By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
Delivering his maiden budget debate presentation on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) leader and APNU Member of Parliament, Dr. David Hinds, called for a strategic pivot in the government’s trillion-dollar fiscal plan. Dr. Hinds urged the administration to move away from “infrastructure-first” spending and instead prioritize the “dignity” of public servants and the long-term sustainability of the University of Guyana (UG).
While Dr. Hinds took a measured approach—commending the technical effort involved in drafting the $1.558 trillion document—he argued that the current allocation fails to reflect the needs of the very workers who helped create it.
Protecting the University of Guyana
A primary focus of Dr. Hinds’ presentation was the “under-funding” of the nation’s premier tertiary institution. He expressed concern that the $14.5 billion subvention—significantly less than the $21.2 billion requested by the university administration—risks turning UG into a “night school” once again.
The “GOAL to UG” Proposal:
- Slash GOAL Funding: Dr. Hinds proposed cutting the $5.8 billion allocation for the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) in half.
- Reallocate to UG: He suggested redirecting these funds to UG to bolster its domestic capacity.
- Argument: Dr. Hinds contended that much of the funding for GOAL is currently being sent to overseas universities for degrees that UG is fully capable of providing. “Is Jagan’s party not running the risk of turning the University of Guyana into another night school?” he questioned.
Addressing the “Invisibility” of Public Servants
Turning to the labor force, Dr. Hinds lamented the lack of an announced salary increase for public servants in the 2026 budget speech. He argued that, with a $1.5 trillion budget, the government can afford to raise the minimum wage above the current $102,000.
“In a $1.5 trillion budget, can we not find a place for the dignity of public servants? Let us put public servants first,” Dr. Hinds urged. He reminded the House that these workers are facing high cost-of-living pressures and should not be “invisible” in a budget that claims to be people-centered.
Government Response: “Every Dollar has a Human Face.”
In a spirited rebuttal, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, rejected Dr. Hinds’ claims of exclusion. Minister McCoy argued that the budget is fundamentally inclusive and provides relief through:
- Tax Threshold Increase: Raising the income tax threshold to $140,000.
- Direct Cash Transfers: The $100,000 one-off grant for every Guyanese aged 18 and over.
- Subsidies: Billions in foregone revenue to keep utility costs stable.
Minister McCoy described the opposition’s narrative as “manufactured outrage,” maintaining that the government’s infrastructure program is the very engine that creates the jobs and connectivity the working class needs.
