MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, has said that measures outlined in Budget 2026 are designed first and foremost for the benefit of the people, with development across sectors unfolding incrementally.
The minister was at the time speaking on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast which was aired on Sunday. He said the budget builds on the gains made during the first term of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s administration, describing it as a continuation of a long-term development programme.
“The budget of 2026 first and foremost builds upon the achievements of the previous five years, which constitute the first term of President Ali’s government,” Minister McCoy said, adding that the government now has “the opportunity to lead the people of this country through another transformative five years”.
He noted that the return of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to office reflected public confidence in the administration’s approach to governance and development. “It must have been significant enough for people to trust us as their government for another term, and so we don’t take that lightly,” the minister said.
To this end, he stated that the budget takes a comprehensive view of development, with direct interventions aimed at empowering citizens across all segments of society. He said the measures span support for young people, women, children and the elderly, while creating broader opportunities for economic growth.
The minister pointed to increases in pensions, expanded cash grants for children and wider access to housing and business support as evidence of the people-centred focus of the spending plan.
“Right across every area of our society, you will see visible attempts to give back to people and to ensure that people have the opportunity to grow and to develop,” he said.
Addressing expectations surrounding rapid development, Minister McCoy cautioned against viewing progress as an instant process. “Development is incremental. It moves from step to step, and sometimes people would like you to believe that it is a one-shot game,” he said.
Against this backdrop, he described Budget 2026 as “another set of instalments in relation to the programme of the government focused on people”, including housing development initiatives that aim to expand access not only to house lots but to completed homes.
Minister McCoy also referenced plans to support small businesses through financing initiatives, noting that opportunities are being created for small business owners through the Small Business Development Bank, which he said will provide collateral-free and interest-free loans.
According to the minister, the common theme across the budget’s measures is its direct impact on citizens. “If you look at every single measure, every single thing in the budget, it relates back to people,” he said.
He further argued that the numerical allocations outlined in the budget translate into real benefits for citizens nationwide. “The numbers that you see in the budget really relates to actual people who will be able to benefit and to grow from our 2026 budget,” the minister added.
