HGP Nightly News – The enduring challenge of translating national resource wealth into equitable regional development and poverty reduction formed the core of a parliamentary critique delivered by APNU Member of Parliament Sharma Solomon during the 2026 budget debate.
MP Solomon presented a direct challenge to the government’s “Putting People First” budgetary theme, leveraging statistical evidence to question its effectiveness. He cited Inter-American Development Bank data indicating that approximately 58% of Guyanese remain in poverty, with 32% living in extreme deprivation, arguing that record national expenditure has not yielded proportional improvements in living standards for the majority.
“Mathematics is not measured by confidence but by outcomes,” Solomon stated, framing the issue as one of failed distributive policy. His analysis specifically targeted the condition of resource-rich regions. Solomon noted that despite generating substantial national income through mining, forestry, and quarrying, Regions 1, 7, 8, and 10 continue to exhibit signs of underdevelopment, including infrastructure delays and environmental concerns.
He criticized the lack of enforceable community benefit agreements tied to extraction licenses, warning that the current approach risks perpetuating a model where local communities bear the burdens of resource extraction without receiving commensurate benefits. The MP also raised pointed concerns about governance and institutional accountability.
Questioning assertions of anti-corruption progress, Solomon referenced unresolved allegations and noted that increased spending in sectors like water and sanitation has not correlated with improved returns or service quality. He posited that without transparent oversight and demonstrable justice, the budget’s large allocations risk exacerbating rather than alleviating public distrust.
Solomon’s contribution framed Budget 2026 as an opportunity missed to structurally address the disconnect between national revenue and regional development, calling for a recalibrated focus on binding community investments, rigorous institutional oversight, and verifiable improvements in equity and quality of life.
