-Chandan-Edmonds announces support for budget
By Khadidja Ba
As debate on the 2025 budget kicked off yesterday, Shadow Finance Minister Juretha Fernandes blasted it for not supporting the vulnerable but in a surprise twist her fellow APNU+AFC MP Geeta Chandan-Edmond voiced her support for it.
The $1.382 trillion budget, presented on January 17, 2025, is the final budget of the Twelfth Parliament and sparked passionate exchanges at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Fernandes slammed the budget for lacking provisions to support the country’s most vulnerable citizens. She referenced a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, stating, “It is better for the Government to help a poor man to make a living for his family than to help a rich man make more profit for his company.” She argued that while the government was “making grand announcements and hollow promises,” it had failed to address the real economic struggles faced by the poor.
Fernandes pointed to a 44.8% increase in food inflation from 2019 to 2024, which, she argued, had eroded the purchasing power of citizens. She also emphasized the inadequacy of pension increases, which were only adjusted by $5,000, and, according to her, “lack the meaningful rise in the minimum wage to match the surge in living costs”.
The Shadow Minister also took aim at the government’s handling of the health sector, citing the $393.1 billion allocated to health from 2020 to 2024 and what she said were the rising malnutrition rates in the country. According to Fernandes, the government’s failure to tackle these critical issues showed a lack of compassion and a disconnect with the needs of ordinary citizens. Fernandes also said “The PPP administration’s bright idea of job creation is for its citizens to wash hotel sheets and mop hotel floors, their idea of job creation is for our citizens to work in a country and work (at) hotels they cannot afford to stay in, this is the reality of the PPP Administration”. This comment later drew a response from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond.
On the other hand, APNU+AFC MP Geeta Chandan-Edmond called for collaboration between the two sides of the House and recognized the $10,000 healthcare voucher in the budget as a positive initiative. She stated that measures within the budget were practical, prudent, and aligned with the aspirations of the people “I support Progress, Peace, Prosperity, Commitment”. Her words spelt out the acronym PPPC. After this statement and a similar one “It is only fair to acknowledge the achievements of this PPP/C administration, investments in agriculture, infrastructure, strides in education, and expanded social programme, the justice sector etc. These initiatives signal progress…”, SN observed some hushed mumbles from the Opposition side of the House. There was even more chatter on the side of the Opposition when MP Chandan-Edmond said “I lend my full support to the positive budgetary measures of this budget. Let us make this a moment where we rise above the fray…and demonstrate that we are worthy of representing the people”. She urged both sides to work together to ensure progress, peace, and liberty for all Guyanese citizens.
In the parliaments of recent decades it is most unusual for an opposition MP to give full-throated support to the budget.
In response to the Fernandes’ criticism, Susan Rodrigues, Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Water, defended the budget passionately. She condemned the opposition for disparaging those working in low-wage jobs, such as hotel workers, and accused it of distorting the economic reality during their tenure from 2015 to 2020. Rodrigues said that during that period, the country had seen economic decline and raised concerns about education fees under the APNU+AFC administration. She also noted the opposition’s criticism of the government’s development policies, accusing them of ignoring the positive impacts of the PPP’s housing programmes, which had enabled over 20,000 young people to own their homes or land in recent years.
Job creation
Rodrigues endeavoured to defend the government’s record on job creation, asserting that the construction sector was “thriving”, with many young Guyanese finding work in this growing industry. She also highlighted the increases in the income tax threshold and pension payouts, arguing that the PPP government had delivered “substantial benefits” for the people, including cash grants and improved access to healthcare.
Tensions reached a boiling point when Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy, heckled “No salary is ever enough for anybody!” in response to APNU+AFC MP Sherod Duncan needling with “People salaries need to raise!” The exchange sparked a flurry of heated exchanges on the floor, with various MPs from both sides weighing in on the affordability of the budget for every-day citizens.
On the issue of public debt, Fernandes, during her presentation, voiced concerns about the rising national debt, which was projected to reach US$7.637 billion in 2025. She argued that the government was overspending and creating a burden for future generations. “Throwing money at incompetence can only breed more incompetence,” Fernandes remarked, criticizing the administration’s handling of major infrastructure projects like power generation, which has seen ongoing blackouts and delays.
Rodrigues, however, countered this argument by pointing to the decrease in the debt-to-GDP ratio and the overall economic growth under the PPP/C government. She stressed that debt should be measured by the country’s ability to generate income, emphasizing that the government had worked hard to reduce the national debt while achieving economic stability. It was at this point that Government MP Vickash Ramkissoon heckled more than thrice that “debts are measured by your capacity to earn stupid!”.
The government side also took a swipe at the opposition’s failure to deliver on promises made during their time in office, highlighting that 69% of opposition members had benefited from the government’s housing programmes. Rodrigues pointed out the inconsistency in the opposition’s approach, particularly on issues like water sector development, where the PPP/C had made significant investments to ensure access to clean water for coastal populations.
Walrond, Minister of Tourism later issued a press statement in response to MP Fernandes’ presentation.
“MP Fernandes’ remarks reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the Tourism Sector and disregard for the average Guyanese”, she said. Walrond added that the Minister criticized Fernandes, for making what she called “insensitive and shallow” remarks in the debate. According to the statement, Fernandes’ perspective reflects a “lack of understanding of the value of the hospitality sector, which creates diverse career opportunities and employs thousands of Guyanese”.
She added that a simple effort at research would have revealed to the MP that the hospitality sector is incredibly diverse, encompassing a range of careers from housekeeping to accounting, marketing, and management. Walrond said that the evidence is undeniable:
● At the Pegasus Hotel, all 19 department heads are Guyanese, with the sole exception of the General Manager. This hotel employs 215 individuals, all of whom are Guyanese.
● At the Aiden Hotel, 9 out of 10 managerial roles are held by Guyanese, including the Deputy Manager, Housekeeping Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Accountant Team, Sous Chef, and Captains. An impressive 92% of the hotel’s workforce is Guyanese.
● Princess Hotel has three expats among 250 staff, which is a low percentage of 1.2%.
● At the Georgetown Marriott Hotel, there are 0.85% of foreigners (3/354).
The statement also highlighted Fernandes’ dismissal of the hardworking housekeepers and other service staff, who are vital to the success of the tourism industry. These workers, she argued, are integral to the country’s economic growth and should be respected for their contributions. Also pointed out, was that Fernandes’ comments failed to recognize the significant improvements in the country’s economy, where many Guyanese are now enjoying a higher standard of living, including the ability to afford local luxury accommodations.
