-says Budget 2026 signals departure from economic hardships

Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally has lauded the $1.558 trillion 2026 Budget as a transformative blueprint for national prosperity that ensures every strata of Guyanese society is empowered.

The minister emphasised that this budget is built on the foundation of strong economic growth with a focus on development for every citizen, from farmers and miners to stay at home parents, ensuring that inclusivity and diversity remain at the forefront of the national agenda.

Reflecting on the government’s trajectory since 2020, the Minister noted that the administration has translated unprecedented levels of economic growth into opportunities for personal upliftment created at a pace never before seen in the history of our country.

According to the Minister, this fiscal package represents a continuous effort to provide long-term wealth creation and financial security for a population that has remained determined through decades of challenges.

“We will never back down from serving the people. Our government has nothing but love and care for the people who elected us to serve. We will defend the things that will make their lives easier and bring dignity and respectability to every hard working citizen of this nation,” he declared to the House during day three of the budget debates.

According to the Minister, the resilience of the Guyanese people coupled with prudent fiscal management has allowed the country to overcome past challenges ranging from economic bankruptcy to the global pandemic, setting the stage for long-term wealth creation.

Within the broader fiscal framework, the government has allocated significant resources to social safety nets, including an increase in the Old Age Pension to $46,000 per month and a new $20,000 annual transportation support grant for both pensioners and school children.

Minister Ally reaffirmed that the People’s Progressive Party remains focused on carrying out its manifesto promises with transparency. He noted that the citizens are smart and attuned to the actions taken by their representatives and can see where there is genuine interest in their development.

For the Ministry of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation and the wider public sector, the budget reinforces the government’s efforts to improve efficiency and human capital development, which includes the removal of various tax burdens such as the flat tax on double-cab pickups and the elimination of VAT on vehicles below 1500 CC.

Minister Ally reminded that the government aims to modernise the public service through rigorous digitalisation and institutionalised monitoring and evaluation across all areas of government.

“This ministry now stands at the centre of government’s transformation agenda. This ministry is about whether government delivers, whether public funds translate into desired outcomes and most importantly, whether the Guyanese people experience a public service that works,” he said.