THE theme for the 2015 budget, which will be read on August 10th in the National Assembly by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, is ‘A fresh start to the good life in a green economy.’The minister made this declaration during an exclusive interview following a press conference at the ministry’s boardroom yesterday.  He said, “Everybody aspires to a good life and …Government spending has to be done in relation to that good life”.
He added, “We are nowhere near accomplishing the good life and one of the reasons for that is because of the bad governance we have had over the past 23 years”.  The new Administration, the minister said, is employing a ‘fresh approach’ to management of the country’s resources, with the aim of setting up the framework for how Government will be approaching the governance of the economy over the next five years.
This new approach includes a focus on better governance, social cohesion, building safer communities, linking the coastland with the hinterland, taking care of the environment, emphasising green technology, support for the implementation of environmentally friendly processes for the extractive sector and the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.
Minister Jordan said that Government’s aim is not only to ensure that “the good life” is achieved, but also that all Guyanese are able to enjoy it in a clean and safe environment.
The budget will also address promises outlined in the APNU+AFC 100-Day Plan, which was disclosed in the run-up to the May 11 elections.  These include pension and salary increases.