By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — In a fierce critique of the administration’s macroeconomic policies, former Junior Minister of Social Services Dr. Simona Broomes has accused the government of failing to address the skyrocketing cost of living. Broomes argued that despite the state’s continuous boasting of rapid oil-driven gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the massive wealth has completely failed to improve everyday living standards for ordinary Guyanese.
The public policy intervention follows the recent presentation of Guyana’s historic $1.558 trillion GYD national budget for 2026. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nightly News, Broomes, who now leads the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity, stated that the multi-billion dollar capital expenditure framework means nothing when public servants and low-income earners are systematically trapped near or below the poverty line.
Tennis Rolls and Everyday Hardships
Broomes noted that while international financial analysts label Guyana as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, the reality on the ground tells a much darker story of widening economic and social disparities. She pointed to everyday field indicators to illustrate the shrinking purchasing power of households.
“The increasing cost of everyday goods continues to place immense pressure on households,” Broomes stated firmly during the broadcast. “We are seeing everyday examples right now where local market vendors are forced to discount common, basic food items like tennis rolls simply because their average customers can no longer afford to pay full price. This road has not translated into improved living standards for many citizens.”
The former minister argued that pouring capital into mega-infrastructure projects is fundamentally flawed unless the state directly addresses the underlying social ills and economic disparities that block genuine human progress.
The Danger of a State-Engineered Dependency Loop
The core of Broomes’s critique targeted the administration’s reliance on temporary cash handouts. She warned that the executive branch’s modern spending choices are intentionally creating a “dependency syndrome” among the population rather than generating sustainable, long-term economic independence.
“Now with the resources and oil what we have to be mindful of is that the government puts Guyana and Guyanese on a dependency syndrome,” Broomes frankly told Nightly News.
Instead of ad-hoc relief packages, the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity leader demanded that the country’s massive oil revenues be strategically reinvested into structured youth incentives, high-level technical training programs, and localized jobs. She openly questioned the true political intent behind the current strategy: “How do we not use these resources to move the people? I sometimes ask myself if this is deliberate.”
Governing in Total Isolation
Turning her attention to the labor market, Broomes raised serious flags regarding the apparent under-participation of local workers amidst the ongoing economic expansion. She claimed that local labor forces are being sidelined in favor of external contractor groups, further widening the gap between the wealthy elite and the working class.
| National Economic Performance vs. Household Realities | Verified Operational Indicators |
| Official Fiscal Envelope Allocation (Budget 2026) | $1.558 Trillion GYD Baseline |
| Grassroots Micro-Purchasing Power status | Severely Depressed (Basic Goods Unaffordable) |
| Public Sector Compensation Framework | Trapped Near or Below the Domestic Poverty Line |
| State Social Strategy Profile | Isolated Planning / Lack of Comprehensive Relief |
Broomes concluded by calling for a complete shift toward inclusive, community-driven policies that enhance the actual quality of life for vulnerable populations. She accused the executive branch of operating inside an echo chamber, completely disconnected from the daily survival battles of the electorate.
“They’re not governing this country as if you’re governing a nation, but it’s more in isolation,” Broomes asserted. “It is what they think, what they feel, and what they believe. To eliminate poverty, you have to deal directly with the social ills.”
