Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has stated that the $1.558 Trillion Budget fell “woefully short” of addressing the challenges confronting the people of Guyana.

In an interview with News Source moments after the budget was presented last evening, the Opposition Leader said the 2026 Budget fails to reflect the realities of the Guyanese people, and would see hundreds of billions of dollars being injected into infrastructure projects to the benefit of friends of the Government.

He said notwithstanding a commitment by President Irfaan Ali in the lead up to the 2025 Elections that school children would benefit from a Because We Care Cash grant of $100,000 and an additional $100,000 in transportation allowance, the Budget only caters for a grant of $60,000, transportation allowance to the tune of $20,000 and uniform allowance of $5,000 – a total of $85,000.

Mohamed said it is now clear, that the President was dishonest with his promises. He said the budget includes meager increases for pensioners, persons with disabilities, and others who are benefiting from public assistance.

“We have the Public Assistance, even the persons living with disabilities, $3,000 increase, from $22,000 to $25,000. Come on, if you care for the people, if you claim that you love the people, why give persons $3000 a month increase? That is so rough for persons living with disabilities just to get $3,000 more. It is so inhumane, it’s like they don’t have no empathy for the people. Now, we have the pensioners from $41,000 to $46,000 a month and a $20,000 transportation grant for year and I could recall him promising $60,000 per month and $50,000. So, right away, about 400,000 persons, if you add up the school students, 205,000 students, 95,000 pensioners, 50,000 persons receiving the public assistance monthly. Irfaan Ali and the PPP Government they don’t care about the people of this country. I didn’t hear anything about the public servants. All we hearing about infrastructure, big hundred billion dollars on roads but our most important resource is the human resource, and it doesn’t reflect that,” the Opposition Leader said.

Opposition Leader Mohamed said from all indication the budget is heavy on infrastructure with little emphasis on the people. He said he is concerned that billions of dollars would be wasted as was seen during the past five years, and billions more would be lost to corruption.

“The theme, putting the people first – that does not reflect the people of this country. It reflects their families, friends and favorites. I noticed $81B for NDIA through the Ministry of Agriculture. You have more money there for Minister Mustapha for him to siphon off behind his contractors and shell companies,” he alleged.

With the budget debates set to commence next Monday, the Opposition Leader said the Opposition would be scrutinizing the budget document, as it continues to press for transparency and accountability from the Government.

Minister Singh, in delivering the budget presentation to the House said the budget is intended to give effect to the vision of the president for a modern and prosperous Guyana.

Approximately 12.7% larger than the 2025 Budget, the 2026 National Budget will see finances being injected into every sector, from Education and Health to Infrastructure and Agriculture.

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