-Expectations ahead of Budget Day

TODAY, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, will be presenting Budget 2024. Guyanese across the country anticipate measures that will further improve their lives. Here is what some of them had to say:

Geeta Bisnauth
“I can say that the government did a lot in 2023 in the form of infrastructure, schools, roads and bridges,” Bisnauth said.

She related that in this year’s budget she is hoping for more development based on what she has seen so far.

“We have seen the cash grant pay-outs, the increases for old-age pension, public servants and the differently-disabled[sic],” she said.

Bisnauth added that there is a lot more to expect and in the 2024 Budget the government will fulfil all the promises made to the people.

Nicola Matthews
In her predictions for Budget 2024, she highlighted that there were a lot of capital projects in 2023, for example, La Harmonie Secondary School which was in a deplorable state. She said that it has since been upgraded and students and teachers are now in a more comfortable environment.

She reported that other capital projects were executed, allowing for the expansion of the Department of Education to ensure that staff were no longer in a clustered environment. She opined that the aim was to make them comfortable, so that there would be better output.

“We also had participation in some of our villages. Berbice sub-region community work projects done, the intervention of cash grants pay-outs was welcomed to cater to the needs of teachers.”

Matthews disclosed that literacy was boosted via the reading intervention programme in primary schools among other means. She added that a lot of positive things happened in 2023 and she is looking forward for more in 2024.

Margaret Benjamin
“For me the government has done well in 2023 and as a female small contractor, I gained employment and provided employment for others in my community,” she said.

Benjamin added that the year has been good and living standards for herself and others have been improved.

“In the 2024 Budget, I am looking forward for more projects and where I worked in Green Valley and Blueberry Hill, Linden, the lives of the people have been significantly enhanced as a direct result of the projects completed by this administration,” she said.

Ramsundar Phagwah
“In 2023 we have seen major transformation in many villages and the NDC in terms of development and in our area Fort Ordinance, where a new housing scheme is being constructed. We are grateful.” he said.

Phagwah stated that in Palmyra, roads have been built and major projects are taking place simultaneously.

“I would like to see the same pace of development in 2024 and it will happen,” he said.

Phagwah referred to the recent sod-turning for the construction of the new New Amsterdam Regional Hospital and other major projects, such as the synthetic track, the stadium and other projects at Palmyra.

Phagwah noted that these projects are a significant boost for the region and the people and he is very happy for them.

Tejpaul Adjoya
He pointed out that since the PPP took office, they have seen major development across the country, a remarkable transformation in Guyana, like never before.

“Last year we had a big budget and I envision this year, we will have the same because the government is on the right path to transform Guyana and that is what we want to see,” Adjoya said.

He stated that he was of the view they were left behind, but these past few years it has been different.

Adjoya reported that he has seen major development, human development in training and capacity building.

He related that this government will ensure that disposable income for the working class of people increase.

“We have seen massive expansion in Region Six, big boost with state-of-the-art hospital for New Amsterdam improving better healthcare and investment in schools to uplift education standards,” he said.