THE presentation of Budget 2025 reflects a profound commitment to progress, equity, and sustainable development under the PPP/C administration.
This commitment is evident in the administration’s transformative agenda in housing, water infrastructure, and debt management, key areas where the government has not only delivered but exceeded expectations.
The housing sector has been transformed, empowering people and undoubtedly strengthening communities.

The sector, which once floundered under the lackluster policies of the previous APNU+AFC administration, has seen a remarkable resurgence. Between 2015 and 2020, the APNU+AFC government allocated only 7,534 house lots, leaving the sector with no strategic vision or investment.
In stark contrast, the PPP/C administration has allocated over 41,000 house lots since August 2020. This is not just a statistic, but also signifies empowerment, especially for women and young people who account for 46 per cent and 53 per cent of new landowners, respectively.

The PPP/C’s housing drive goes beyond providing shelter; it is about creating wealth and improving the net worth of working-class families. Its subsidised housing programme has ensured affordability, with low-income families paying just six per cent of the actual cost of house lots.
The government’s collaboration with financial institutions has further reduced interest rates, raising the low-income mortgage ceiling to $20 million, and offering mortgage interest relief of up to $30 million. These interventions enable citizens to build lasting financial security while also fueling a 30.8 per cent growth in the construction sector.

The government’s comprehensive approach to housing includes developing new communities and upgrading infrastructure in existing schemes.
By acquiring 85 new areas, and implementing support infrastructure like roads and utilities, it guarantees long-term sustainability. In addition, the focus on all income brackets—low, moderate, middle, and high—reinforces the PPP/C’s philosophy of inclusive development.

The administration acknowledges the existing regional disparities, and focuses on Regions 1 to 10 with plans to acquire land for an additional 30,000 housing lots. Its commitment to fairness ensures that historically underserved areas have equal access to opportunities for growth and prosperity.
The state of the water sector under the APNU+AFC was a microcosm of their governance failure: Bankrupt institutions, neglected infrastructure, and a lack of basic maintenance. By 2020, untreated water was being distributed from treatment plants. Fast forward to 2024, and the picture is dramatically different.

Today, access to potable water stands at 98.3 per cent on the coast, with ambitious plans to achieve 100 per cent access in hinterland communities by 2025.
This turnaround was achieved through targeted investments, including constructing seven large and 18 smaller water treatment plants, installing 200km of new transmission lines, and upgrading ageing infrastructure. The Coastal Water Infrastructure Programme is nearly complete, and the Hinterland Water Programme has already provided first-time access to 40,000 residents.

Budget 2025 is not just about numbers, but a vision for a stronger, more inclusive Guyana. By addressing the housing deficit, ensuring access to potable water, and maintaining fiscal responsibility, the government has laid a solid foundation for continued growth.
The administration’s focus on empowering individuals, whether through homeownership, employment, or improved infrastructure, demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the people of Guyana.
The progress achieved so far is undeniable. The critics, including those who have directly benefited from government programmes, would do well to acknowledge that this is governance at its best: Pragmatic, people-focused, and prepared for the future.