Facing criticism from the Opposition Leader that the Government’s budget ignores inflation and the rising cost of living, while increasing spending that could end up in the hands of families, friends and favourites of the government, President Irfaan Ali has dismissed the statements.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the President said while he does not expect much from the Opposition, the friends and families who will benefit from the budget are all the people of Guyana.
“Let’s look at the housing programme, 25,000 Guyanese will own their own house lots, and their own homes eventually. So that is 25,000 friends and families of the government. And I take them as my friends and families, because every Guyanese is my friend and family”, the President said.
He said that the APNU+AFC while in Government failed to provide anything to the people of Guyana.
The President listed a number of other measures in the budget that he believes will benefit all citizens across various sectors.
“The Because We Care grant that will benefit 214,000 school children, 214,000 families, they are my friends and families and I love you guys…that is why we are working for you and that is why it is benefiting you. The thousands of consumers who will benefit because of the reduction in the freight costs, they are our friends and families, yes, they are our friends and families”, he said.
In an initial response to the budget on Monday, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said the budget is empty on initiatives to address the inflation rate in the country and the high cost of living.
He said the budget puts a lot of money into the system with no measures to deal with inflation and that is an issue that cannot be ignored.
“The most critical thing at this stage is inflation, and what inflation is doing to the country and there are absolutely no measures in this budget to deal with inflation. While I agree that there is need for assistance, one also recognises that if you are putting money into the system without measures to deal with inflation, the cost of living will go up further. This budget is a recipe for increasing the cost of living of the people”, Norton said.
He said the PPP Civic administration also seems to be measuring the economic growth of the country as development. Norton said the government should not be confused with the two.
The national budget debates begin on Monday in the National Assembly.
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