Dear Editor,
I THINK we all should reflect on the past to better the future. Therefore, I will like to look back a little on budget 2022 and what it has done for us as Guyanese within that year. I must also clearly state that budget 2022 was a people-friendly budget and saw all Guyanese benefitting from it including the former government officials and President. So, the 2022 budget was a budget for all Guyanese.

With that being said, the 2022 budget has transformed the livelihood of many Guyanese in one way or another. We saw major developmental works taking place throughout Guyana and in all sectors. Our pensioners saw growth in their pensions, public assistance was raised and the social services to our people were better than before.

We saw a massive transformation in Guyana’s landscape and infrastructure. Roads are being expanded and built to accommodate the growing number of vehicles on our highways.
Community roads and streets are being done throughout Guyana. There was a major breakthrough in moving closer to having a new Demerara Harbour Bridge, betters street and highway lightings, among many other things.

In the year 2022, we saw better for our children through the MOE children’s school grants, feeding programmes, and better examination results. We saw a major improvement in the school welfare system and better in its environs, etc…

In the agriculture sector, we saw massive transformation as hundreds of new cash crop farmers returned to their land, rice farmers started to invest more, fisherfolks were cared for, new crops were cultivated, and many farm-to-market roads are being done so as to recreate better access to and from farmlands.

Agro-processing plants are being placed in some regions, machines are being given to various agencies to better serve in helping the farmers, among other things.
In sports, we saw great changes and more investments in our young people. We saw the upgrading of playgrounds, small tractors being given to weed the ground, sports gear being handed out, along with many other equipment that is needed to keep the grounds in order.

We saw the first ever “One Guyana” football tournament that saw all regions in Guyana taking part and we had the opportunity to host CPL.
In 2022, the health sector was transformed from that year’s budget with more additional healthcare services and staff.  Health facilities are being upgraded and training is done to better the services provided.

We saw better wages and salaries for our public servants, although many are saying that’s not enough. But it was a major boost to their pocket, along with better working conditions.
In the housing sector, we saw massive growth, as thousands of Guyanese were given land for the first time. Many single parents and young professionals benefitted from the same. All across Guyana, the entire housing sector advanced rapidly. We saw houses being built and many, for the first time, owning their homes.

I can go on and on and speak of the many grants that were given to our people, but I won’t because that’s just a little recap of budget 2022 and what it has done for all Guyanese.
Brothers and sisters, I won’t go further, but to say that I am very confident that Budget 2023 will be bigger and better so that all of Guyana can once more see major development and bigger benefits.

I wish the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Hon. Dr. Ashni Singh all the best in presenting Budget 2023, as together we continue to grow as “One Guyana.”

Yours Sincerely,
Abel Seetaram