By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement and Member of Parliament Amansa Walton-Desir has described the $1.558 trillion 2026 National Budget as disappointing, unambitious, and inconsistent with its stated theme.
Walton-Desir said the budget offers “more of the same” and fails to adequately address the economic pressures currently facing Guyanese, particularly rising inflation and the escalating cost of food.
She grounded her critique in a recent report by the Inter-American Development Bank, which highlighted inflationary pressures and increasing food prices across the region. According to the MP, these realities make the government’s modest increases in social support deeply concerning.
Walton-Desir pointed specifically to the increase in the old-age pension, which moved from $41,000 to $46,000 per month—an increase of just $5,000. She noted that this falls well short of the $60,000 monthly pension promised during the 2025 election campaign and warned that the shortfall will place further strain on senior citizens already grappling with high living costs.
The Forward Guyana leader also raised concerns about allocations to the University of Guyana. She revealed that the institution requested $21.2 billion but received only $14.5 billion, while the GOAL scholarship programme was allocated a larger sum. Walton-Desir argued that underfunding the country’s premier tertiary institution undermines long-term human capital development.
In her broader assessment, Walton-Desir said the budget remains heavily skewed toward large infrastructure projects, while ordinary citizens see little meaningful relief. She alleged that allocations continue to favour politically connected interests, describing the financial plan as one that benefits “friends, family and favourites” rather than the wider population.
The MP further expressed alarm that only $9 billion has been earmarked for cost-of-living relief at a time when food prices remain exceptionally high. Looking ahead, she warned that many Guyanese will face a difficult year navigating inflationary pressures with limited state support.
Walton-Desir concluded that despite its “Putting People First” theme, the 2026 budget does not meaningfully prioritize citizens’ welfare and fails to confront the economic challenges affecting households nationwide.
