Gov’t Requests $57.5B in Supplementary Funds Just Months After Record Budget Approval
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – Just three months after the historic $1.38 trillion national budget was approved, the Government of Guyana is seeking an additional $57.5 billion in supplementary funds to support what it says is the continued rollout of its development agenda.
The request was presented at the 103rd sitting of the National Assembly, sparking concern from the opposition about transparency and fiscal responsibility—especially in a year that is widely expected to be election-heavy.
Shadow Minister of Finance and AFC parliamentarian Juretha Fernandes criticized the move, questioning the rationale behind such a large supplemental request so soon after what was touted as a fully comprehensive national budget.
“The original budget of $1.38 trillion was presented as a comprehensive plan for the year. Yet this massive supplementary demand without clear justification suggests either poor planning or a deliberate attempt to bypass scrutiny,” she stated.
Fernandes pointed out that the financial papers tabled in Parliament refer only vaguely to an “expanded work program,” which she says is “unacceptable and opaque.”
“Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how this enormous sum will be spent—particularly in an election year, when the temptation for politically motivated spending is high,” she added.
She also highlighted a growing pattern of unplanned, unexplained spending by the current administration, warning that such practices erode public trust and reduce the National Assembly to a rubber stamp.
“If the government cannot accurately project its financial needs at the start of the year, it must at least provide full transparency when seeking additional billions,” she said.
The AFC parliamentarian also raised concerns about the government avoiding critical questioning during prior discussions on supplemental funding, stating that “accountability cannot be sacrificed for convenience or, worse, political expediency.”
The supplementary budget request comes as Guyana ramps up spending across sectors, including infrastructure, social programs, and energy-related initiatives tied to its burgeoning oil and gas economy. However, with general elections anticipated in late 2025, critics are calling for heightened scrutiny of all state finances.
