– Parliamentary Affairs Minister says

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, said on Wednesday that the 2024 National Budget, themed, “Staying the Course: Building Prosperity for All” expresses hope and optimism for the country’s future.

The Minister made these remarks during her contributions to the National Budget debates during the 74th sitting of the twelfth parliament.

It was at that moment when she observed that the commitments made by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government have been upheld.

Against this backdrop, Minister Teixeira stated that the PPP/C administration has chosen a path of national development based on transforming the physical infrastructure of Guyana to open the country to modernity, new areas of production, and economic activity.

By incorporating this, it leads to the development of novel skill sets, job opportunities, and a thriving community of entrepreneurs, all driven by the philosophy of ensuring no one is left behind.

Further to this, she noted that parallel investments have been made in the people of the country through various programmes like the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Get Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW), Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) among others.

“We have made promises as a party, we have kept promises and we will continue to keep our promises because that is the honour and responsibility of our party to serve the country,” she expressed.

In addition, the Minister further stated that the government’s implementation of various programmes has resulted in substantial benefits for women.

During that time, Teixeira highlighted the fact that women account for over 60 per cent of the GOAL scholarship awardees, as well as approximately 44 per cent of the recipients of house lots and expanding small businesses.

Additionally, she mentioned that in previous years, a significant challenge encountered was the limited involvement of women in the economic realm. Nonetheless, the current scenario depicts a positive shift, with women increasingly establishing their dominance in various sectors, including micro and small businesses.

Teixeira stated that the opposition fails to grasp the forward-thinking and progressive movement of the people.

“It is unfathomable to them while at the same time each of their MPs [Members of Parliament] also benefit from the measures the PPP government has introduced, as they should! The people like the budget measures, they understand what this will bring to their lives and they want more and they will get more as the country transforms, so they know that things are better and far better than under the APNUAFC,” the Minister expressed.