Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn delivered a stinging reprimand to opposition members who have utilised racially charged language during the parliamentary debates.

The minister was at the time adding her voice to the mix of endorsements of Budget 2026 in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Recalling the historical struggles of Guyanese leaders such as the late Dr. Walter Rodney and her father, Brindley Horatio Benn, Minister Benn highlighted a legacy of unity that she argued is being undermined by modern political tactics. The minister was particularly critical of the use of the term ‘slaving’ by opposition members when referring to the hard work of public servants.

“Our ancestors struggled through those hardships and rose from them to the extent that persons of African descent, including me, and including every Guyanese, can dream, attain and excel with dignity in any sphere of endeavor today,” she reminded.

She reiterated that Guyana’s national motto, ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, was born from the vision of welding the country together rather than tearing it apart through ethnic division.

Minister Benn emphasised that the current administration remains committed to this unified identity, rejecting what she characterised as attempts by the opposition to retreat into divisive rhetoric when they cannot compete with the government’s fiscal performance.

It is against this backdrop that she described Budget 2026 as a master class in prudent fiscal management.

“This budget is designed to lift and improve the socio-economic circumstances of all our citizens, regardless of their geographic location or ethnic background,” she said.

Through massive allocations for housing, the distribution of carbon credit funds to indigenous communities, and strategic investments in infrastructure, Benn maintained that the budget ensures that every Guyanese can share in the country’s impressive transformation.