenses and medical bills with the soaring cost of living. They need an increase too.
Yours sincerely,
Annette Ferguson
Member of Parliament
