By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul says while the government chose the right theme for Budget 2026, “Putting People First,” its policies and allocations fail to reflect that promise in practice.
Speaking on the Context podcast, the parliamentarian, who represents the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), argued that the budget does not adequately prioritise the most vulnerable citizens or those who form the backbone of the country’s workforce.
According to Mahipaul, a people-centred budget should focus primarily on families struggling to make ends meet, low-income households, and public servants who keep the nation functioning.
“When you talk about putting people first, you are supposed to be talking primarily about the vulnerable — families trying to survive, and those who keep this country standing,” Mahipaul said. “Instead, the programmes, policies and projects appear skewed towards the business community, the elites, and what many Guyanese describe as friends, family and favourites.”
The MP expressed concern that frontline workers such as police officers, soldiers, fire service personnel, and public servants — including doctors, nurses and teachers — were not meaningfully catered for in the budget.
He pointed to what he described as modest and insufficient increases for pensioners and welfare recipients. Under the 2026 allocations, old-age pensioners are expected to receive a $5,000 increase, while public assistance recipients will see an increase of $3,000 — figures Mahipaul described as “crumbs” in the face of rising living costs.
Mahipaul also criticised the treatment of wages and taxation measures. He noted that the private-sector minimum wage remains at $60,000, which he argued is inadequate in an economy where international data points to widespread poverty.
Citing figures from the Inter-American Development Bank, the MP highlighted what he said were alarming poverty indicators, with an estimated 58 percent poverty rate and 38 percent abject poverty rate.
He further questioned the impact of the increase in the income tax threshold from $130,000 to $140,000, stating that it translates to only about $2,500 in additional monthly spending power for those who qualify — and benefits a relatively small segment of the workforce.
Mahipaul noted that approximately 25,000 public sector employees will not benefit from the adjustment at all, reinforcing his view that the majority of Guyanese are excluded from meaningful relief.
“If you are going to theme your budget ‘Putting People First,’ then the majority of the people must feel it,” he said. “That is not what this budget delivers.”
The APNU parliamentarian concluded that while the slogan may resonate, Budget 2026, in his assessment, falls short of delivering broad-based relief and meaningful improvements for ordinary Guyanese.
