President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has reiterated that people remain at the heart of his administration’s programmes and policies.
Speaking during a post-budget interview on Monday, the head of state said that the fiscal plan captures every segment of the Guyanese population in a profound and impactful way.
The $1.558 trillion budget was presented to the National Assembly on Monday afternoon under the theme “Putting People First”, and details an ambitious roadmap aimed at uplifting vulnerable groups, fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs, and putting billions of dollars directly into the pockets of citizens.
“Budget 2026 is positioned with the people at the center. The measures are designed to ensure the greatest impact on people, to ensure that the greatest level of economic wealth is directly attributed to the improvement of people’s life, their living conditions, creating more opportunities for disposable income, and a higher quality of life,” the president said.
A key component is the expansion of support for persons living with disabilities and children with special needs.
Recognising that one of the main challenges these persons face pertains to accessibility, the president said that Budget 2026 provides for the retrofitting of all government buildings and community facilities with modern accessibility standards.
Education and care for special needs children are also receiving a boost. The government is earmarking resources to build modern special needs schools in every region while simultaneously training and incentivising specialised teachers. Earlier this month, the state of the art Yas School of Inspiration was commissioned, marking Guyana’s 49th Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) space.
“We are also employing more persons to provide support services in our school system. And just like people living with disability, we are also building out these facilities in every community. We are building an entire ecosystem,” the President stated. “It’s not only about supporting in cash grants and facilities. It’s supporting an entire ecosystem that gives them a better quality of life.”
Also ensconced in Budget 2026 are the increase in the Because we Care cash grant to $60,000, the introduction of a $20,000 annual transportation support grant for children and old age pensioners, increase in Old Age Pension to $46,000 per month, and an increase in public assistance $22,000 to $25,000 per month.
Further, the administration is seeking to support private investment in elderly and child care facilities through the removal of corporate taxes on companies that provide child care and elderly care services, and the provision of $15 billion to support co-investment in child and elderly care facilities.