WE have once again seen the presentation of yet another record budget with promises of major development works to benefit the Guyanese people. Sometimes people would look at the sums of money being spent on projects and programmes annually and say that there are no visible results since they would expect to see the changes immediately.
The critics would say that the budget holds nothing for us, but where would Guyana be without the investment in public infrastructure? In recent years we have seen massive infrastructural projects across the country, either funded by the Government, private sector or international agencies and institutions. Growing up, many of us would remember the state of our roads, but look at what it is today. Leaving out the highways, communities which once had just mud dams have paved roads that children growing up now do not know what a mud dam is.
Listening to the budget debate in Parliament, we have all heard the huge sums allocated to the various sectors and these will all benefit the Guyanese people. There are those who would have us believe that the budget holds nothing for the normal people but any right-thinking Guyanese would know that this is not true.
This year’s budget has as key targets in the housing sector, the allocation of 5,500 house lots and the processing and distribution of 3,750 land titles. This will be yet another feather in the Government’s cap, since 5,500 more Guyanese will be able to have a plot of land to construct a house and provide a better life for their families.
With the land title, a Guyanese family would be able to go to a bank to access financing to construct their house, at a reduced interest rate since Government as recent as last year made another arrangement with the banks to offer higher loans at lower interest rates.  Communities in the past which never received potable water and had to depend on water from the creeks and rivers, now receive clean water. Incrementally, Government has moved to ensure that people living in far off areas receive the same service as others in nearby villages and most of Guyana now receives potable water while work will continue this year to ensure that the work is maintained.
In the education sector, parents will receive assistance with meals and snacks with the continuation of the national school feeding programme and the hot meals programme where children are already receiving snacks and meals. This has been seen to help children with their concentration levels and attendance. Government has also stated that it will continue to place emphasis on the continued expansion of technical vocational training. More teachers will be trained and more facilities will be constructed and upgraded for students to learn in comfort and move on to higher institutions of learning.
Now that we celebrate 40 years of republicanism, we can confidently say that Guyana has indeed come a far way and the Guyanese people continue to excel.