President Dr. Irfaan Ali has firmly rejected the opposition’s claims that Budget 2026 fails to serve everyday Guyanese, accusing the APNU/WIN alliance of intentionally distorting the facts and ignoring the extensive financial benefits embedded in the government’s fiscal plan.
In a video message posted on his official Facebook page, President Ali emphasised that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has consistently prioritised citizens’ welfare. He highlighted widespread job creation, strengthened social programmes, and broad-based tax relief, including the removal of more than 200 taxes imposed by the previous APNU+AFC government.
The Head of State stressed that the PPP/C has stood by workers and families across all sectors, including sugar, rice, mining, bauxite and agriculture, while recalling the economic hardships experienced between 2015 and 2020. For example, he highlighted Region 10, where nearly 800 bauxite jobs were lost under the former administration, compared with the creation of close to 1,000 new positions since the PPP/C returned to office.
President Ali also referenced the reinstatement of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for schoolchildren, a programme discontinued by the previous government, noting that its restoration reflects a clear commitment to supporting working families and investing in children’s futures.
He reiterated that every PPP/C budget is designed with people at its core and said that assertions that Budget 2026 offers nothing to ordinary citizens disregard the clear and detailed measures outlined in the budget presentation. According to the President, the repeated criticism from the parliamentary opposition reveals an agenda aimed at obstructing national progress.
Among the key initiatives highlighted is an increase in the low-income mortgage ceiling, which the President said will enable more families to access home ownership and use their property as a foundation for long-term wealth creation. Additionally, a $7.5 billion housing improvement subsidy has been allocated to support vulnerable households with home repairs and upgrades.
Further relief will come through reductions in Value-Added Tax on selected categories of vehicles, making transport more affordable for families. The President also emphasised efforts to ease the overall cost of living, including the continued zero per cent excise tax on petroleum products—a measure expected to cost the state over $100 billion—and the restoration of freight charges to pre-pandemic levels, representing billions of dollars in further public investment.
Support for education remains a priority, with the government continuing to cover the cost of up to eight Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects per student. Pensioners will also benefit significantly, with more than $54 billion allocated for pension increases and transport assistance.
President Ali further outlined a range of direct cash and income-support measures, including higher stipends for pathway workers and community enhancement and support service workers, increased allowances for community policing groups, annual bonuses for members of the disciplined services, and the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant, amounting to approximately $60 billion in direct transfers to citizens.
Additional measures, such as the removal of net property tax and the increase in the income tax threshold, he noted, will put more disposable income into the hands of working Guyanese. Collectively, the President said, these initiatives represent hundreds of billions of dollars channelled directly back to the people, reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and shared prosperity.