WITH over $2.3 billion budgeted for development in telecommunications, and an $8.4 billion allocated for improvements in power generation across the country, Prime Minister (PM), Brigadier Mark Phillips said that measures in the 2021 budget is sure to touch the lives of every single Guyanese, as he endorsed the budget on Monday before the National Assembly. The PM emphasised that the budget showcases the immense passion and concern that the government has for the wellbeing of the people of Guyana, evidenced through the ample, strategic, and deliberate allocations across all sectors.
“The budget breathes hope and life into the hearts of our citizens. It speaks of rebirth; it speaks of renewal, but most of all it speaks of a new era of prosperity for all Guyanese. An era that our people have, for too long, hoped for without fruition,” Phillips commented as he opened his hour-long address.
The PM took the opportunity to highlight specific measures contained in the budget for the key programme areas under his portfolio, which includes power generation, telecommunication, government information and communication technologies (ICT), and disaster preparedness, response and management
Measures funded in the energy sector are widespread and caters for funding towards improvement of the provision of energy both on the coastal area and hinterland areas.

The budget contains allocations of $240 million for the Sustainable Energy Programme; $628.8 million for the Renewable Energy Improvement Power System Project; $750 million for the Energy Matrix Diversification Programme; $500 million for the Solar System Project; $125 million for the Small Hydro Projects; and an estimated $202.5 million has been allocated to Hinterland Electrification.
An estimated total of $3.1 billion has been allocated to power companies across Guyana: $172.5 million for Lethem Power Company, $490 million for Kwakwani Utilities Inc., $2.3 billion for LINMINE, $30 million for Mabaruma Power Company, $50 million for Mahdia Power and Light, $10 million for Moruca Power and Light, $15 million for Matthew’s Ridge Power and Light and $50 million for Port Kaituma Power and Light.
“Our Government will now work assiduously to implement the necessary measures that will result in improved standard of living for our people through the generation and provision of sufficient, stable and reliable power,” the PM declared.

ENERGY MIX
Phillips reminded that the government’s vision for the future of energy provision in Guyana includes the addition of over 400MW of newly-installed capacity and a reduction in the cost of energy by at least 50 per cent through provisions from a mix of energy sources that include hydropower, natural gas, solar and wind.
Also under the energy sector is emphasised consideration for off-grid areas, particularly the expansion of the hinterland electrification programme, replacement and upgrade of solar PV systems in the hinterland and the advancement of micro grids for large hinterland areas. The HECI plans to install solar PV powered micro-grid systems in 50 communities by 2025. “Our government will now work assiduously to implement the necessary measures that will result in improved standard of living for our people through the generation and provision of sufficient, stable and reliable power,” PM declared. Phillips noted that while the PPP/C has achieved an estimated 80 per cent electricity access across the hinterland, that “number has since reduced significantly”, and as such, the government has committed to providing 25,000 solar home systems, rated at 100W each. These will be installed in over 200 communities.

In power supply on the coastland, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will continue the roll out of improvements to its transmission and distribution through continued advancement towards the integration of a fully-automated transmission and distribution metering and generation system. The Power Utility Upgrade Programme was given a further $1.8 billion. This programme targets network issues such as redundancy, reliability, capacity upgrades, bulk delivery systems to new load centres and technical loss reduction via larger conductors and power factor correction. “GPL is currently working with a list of known areas and will continue to ensure access to electricity is improved to 100 per cent by 2024,” the PM pointed out. On telecommunications, the PM noted that the importance of ICT as a tool of economic and social empowerment, cannot be overemphasised, which is why some $2.3 billion has been budget for this sector. “Guyana has made many strides in the innovation of ICTs but there is a ways to go, and this creates room for our country to learn and follow the pattern of larger countries’ successes in this regard,” Phillips said. An estimated $2 billion dollars has been allocated to the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) to transform the delivery of Government services and improve citizens’ quality of life through appropriate use of technology that fosters digital inclusion and public trust.

IMPROVEMENT OF ICT SERVICES
Another $172.9 million has been set aside for the National Broadband Project for which will see the improvement of Government ICT services for the citizens of Guyana. With an allocation of $52.4 million, a highly strategic approach will be taken to plan, coordinate and implement a number of projects and initiatives that will support the policy objectives of the Industry and Innovation Unit (IIU). The IIU is also expected to establish a National ICT Strategy and accompanying pivotal legislation such as data protection and other-related legislations that will foster the growth and sustainability of the ICT sector. For 2021, the agency plans to implement the Universality Fund through which mobile telecommunications and broadband Internet service will be extended to thousands of Guyanese in unserved areas. A total of $961.3 million has been allocated from this year’s budget towards the Government Information and Communications Services Programme.
Meanwhile, also towards improvement in the delivery of communication, the PM reminded of the initiative to develop a ‘National Broadcast Academy’ in collaboration with the Guyana Press Association, Guyana Broadcasting Authority and the University of Guyana. With regards to disaster preparedness and management, a total of $563 million has been allocated to the Civil Defence Commission for it to carry out its work.