THIS year, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, is expected to deliver the largest budget ever, which hopefully sets Guyana further along the developmental trajectory.
The budget is expected to focus more on addressing the needs of the people. It is expected to focus on the social and welfare needs of a growing and expanding society, where the most vulnerable populations will have increased funds. It is expected to be pro-poor, pro-people and pro-working class.
The budget is expected to stand firmly on the pillars of the People’s Progressive Party’s 2025 manifesto, which is committed to higher levels of service delivery to the people. It is expected to aim towards cutting the red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that Guyanese face when accessing government and private services.
That manifesto outlined a comprehensive agenda for transforming the country, which will be reflected in the government’s 2026 budget. The social, education and health sectors are expected to take the lion’s share of the budget, followed closely by the public works, crime and security and other general sectors.
It is anticipated that the budget will establish a clear policy framework for tackling poverty, crime, youth violence, and other social ills.
As Guyana stands on the brink of Budget 2026, many citizens, especially young people, working families, and first-time homeowners are watching closely and waiting with hope, expectation, and cautious optimism.
Housing is not just about concrete, blocks, and steel: it is also about dignity, stability, security, and the chance to build a real future. Since the PPP/C returned to office in 2020, the transformation of the housing sector has been one of the most visible and meaningful changes in national development.
Over the past five years, the speed at which land titles and transport are being processed has brought real relief to thousands of Guyanese families.
For many, this is the first time in their lives that they are holding legal documents to land they waited years for, sometimes decades. That single piece of paper represents more than ownership; it represents security, opportunity, and the ability to finally build, access financing, and pass on stability to their children. This renewed efficiency has restored public confidence and shown what can happen when housing is treated as a right and not a privilege.
Equally impactful has been the rapid expansion of new housing schemes across the country. Entire communities have emerged across Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and beyond, complete with roads, drainage, utilities, and access to essential services. These are the result of deliberate policy choices and consistent, massive annual budgetary allocations to the housing sector.
This is expected to be a potent point made by Minister Singh in his budget speech, along with more funds for development. Singh will have the privilege of shedding light on Guyana’s use of technology to improve the lives of citizens, with emphasis on digitalisation, digitisation, and AI.
Moving on to service delivery and technology, which will dominate the minister’s presentation in the 65-seat legislature. Also, Minister Singh is expected to give an overview of the economic landscape and the economy’s performance over the past year. He is also expected to say that Guyana grew, again by more than 15.9 per cent. The minister is expected to say this growth is driven by the operationalisation of four oil fields and tell the nation how Guyana got there.
He will reflect on the findings of the Housing and Population Census, where the population is estimated to be more than 950,000. The minister is expected to explain the country’s unemployment rate, which in 2026 is projected will 10.2% or less.
He is expected to tell the nation that the annual inflation rate is estimated to be around 4.4%, and Guyana recorded a fiscal balance of -4.5% of GDP.
Similarly, Minister Singh is expected to update the nation on the commitment to slash electricity rates and deliver cheaper electricity through the gas-to-energy project. Singh, no doubt, will want to boast about Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund and will give an update on oil and oil proceeds.
The minister is expected to say that sugar is falling behind, and rice continues to soar in terms of production. Also, assistance for small, medium, and large-scale businesses is included in the budget speech that will be given on Monday. It is also expected that the Guyana Development Bank will be further explained and the processes will become clearer through the budget 2026.
More focus is expected on infrastructural development, building out roads, bridges, streets, community roads and such like infrastructure to put Guyana solidly on the path of modernity.
The most anticipated part of the budget presentation will be the measures that will be announced last. Several tax cuts and increases in assistance are expected to be budgeted in the 2026 estimates.
Apart from this, Minister Singh will have the unenviable task of speaking to both sides of parliament in the presence of a sanctioned opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, who is a fugitive offender and will be sitting in the National Assembly.
His presence there will create high drama, and the government parliamentarians will have something up their sleeves.
Minister Singh will be presenting his 14th budget and fifth under the presidency of Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; also, the first in the presence of a sanctioned opposition leader. He is expected to deliver the budget effortlessly but will engage Azruddin and the opposition with the usual barbs and exchanges. This, of course, will set the tone of all budget debates.
As Budget 2026 approaches, there is a strong hope that the government will remain on this positive path, faithful to the PPP/C’s manifesto and true to the promises made to the people.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.6521