The APNU unveiled its 56-page manifesto today detailing its plans for keys sectors including Education, Health, Energy, Agriculture, Housing, Culture, Youth and Sports.

At the centre of those plans is a plan to root out corruption by fixing broken systems, starting with the Public Service.

APNU Presidential Candidate, Aubrey Norton, told those gathered at the Pegasus Suites for the manifesto launch that the coalition of parties will be taking a holistic approach to addressing the issues affecting the management of the country.

He said the coalition’s plans cannot be achieved without a proper functioning public service, noting that the public service is critical to fixing the problem of corruption.

“The institutions of the public service are the tools available to the government to get its work done. The public servant must be respected and honoured. They must also be capable of helping all Guyanese to fulfill their needs. It is for that reason the government of the APNU Coalition will modernize government services to enhance the efficiency of its operations. While we plan to call on the public service to improve its service, we also intend to pay special attention to their conditions of work,” he said.

According to Mr. Norton, the coalition would create a conducive environment that would attract and retain well-trained and experienced staff in the public service. He said public servants must be motivated and encouraged to think critically and to act professionally.

To ensure that the Public Service operates like a “well-oiled machine,” the APNU said it would ensure that public servants are properly paid.

“Public servants will receive a 35 percent increase in their salary. The APNU Coalition will create a long-term financing programme with special conditions for public servants to acquire or refurbish assets such as a home or a motor vehicle. Public servants will also become eligible for the purchase of a vehicle duty free once they have been in the service for an agreed period of time. We propose for at least three years. In addition, public servants will enjoy periodic VAT free purchases once certain conditions of employment are satisfied,” Norton disclosed.

Norton said APNU’s manifesto was crafted based on extensive consultations with the man on the ground and the people in the streets.

He said while Guyana boasts of having a booming economy, the reality on the ground is that many Guyanese struggle to make ends meet.

Norton explained that along with the dominance of the oil and gas industry, has come a redistribution of income that has led to the widening in the income gap between households and a worsening of the economic situation for those already in poverty. APNU estimates that income inequality rose from 43 in 2019 to 48 in 2024.

He said APNU’s ‘people centered approached’ would see the coalition investing heavily in people while taking strategic steps to further diversify the economy, rake in investments, and increase the country’s revenues.

“We will increase the Old-Age pension to $100,000 per month, pay a childcare allowance of $120, 000per month for children under school age and for school age children attending school. The minimum wage for public servants will be increased to $200,000 per month. In addition, the APNU Government will extend the tax exemption threshold for all workers from $130,000 per month to $400,000 per month. For those who will have to pay taxes, the tax deduction for charitable contributions will be extended to them. Further, each post-secondary school student will receive $50,000 per month and every person working under the special part-time programme will earn $50,000 per month. Household incomes will be further enhanced with an electricity subsidy up to $10,000 per month and a water subsidy up to $5,000 per month. We will also have programmes to help single parents, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups,” he said.  

He said major attention will also be placed on the Education Sector at every tier.

Turning his attention to the Private Sector, Norton said the Private Sector’s role as the engine of growth has been diminished under the current Administration.  

He pointed out that spending by the government rose from 39 percent in 2021 to 83 percent of non-oil GDP in 2024. He reasoned that the high ratio of government spending to non-oil GDP raises questions about the independence and resilience of the private sector to meet the challenges of the non-oil economy.

“It also calls into question the preparedness of the private sector to respond to exogenous shocks to the economy. We also worry about how much we can depend on the private sector for product and process innovation if it allows government spending to serve as its market”, he noted.

Norton said an APNU-led administration would tackle the issue head on.

“Clearly, there is a need for balance between the needs of the private sector and that of the government. In our view, if the non-oil economy is to grow, it would be necessary for the government to adjust its spending to prevent the continued crowding out of the private sector from access to adequate amounts of foreign currency. At this time, no manufacturer would be persuaded to engage in large-scale production, without access to export markets, because of the small size of our domestic market. Given our desire to diversify the production structure, the export market is vital. Consequently, a major focus must be the opening of foreign markets for our non-oil exports,” he said.

He said an APNU Administration would also encourage production in a number of other sectors.

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