3RD SITTING – THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT | 2026 BUDGET DEBATE | DAY 3| PART 2

Honor members, Mr. Speaker.

Good afternoon, honorable members. Let

us resume our session with the clerk

leading us in prayers.

Almighty God, we who are here gathered

together do most humbly beseech thee to

guide us in all our consultations

so that we may together build a land

where knowledge is free, where the mind

is without fear and the head is held

high and where words come from the depth

of fruit. Grant us, oh God, thine aid

and thine aid and guidance, so that we

may deal justly with the several causes

that come before us. Then aside all

private interests, prejudices, and

personal preferences, so that the result

of our councils may be to the glory of

thy precious name,

the maintenance of true religion, the

preservation of justice, the safety,

honor, and happiness of the president,

and the peace and prosperity of Guyana.

Grant us, oh God, the vision so to lead,

that all the people of this fair land

may enter into that state of brotherhood

and unity where the mind is led forward

by thee into ever widening thought and

action. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Please be

seated.

Honorable members, our first speaker

today is the honorable member, Miss

Nandrani Singh. Honorable member,

you may proceed.

Thank you,

>> Mr. Speaker. Deputy Speaker, the clerk

of the National Assembly, the estee Mr.

Isaacs, honorable ministers, member of

parliaments, colleagues on both sides of

the house. Pleasant afternoon to you

all.

Mr. Speaker, before I address the

substantive matter before this honorable

house, I begin with a simple appeal, one

grounded in respect for this institution

and for the people we serve. This

parliament is the second highest

decision-making body in our nation. It

is where laws are shaped, where the

nation's priorities are debated, and

where the conduct of members should

reflect the dignity of the offices we

hold. Yet too often, Mr. Speaker, the

proceedings of this house are

overshadowed by disordered,

constant interruption and behavior

unbeing of a parliamentary chamber.

>> You yourself, Mr. speaker have had

repeatedly to remind members about their

quorum and principle.

As a firsttime member, I have been both

surprised and disappointed by some of

the conduct I have witnessed.

Leadership is not only about the

policies we draft or the policies we

defend. It is also about the example we

set

in this digital age of information

transmission. Even our young children in

schools are viewing what is happening

here in the parliament

and through their devices they form

opinions and incorporate what happens in

here into their daily lives and they see

our behavior your behavior in here as

normal. That is what you're teaching the

children of our nation. Mr. Speaker, I

simply urge that we conduct ourselves in

a manner worthy of this house and worthy

of the people of our motherland, Guyana.

Mr. Speaker, with that said, I now turn

to budget 2026.

>> Mr. Speaker,

a member on the government benches

would have responded to one of our uh

honorable member over here. Honorable

members on my right.

>> I don't want to I don't want to start

naming you. Please.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> One of the honorable member of the

government benches would have responded

to one of our honorable member

um based on a question he or a critique

we would have made on the um volume

three of the budget estimates. We would

have asked or our member would have

asked about the breakdown of the figures

in that volume and we were told that we

would have next week to ask questions on

those numbers. Mr. Speaker, we know

that. But I something I want to remind

the government benches in this house is

that the we invest in nationhood party

is now in this parliament and the we

invest in nationhood party represents

the people. We are a party of the people

and for the people and when we ask

questions it is for the people. Mr.

Speaker, the average man on the street,

the average gy man cannot go through

that book, see a figure and have access

to the minister to ask please break down

these figures.

>> All we are asking is that it is

specified in those books or that volume

three so that the people who are

financing the budget must be able to

read it. They must know which road is

being made where when they see road

construction region 1 to 10, they have

no idea where their money is going.

Which region, which road is being built,

>> and that is all we're asking.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> the other thing I want to address is the

honorable minister of education, Miss

Sonia Pak. Miss Sonia, honorable

minister, I am not sure you understand

as yet that you're the minister of

education.

A lot of children look up to you and

they model your behavior and it is quite

embarrassing and disappointing to see

you behaving in here like a foul. You

need to control your behavior. Children

look hard to you. It is embarrassing. I

am ashamed for my son to say you are the

minister of education.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by stating

clearly that we invest in nationhood

with the public servants of this country

in

>> honorable honorable member please.

>> The honorable member

>> the honorable member is offending

against so many standing orders here

right now. You cannot stand in this

house. She's new.

>> Mr. Speaker, what point of order is the

minister standing on?

I'm standing

I'm standing on standing order 4A to say

that the honorable member is offending

against standing order 38 which is

calling names and imputing motives. It's

two standing orders she offends against.

Mr. Speaker, you cannot stand and call

and call anybody in this house a house.

When you bring into disrepute any member

of this house, it's the entire house

that you bring into dispute. And the

honorable member must withdraw that.

>> Thank you honorable

minister of local government. Honorable

members, the speaker

heard

>> being being I don't know about

everything. I hear who is speaking to

the chair.

So he does have some amount of

flexibility. I allowed that to pass. As

one person yesterday, the third time

they used the word corruption was in the

wrong context. And I interjected.

So

those who are

going to address

contradictions of the standing order may

may get one example to pass. Honorable

member, you started really well.

>> Thank you.

>> You should continue in that vein.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes,

>> let me begin by stating clearly that the

we invest the nationhood party stands

firmly with the workers and public

servants of this country in condemning

the absence of a salary increase for the

working people in the 2026 budget. The

we invest in nationhood party in its

manifesto made clear measurable

commitments to the working people of

this country. We pledge 50% increase for

public servants and we pledged to raise

the income tax threshold from 130,000 to

200,000.

Mr. Speaker, we made these commitments

knowing fully well

>> and being fully well aware that Guyana

has the resources to pay our people to

pay our workers and public servants what

they deserve.

>> Yes,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> the members of this house are servants

of the people. Yet the servants of the

government benches are living far better

lives than the people who are paying

their salaries.

>> The servants have mansions while the

people are who are paying their

salaries, some of them do not even have

a roof over their heads.

>> Mr. Speaker, the team of this year's

budget is putting people first.

>> But were the people truly put first when

all they received was a meager $10,000

increase in the income tax threshold?

>> Mr. Speaker, that equates to an

adjustment of barely $2,500

additional take-home pay for a worker

who's earning $200,000 per month.

$2,500.

Mr. Speaker, if you go to border

market,000,

>> if you go to border market with that,

Mr. Speaker, if you're not even sure if

you can get two sets of greens to have

two meals,

>> right,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> the government's own 2025 midyear budget

report

reports set clear that the cost of

living continues to rise for ordinary

gy.

>> At the end of June 2025, the consumer

price index increased by 2.9% compared

to the end of 2024 driven almost

entirely by food prices.

>> So, Mr. Speaker, when the PPPC

government speaks of stability, the

reality for workers is quite different.

And yet, Mr. Speaker,

>> the workingclass people of this country,

they face hardship and pressure every

single day.

>> Yet they are being asked to abserve the

rising cost while their wages remain

stagnant.

>> The budget is not for the

>> And yet, Mr. Speaker, it is the same

working class, the very struggling

people, the very people struggling to

keep up with the rising prices who are

contributing $71 billion to this

country's revenue through income tax

alone. And Mr. Speaker, that is

something I would like for the G people

to hear again. They are contributing 71

mil billion dollars billion dollars, Mr.

Speaker, and that is only through income

tax. um revenue.

>> All right. Love it.

>> We love it.

>> Mr. Speaker, in a $1.558

trillion budget, the national minimum

wage has not moved by a single dollar.

>> Not a muscle.

>> How can that be fair to the workers of

this country? It

>> is not fair.

>> A national minimum wage.

>> A national minimum wage review is not

just desirable. It is necessary. And so,

Mr. Speaker, do we invest in Nationhood

Party calls for an immediate review of

this injustice in the 2026 budget.

>> Immediate.

>> Our workers and our public servants must

receive a salary increase each and every

year.

>> Every year,

>> Mr. Speaker, the private sector minimum

wage has not increased since 2002. That

is more than 3 years ago.

Private sector workers earn less than

public sector workers for a similar

work.

>> The Guyana Trade Union Congress and the

Federation of Independent Trade Unions

of Guyana have repeatedly called for an

increase in the private sector minimum

wage and a national minimum wage that

reflects the cost of living. Even the

private sector commission, Mr. Speaker,

even the private sector commission, Mr.

speaker has publicly stated that

matching the one 100,000 public sector

minimum wage could be considered. So

when Mr. Speaker when employers

themselves acknowledge that parties

possible the government has no excuse

for inaction but as we have seen as we

have seen on multiple occasions the PPPC

government is more reactive than

proactive.

>> They only get it right Mr. Speaker, when

the honorable Azrain Muhammad opposition

of the leader of the opposition

highlights their incompetence and advise

how to fix it,

>> the government owes the workers of this

country better. Mr. Speaker,

>> and they can get it right. We know they

can get it right, Mr. Speaker.

>> It is simple. All they have to do is

enrich the lives of the working people

of this country instead of enriching

their lives off of the backs of the

working people in this country.

Budget 2026 should have included a clear

timeline for increasing private sector

minimum wage and an increase in the

public sector. A commitment to wage

priority and and a national policy

aligned with cost of living realities.

This absence is a profound disservice

and to the working people of Guyana. Mr.

Speaker,

>> Mr. Minister,

>> Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch a

little on the NIS crisis in our country

in 2025. Mr. Speaker, $10 billion was

injected into the National Insurance

Scheme for a one-off cash grant intended

to support persons who fell just short

of pension eligibility. At the time, the

public was told between some between

20,000 to 25,000 people would benefit

from this. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the reports

reaching us suggest that only 3,000

people actually access that grant at a

cost of about $1.2 2 billion.

>> Mr. Speaker, does this government regard

a oneoff cash grant as a substitute for

pension security or as an admission that

the scheme's structural weakness remain

unresolved?

Because if only a fraction of the

projected beneficiaries received

support, then this house must ask where

is the rest of the 10 billion and what

is the plan for the thousands who still

remain outside the pension net. And

while the government reflects on this

outcome, they should tell this house

when was the last acturial study

completed and sign off and why annual

NIS reports continue to be tabled late.

>> Mr. Speaker, the national insurance

scheme is the backbone of income

security for thousands of workers and

public servants. Yet even today far too

many gy reach retirement age only to

discover that they cannot access their

pension or their benefits.

>> So while workers are contributing

billions to this country's revenue, many

cannot even be granted the basic dignity

of receiving their pension on time if at

all.

>> Mr. Speaker, when we compare the size of

this year's budget, a $1.558 trillion

budget against the lived reality of our

people, the contrast is very stark.

According to the most recent report

assessment from the IDB, and I know over

the past two days, my colleagues on this

side of the house would have repeated

these figures many times, but I'm going

to say it again just for emphasis so the

side over there can hear it. 58% of gy

live in poverty while 32 live in abject

poverty and Mr. Speaker 67%

of the extremely poor live in rural

communities. This Mr. Speaker is the

social landscape in which this budget

must be judged.

>> But as much as this budget is dazzling

and dancing with numbers, it falls apart

under scrutiny, Mr. Speaker. And nowhere

does it fall apart more spectacularly

than in the ministries that should be

safeguarding the nation's workforce and

strengthening the state's capacity to

serve its people. The Ministry of Labor

and Manpower Planning and the Ministry

of Public Service, government efficiency

and implementation.

These are the two ministries responsible

for the workers who build this country

and the public servants who must deliver

services that keep it functioning. Yet,

Mr. Speaker, these are the very

ministries that this budget treat as

afterthoughts just as the PPP government

treats the working class of Guyana.

Budget 2026 presents itself under the

team putting people first. Yet when we

examine the 20 26 budget speech by the

honorable minister and the estimates

before this house for the ministry of

public service government efficiency and

implementation, we are left to ask what

efficiency and what implementation

because what we see in this budget is

not a ministry driving transformation.

What we see is a ministry maintaining

the status quo.

>> Right,

>> Mr. Speaker? The budget for the ministry

responsible for building our public

servants, the human capacity of the

government has decreased from 8.4

billion in 2025 to 8 billion in 2026. It

is a minor decrease. Yes, we understand

that. But when but why was this

decreased when this is supposed to be

the very ministry focusing on our public

servants development?

Upon reviewing the labor provisions

under the Ministry of Labor Manpower

Planning, or more precisely the lack

thereof, we are faced with a challenging

reality. The people who are not being

put first are the workers and public

servants of Guyana. The government

benches would have us believe that this

is a one budget. This is a budget for a

one Guyana, a budget of shared

prosperity and a budget of historic job

creations. But when we follow the money,

Mr. speaker, not all the long speeches

and the dramatics that goes on in this

house. When we follow the money, Mr.

Speaker, we find a very different story.

We find a story of job performance

indicators that cannot be met because

the resources simply do not exist. We

find a story of public servants and

workers left behind in a trillion dollar

budget. And that, Mr. Speaker, is the

truth the government does not want this

house to know or the people of Guyana to

confront.

According to its perfor program program

performance statement, the Ministry of

Labor and Manpower Planning is tasked

with formulating labor policies and

standards, drafting occupational safety

and health regulations, matching job

seekers with employers, among several

others, Mr. Speaker. But what does the

budget give them to achieve these

mandates? The Ministry of Labor and

Manpower Planning budget increase from

approximately 1.51

billion in 2025 to 1.74 billion in 2026.

An increase of about 300,000. Mr.

Speaker, in 2026, Mr. Speaker, the

ministry received a mere 0.11%

of our national expenditure. The

ministry responsible for the workers in

this country did not even receive a 1%

increase. Not even a 0.2 a 0.11%.

>> Recurrent expenditure increased while

capital expenditure fell sharply from

just over 211 million in 2025 to about

138 million in 2026. In a budget

dominated by current expenditure, the

ministry responsible for workers

protection is moving in the opposite

direction. Mr. Speaker, how does the

government believe that inspections,

occupational safety, and labor

enforcement can be strengthened with

reduced capital support at a time of

expanding economic activity, increasing

workplace risk, and the rapid growth of

large scale and hazardous projects. Mr.

Speaker, the ministry's allocation are

organized on three programs. policy

development and administration, labor

administration services, and manpower

planning. Manpower planning dominates

the estimates, accounting for roughly

$94 million. Of this amount only 88%

almost sorry 88% is classified as other

charges including a sub

including a subvention of approximately

723 million to the board of industrial

training an external entity to the

ministry.

Parliament is therefore being asked to

approve the very this very substantial

allocation without clear information on

outcomes, job placement rates, wage

progression or the value derived from

this expenditure.

How is this house assessable member? Uh

I thought you were going to

uh give me the connection between board

of industrial training. It's not

external to in future you you can say

under the ministry because it's not

external. It's not some other agency

that's somewhere floating out there.

>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not

>> I know everything except for manager

country. Give me a break.

>> By contrast, labor administration

services covering inspections,

industrial relations, occupational

safety and dispute resolutions remain

comparatively modest. In this consistent

is this consistent with the budget that

claims to be putting people first. Mr.

Speaker, staffing is not a technical

detail. The estimates show that more

than half of the 132 persons employed in

the ministry's workforce are that of

contracted employees. Labor

administration, Mr. Speaker, is not a

short-term project. It requires

continuity, independence, and authority.

Capital expenditure for 2026 totals

approximately 138 million and is spread

thinly across buildings, furniture and

equipment. Much much of it retention on

earlier projects.

There is no meaningful expansion of

regional inspection capacity or

occupational safety and health

infrastructure.

How does this align with a budget that

claims to be putting people first in the

face of rising labor pressures and

increased workplace risk? Mr. Speaker,

the mandate of the Ministry of Labor is

not limited to drafting policies and

issuing public statements. It extends to

the protection of workers and the

enforcement of fair and decent work

conditions across this country. Yet, Mr.

Speaker, during a recent visit to the

Georgetown Public Hospital, I

encountered a situation that should be

troubling to every member of this

parliament and certainly every member on

the government benches. It was a clear

reminder, Mr. Speaker, that the

conditions faced by our workers do not

match the asurances we hear in this

chamber. The reality on the ground tells

a very different story. Cleaners and

porters, Mr. Speaker, the very workers

who keep our public hospitals sanitary

and prevent the spread of diseases and

assist patients every single day do not

have access to something as basic as a

lunchroom. Mr. Speaker, these workers

are forced to store their bags in the

washroom of the hospital and most of

them eat their lunches in the washroom.

>> Mr. Speaker, that is not only

unacceptable, it is a profound failure

of basic working standards.

No worker in this country, least of all

those who serve in our public health

system

should be subjected to such indignity.

>> Right. The truth is hard for me. We

continue now.

>> You very hard. And if the Ministry of

Labor is to fulfill its mandate, then

safeguarding safe working conditions,

providing proper facilities, and

upholding basic human dignity must be

treated as a priority, not an

afterthought.

>> Mr. Speaker, let us turn our attention

to the issue many of our GY brothers and

sisters have been raising. The increased

practice of foreign nationals being

employed because they are viewed as

cheaper labor. We now have a number of

institutions hiring foreign workers,

particularly Venezuelan nationals who

are willing to work for lower wages for

the same work. Mr. Speaker, this

practice raises two concerns and that

and they fall squarely within the

Ministry of Labor's mandate.

Almost all of our public hospitals are

now employing Venezuelan nationals as

porters because they're considered

lowcost labor. But, Mr. Speaker, this

results in the displacement of GY

workers, a direct threat to the fair

wages, fair opportunity, and the

integrity of our labor market.

>> It creates real risks within our

institutions, particularly our

hospitals, where the language barrier

affects communication,

slows response, and compromise the

standard of care that the patients are

entitled to expect. The Ministry of

Labor has the responsibility to regulate

recruitment practices, ensure fair

wages, and protect both local and

foreign workers from exploitation.

Mr. Speaker, in Guyana, we have a

growing crisis where Chinese-owned

companies are exploiting our GY workers

and budget 2026 is very silent in this

issue. The evidence is overwhelming and

well documented. On November 26, 2025,

three major newspapers, the Guyana

Chronicles, Tabuk News, and the Guyana

Times all reported serious labor

violations at the Chinese owned Aurora

Gold Mines following an altercation

between frustrated workers and

management on November 24, 2025, which

was captured on video. workers reported

unpaid wages, delayed and partial

payment, threats when they demand their

money, termination after raising

concerns, long shifts of 12 plus hours

without breaks. They also reported lack

of safety gear, absence of occupational

safety and health protocols, overcrowded

work site, work workers collapsing on

the ground, workers injured without

compensation, no toilets around the work

site, flooded work zones with stagnant

water among many others. Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker, when these workers spoke

out, they were either fired, replaced,

blacklisted, or intimidated.

>> Wow.

>> These are not allegations from years

ago. Mr. speaker. These were reported on

November 26, 2025 by the media houses

and confirmed by the Ministry of Labor

itself. And Aurora is not the only case.

Star Brook News noted that these

revelations revive long-standing

concerns about other Chinese operated

operated companies, including China

Railway Construction Corporations and

China Road and Bridge Corporations.

These are not small contractors. These

are multinational cooperations operating

with impunity in our country towards our

people.

>> This is ridiculous.

>> Mr. Speaker, if gy workers cannot depend

on the ministry to protect them, then

the h this house must ask what is the

per what purpose is this ministry

fulfilling?

>> Because Mr. Speaker, it should never be

acceptable. In fact, it should be

unthinkable for gy workers to be

subjected to substandard dangerous or

degrading treatment in their own

country, especially by foreign companies

who would never dare to treat workers

this way in their own country.

>> Mr. Speaker, between the year 2020 and

2024, this country has had 111 workplace

fatalities and the majority of that

number is in mining and construction.

And this is not me saying so, Mr. Mr.

Speaker, this is not the opposition

saying so. This information is publicly

available on the Department of Public

Information website.

>> Publicly available.

>> In 2024 alone, there were 11 deaths from

mining pits collapsing.

>> And the Minister of Natural Resources,

the Honorable Vic Ramar's response to

this was that because the miners were

working at 1:00 a.m. the pit collapsed

and the minor need to prioritize their

health and safety. Mr. Speaker, what

hogwash is this?

>> Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if the

minister thought that at 7 a.m. the pit

would have automatically became safer.

>> Mr. Speaker, the minister even went

further to state that it is the it is

negligence and carelessness by some

minors as contributing factors to the

fatalities.

But never once did the minister

acknowledge that the Ministry of Labor

should

maybe

>> maybe

just maybe they should be a little more

proactive to their approach to health

and safety regulations.

>> Right.

>> And this is what the PPPC government

does. They blame everyone else rather

than accepting their faults and fixing

them.

>> Right,

>> Mr. Speaker? Budget 2026 does not expand

inspections. It does not increase

enforcement capacity. How then can the M

labor administration system investigate

violations without resources? How can it

protect workers without inspectors? Mr.

Speaker, these are not issues we can

just sweep under the rug. These are

essential protections for our gy

workers. Protection that this 1.558

trillion budget failed to provide.

Mr. Speaker, allow me to put forward

what our side of the house, the we

invest in nationhood party believe

should be in this budget for the people

and their protection. Mr. Speaker, a

fully staffed manpower planning unit

equipped with economists, statistician,

analysts, and employment officers. A

unit that puts workers first by

grounding policy in real labor market.

>> Yes,

>> Mr. Speaker, a strengthened labor

inspector rate with vehicles fuel

digital tool and re regional capacity to

enforce the law across all 10

administrative regions. A modern

occupational safety and health authority

properly equipped and trained to

regulate high-risisk sectors such as the

oil and gas mining and construction. A

national minimum wage review anchored in

cost of living realities and guided by

tripart tripartite dialogue between

workers, employers and the state.

Transparency in subsidies and

subventions ensuring every organization

receiving public funds reports

measurable outputs and outcomes. a real

labor market information system

institutionalized within the ministry

not outsourced not symbolic to guide

training employment and national

workforce planning. Mr. Speaker,

as I conclude, when we examine this

budget with honesty and clarity, it

becomes evident that it flows upward and

not outward. And what does that means?

It means it's flowing to the rich only

and not all of the GY people. It is a

budget crafted to secure comfort for

those who already have while offering

nothing to the poor or to the working

class. The very people who we rely on

the very people who the government rely

on the most. Mr. Speaker, this is not a

people center budget. It is a prosperity

for the few budget. And Mr. Speaker,

this is perhaps the greatest tragedy of

all because the founder of the People's

Progressive Party, the late Dr. Cheddy

Jagan, was unwavering in his belief that

the rich can take care of themselves,

that it is the poor and the workingclass

families whom a government must fight

for, protect, and uplift.

>> But, Mr. Speaker, this PPPC government

and the budget they have placed before

this house has abandoned that principle.

It does not defend the poor, nor does it

uplift the working class. It does not

honor the legacy it often it is so often

invokes.

>> Instead, it leaves the very poor people.

Dr. Cherry champion struggling under the

weight of rising cost, stagnant wages,

and a government that has chosen comfort

for a few over relief for the many.

Fighting for and uplifting the poor and

workingass people was Dr. Jagan's

philosophy.

That was his life's work. That was the

moral compass he set for this nation.

Yet nothing in this budget reflects that

legacy. This budget does not honor Dr.

Jagen's vision. It departs from it. Mr.

Speaker, the people of Ghana deserves a

budget that uplifts them, not one that

leaves them behind. Correct.

>> They deserve a government that remembers

it founding its founding promise to

stand with the poor to defend the

workers and to build a nation where

prosperity is shared, not concentrated.

This budget failed that test. Mr.

Speaker, this budget tells us of a what

what this government values most.

concrete, asphalt, FPSOs, four-lane

highways, and big numbers and and glossy

apps.

>> Big numbers.

>> But a budget that ignores workers cannot

claim to put people first. A labor

system without enforcement cannot

protect the vulnerable. A nation that

allows exploitation

cannot call itself just. We order GY

workers more than promises. Mr. Speaker,

we owe them protection in their own

country. We owe them justice.

>> And the 2026 budget before this house

does none of that. That is why we cannot

agree with this budget. Mr. Speaker, Mr.

Speaker, I thank you.

>> Thank you very much.

>> Well said.

Well said.

>> Thank you very much, honorable member.

And now for the honorable member, Miss

Jorita Fernance.

I know you can't take me.

>> It's 240. You can start.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> Mr. speaker. First before I go into my

presentation,

I want to

>> I want to draw attention and some

comparison to some complaints that I've

been hearing in the house.

I heard none other than the honorable

minister

Priya Manichan stood to her feet in this

house a few days ago

>> and she read the standing order

cautioning when persons are reading

their speech. But the minister is only

selective in when she see people reading

speech because the minister was sitting

right there yesterday when no no

>> okay I can't allow you to go down that

path you have to direct that to me

>> okay

>> okay she re she rose a point of order

which I allowed I have observed so many

persons

violating that standing order still and

especially those who are doing their

first speech in the National Assembly.

I'm flexing a bit. So,

um we've seen examples last night and I

don't want to say how recent also. So

please, when you are going to take on

what is said officially and what is said

unofficially in the house, you're

directing it to the speaker. Thank you.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> You're getting back your time.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Mr. Speaker,

I'm happy that you asked me to direct it

to you, sir, because I'm I would like to

direct to you. It was none other than

the honorable minister Pauline Sukai.

Somebody that has been in this house

since I was 5 years old stood yesterday

and read from her speech almost in

entirety.

>> Mr. Speaker, budget 2026.

Miss Mr. Speaker, budget 2026

would bring the total

budgetary allocation to the PPP from

2020 to 2026

at $6.1

trillion.

>> Wow. All right,

>> Mr. Speaker, that is more than $5

trillion more than the AP and you

coalition spent during our time in

office.

>> Mr. Speaker, I would also like to

highlight to the public that budget 2026

>> has a deficit of $448.9

billion.

>> Mr. Speaker, that by itself is $148.2

$2 billion more than the largest budget

the APNU coalition ever spent.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker,

but even with all that money, the PPP is

failing to deliver where it matters

most.

>> Mr. Speaker, when we're talking about

government and government allocations,

We expect government ministers in

particular when we listen to the budget

presentation by the honorable minister

Dr. Ashne Kumar Singh to be focusing

heavily and primarily on the most

vulnerable people in society in this

country. But when it comes to the

protection of the most vulnerable people

in society, the PPP always is found

wanting. Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, over the last two days,

we've heard many presentations.

>> It started with all the government

ministers coming to the floor and being

very theatrical cuz that's what they're

good at. They come to the floor and they

treat hair as though it's an exhibition

site in which they come and they just

fluff and bluff and don't get into the

substance of the budget and what the

fine print actually says to it.

>> Yes. Yes.

But Mr. Speaker, I want to say today

>> that it is important for us to take our

time to study to learn. Mr. Schuman came

here and he said persons don't like to

read. I think Mr. Schuman was responding

to himself sore. But today we're going

to take person through the

documentations

that is presented not just only to this

house but by the government of Guyana on

every other website available because

when it comes to data we go we search

for it because we know you're not going

to come and bring the things to this

house that is actually beneficial for

the people of this country.

>> Mr. Speaker, when I did when I read for

my master's in public administration at

the University of Guyana,

there was a course we did called public

policy.

And public policy would have taught you

and anybody else in this house that you

just don't look at policy formulation

and implementation, but you have to

follow through to the very end. And we

have to do we have to do the evaluation

because their s is where we actually can

see if the outcome that those policies

had desire us of of bringing was

actually realized. The PPP never falls

through when it comes to those things.

They never do the evaluation. And sorry,

even the times that they do the

evaluation, they do not bring the record

to the house because they're always

found wanting when it comes to the

evaluation.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker, I want to say to you that

I'm going to focus on two two areas

today. And the first I want us to focus

on is the Ministry of Armarinian

Affairs.

>> Yes,

>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, the indigenous people

in this country is a minority group.

Sir,

>> Mr. Speaker,

we have

very late, very, very late, but we have

it nevertheless the preliminary report

on the Guyana National Population and

Housing Census of 2022.

If we are to turn our attention sir to

table 1.13

we would see here sir that when it comes

to the hintterland population the

hintterland population accounted for

112,822

persons sir when it comes to the average

household size of the hentiland we're

going to see it accounted for 4.24 24

sir 4.24 24 and I want to tell persons

this is the second highest when you go

to the region the region is 4.58

for region one alone

4.58

that is the average household size. Now

the census went on to say it says

meanwhile

the consistently high household size for

the hintterland regions were expected

for these are regions that are

predominantly inhabited by the

indigenous population who have

historically recorded a higher household

size relative to the rest of the

country.

Sir, these numbers

are not presented to us just like this.

It's presented to us for our analysis.

Sir, and there are parsons in this

house, particularly

in the PPP that I have to speak to

today. You know, the honorable prime

minister Mark Phillips just asked,

"What's a point you're making?" Well,

Mark Phillips, honorable member, listen

carefully.

We have listened over the last two days

in this house. We heard members on this

side of the house and I would call Mr. L

Cruz out as an example. He spoke about

the living standards of indigenous

people. He was rebotted heavily by none

other than the minister of Amaranian

affairs that went out to the public and

came to this very podium on the floor of

this house and sought to defend the fact

that in that in the hinterland persons

are living in houses with truly leaves

>> right and as the min as the honorable

minister right now is shouting that's

the people culture I would like to

persons here today and the indigenous

community that is listening to me right

now. Not because you're born as an

indigenous person in this country such

subject you to a life of poverty. That

should never be the case. There is

nobody that can come here and say

otherwise. You know the minister went on

sir

the minister of Amaranian affairs went

on and she quoted and she called the

name of an individual.

She said Lana Augustus messaged her at 1

something in the morning and told her

how she felt it offensive and all of

that. Well sir,

I would like to put to this house the

592 comment association in collaboration

with the Facebook investigators. They

went and did their own research when it

comes to that individual. And you know

what they found sir? That she don't live

in no house with no truly leave.

The minister don't live in a house like

that. Lenok Schuman doesn't live in a

house like that. Alistister Charlie does

not live in a house like that. Colin

Crow doesn't live in a house like that.

How dare you come to this house and

subject indigenous people by using

culture as a means to suppress our

economic advancement in this country

with a trillion dollar budget.

>> You want to come and shout culture?

Where is it? I have never once heard any

member of the PPPC government coming to

this floor and advocating for people to

go back to living in mud hut or loy.

>> But yet you come to this house and you

ask indigenous people to be satisfied

with substandard living while you drive

around in your fancy car, the minister

of agriculture in his big swimming pool.

We must be honest. We must be honest,

sir. When we come to this house and we

make our representation,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> housing is an important aspect

when it comes to indigenous communities

because that number that I gave you

before, indigenous people do not like

living in crowded household. But that is

their economic situation. That is their

economic situation. So you cannot go out

there and plast it as culture because

that is not what culture is. Sir,

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to health

care, you know, the honorable minister

of armorian affairs went out and she

said if you're not being come, you're

not being no. Well, I would like to tell

the honorable minister of affairs that I

was there and when I speak on this

matter, I speak of things I saw

firsthand health care sir.

I went to Kaikan. I went and visited the

health center. It look like death

itself.

>> That's right. That's right.

>> We open a door. Bats coming out flying

at you. That is the legacy of the PPP.

And that is a few months ago. Trillions

of dollars spent in this country and the

indigenous people are being left behind.

So don't come here and purport to tell

us that you know what is good for

indigenous people in this country. Sir,

Mr. Speaker, I have to rest through

these things right now. Sir, but I want

to touch on a very important aspect. I

want to touch on education sir. I have

to touch on education as my colleague

said don't forget it. And sir like the

member said honorable Schuman he said

read and I would encourage him to go and

read as well because sir these people in

the PPP continue to spend trillions of

dollars and they are delivering less to

the people of this country. Sir, sir,

this came from the Ministry of Education

website and I'm going to lay over all of

these documents.

>> Sir, when it comes to region number one,

you remember I said the largest budget

that we ever had was 30.7

billion total budget largest total

budget for the API coalition. So, the

ministry have up some stats here. the

ministry of education they have stats

from 2016 to 2024 and I want the nation

to know they are spending money and

delivering less that is the legacy of

the PPP sir in 2016 the APN you

coalation's budget was 230 billion 230

sir in 2024 the PPP budget was $1.145

trillion so let me give you the stats

from the hintterland

When it comes to mathematics in region

one 2016

we had 20% pass in mathematics in region

one 2016 when it comes to 2024 the same

region one 9% pass under the PPP

administration when it comes to

mathematics pass in region 7 in 2016 18%

pass in 2024 14% pass When it comes to

mathematics pass in region 8 in 2016 12%

pass 2024 3% pass.

>> When it comes to mathematics pass in

region number 9 2016 24%

2024 7%. This is the legacy of the PPP.

So when they come to this house and they

purport to be given spending a lot of

money they all say this is the biggest

budget ever. But I ask the Minister of

Education to get down to the stats and

actually deliver to the people of this

country. Sir,

>> yes,

>> Mr. Speaker, they continue to talk about

who knows to read a budget and who don't

know to read a budget, but I think they

should start reading their own budget s.

I just needed to give you some stats

before I asked that you get an

extension. You started at 240. You

should have ended at 24:45, but I gave

you back the minute that I took from

you. That's 246, which is now you've

used up 100% of your initial allocation.

You need an extension to conclude six.

>> Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I

rise to ask for the honorable member to

be given an extension of 5 minutes.

>> Thank you. Uh,

two things. First of all, visitors to

the chamber are not allowed past the

signs that we have. So please miss

the honorable MPs if somebody come to

you just immediately wave them. You

can't do that. And that particular

person continues to

clap, shout down members yesterday.

Well, this is the second warning the

person is getting.

the second warning

uh

and

to both chief whips what I'll do from

now

I will indicate that the person's

initial allocation is up and I'm

allowing five more minutes to conclude

rather than reinterjecting.

Okay,

honorable member, your extra 5 minutes

start at 258.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if

we look to volume two of the estimates,

one of the indicators that we're looking

at under the Ministry of Amaranian

Affairs, Community Development and

Empowerment, we see here s proportion of

villages implementing their village

sustainable plans. Now the minister

would have stood in this house and she

would have spoke he highly about these

programs and she said oh they're doing

such a phenomenal job but when it comes

to the stats are as reported in their

budget that was given to us 2025 out of

247

implemented only 125 was implemented sir

so when they come to this house and they

speak so grand about all the wonderful

things that they are doing sir I want to

say that they are found wanting

tremendously sore. Mr. Speaker, I want

to draw your attention to some other

stats.

>> I want to draw your attention to some

other stats. You know, the honorable

member Ash came and he read and he fluff

and he bluff in this book. But there's

something called the fine print. Sir, I

want to go through some of the fine

prints. Sir, when it comes to health

care, when it comes to health care,

particularly the nutritional status of

children under five as a percentage of

age group sore severely malnourished was

in 2021 0.4 in 2025. SAR it was 0.5. How

can a government come to this house say

they are doing exceptional spending

trillions of dollars and after all of

that expenditure more children are

starving in this country than they were

under the APNU coalition without 1 cent

of oil money sir these are their stats

they can't dispute it moderately

malnourished was 1.0 zero 2021 now it is

1.5 in 2025 sir these are the data that

we have they talk so much the honorable

member there Mark Phillips would tell

you about power generation sir if you

come to this book you would see in 2025

we had less power generation than we did

in 2024 this is reported in this

document sir

>> but sir very very important statistic IC

very important statistic that we need to

look at.

>> You would see here you would see here

sir

budget

>> Mr. Speaker when it comes to our

population growth Mr. Speaker the

population growth rate in 2021 was 1.5.

That growth rate went 2022 1.9 2023 2.3.

Then in 2024 it went to 5.7 and 202 and

2025 it went to 5.6. But sorry for you

to look at our B rate in this country.

Our B rate declined from in 2021 from

19.4 to 2025 10.5. So you know what

they're going to say sir? I think it was

the honorable I think it was the

honorable minister Vicram Barat that

said people are now running back to this

country store. He said that they didn't

see a need to run back to this country

before. And I thought the honorable

minister must have missed the point that

the PPP was in government for 23 years

before 2015 and persons did not come to

this country then. But sir, that is not

the case. He can't say a people coming

back for good times. You know why?

Because the data is saying something

else. And in their own preliminary

census report, the PPP administration is

saying that they cannot account for the

amount of migrants in this country. They

are saying that there is over 30,000

undocumented Venezuelans living in

Galani right now. So when they come to

this house and they seek to lecture us

about what we are doing wrong, this

never happened under us. This is their

legacy and they will continue to see

these things. Sir, we will continue to

see these things because of the

incompetence of these people. Sir, Mr.

Speaker, no amount of money that has

thrown at incompetence can cure that

disease. The PPP is an incompetent bunch

of people, sir.

>> They want to come and talk about who

reads the budget. I think they don't

read the budget themselves, sir. Mr.

Speaker,

>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, I heard the honorable

memberwami McCoy shouting across. Mr.

Speaker, if you go up to Yaraabra,

Yaraabra, you would see 10 acres of land

being developed by him. Sorally got a

guard hot 200 ft high with a with an

incline of 70°. Sir, that is the man.

That is what he does. He doesn't solve

this country's interest.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say to this

honorable house that these data

presented by the government

there are serious sir and I want to say

it to the PPP administration

particularly persons dealing with

Iranian affairs that we need to be

serious. We cannot be spending trillions

of dollars and not delivering to the

people. I want to say to the indigenous

people, you will continue to have

representation and no failure of

representation coming from the PPP would

subject you to a life that you have to

live in economic devastation. I thank

you sir.

>> And now for the honorable

Member

Zulfikiar Mustapa,

our honorable minister of public

service,

>> efficiency and implementation.

>> Thank you, Mr.

>> You have the floor, sir.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on this

side of the house, honorable members on

the other side of the house and all

gines living in every region of our

country and in the diaspora. I stand

today on behalf of the ministry of

public service, government efficiency

and implementation to give support to

budget 2026 presented under the team

putting people first. I begin by

expressing our gratitude and

appreciation to the honorable member Dr.

Ashne Singh and the immensely

hardworking staff of the Ministry of

Finance for the countless hours poured

into crafting the single largest budget

ever presented to this house.

I would also like to thank the staff of

my ministry and all public servants who

have contributed to the preparation of

this $1.558

trillion budget. Mr. Speaker, this

budget is built on the foundation of

strong economic growth with focus on the

growth and development for all GE from

the farmers to the miners, shopkeepers,

and the stay-at-home moms and dads. This

budget represents inclusivity and

diversity across all sectors and

demographics throughout our dear land.

Mr. Speaker, through prudent fiscal

management, sound policym and

distinguished leadership from his

excellency our president Dr. Muhammad

Eran Ali. This government has translated

unprecedented levels of economic growth

into opportunities for personal

upliftment created at a pace never

before seen in the history of our

country.

>> Mr. Speaker, it is therefore appropriate

that budget 2026 carry the team putting

people first.

>> Since resuming office in 2020, Mr.

Speaker, each budgetary measure and

manifesto promise has been crafted with

the explicit goal of ensuring that not

only are the basic needs of every GY

met, but that the opportunities for

long-term wealth creation and financial

security are attained. As a country, we

have faced many difficulties since

independence. We went through periods of

rigged elections, a bankrupt economy

left by the PNC, long lines and absence

of basic foods and the invisible enemy

of the coid9 pandemic. But our people

are resilient, Mr. Speaker,

>> built with determination and together

with the PPPC at the helm of government.

We have fought all of those difficulties

together.

This 2026 budget represents the

continuous rebuilding of our economy

after the hopelessness that

characterized the ANU AFC government

during 2015 to 2020.

>> Mr. Speaker, the honorable members

sitting representing the wind party in

this honorable house are not absolved of

their role in this tragic period of

government under the PNC. Many of them

were active members of not only the APNU

AFC government, but represented and

defended in this honorable house

>> budgets that had nothing for the people

of Guyana.

>> Other than raising taxes and dismissing

7,500 sugar workers, 2,000 csos within

our hintterland areas, and hundreds of

public sector employees. Over the last

five budgets of the PBPC government, we

have reversed all the draconian taxes

implemented under the APNU AFC

government,

>> benefiting thousands of GY. We have

strengthened our bilateral and

multilateral relationships with our

international partners after the APNU

AFC locked them out of Guyana on the

pretext of co while trying to subvert

the true will of the people in 2020.

>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, this budget was done

with the people of our beautiful country

in mind,

>> and our government has nothing but love

and care for the people who elected us

to serve.

We will never back down from serving the

people. We will defend the things that

will make their lives easier and bring

dignity and respectability to every

hardworking citizen of this nation. And

they are hardworking citizens, Mr.

Speaker. Not only our our our brothers

and sisters hardworking, they are very

smart and attuned to the things we say

in this house, the actions we take

outside of it, and they can see where

there is genuine interest in their

development.

It is for these reasons, Mr. Speaker,

that the people of Guyana re-elected the

People's Progressive Party with a

greater majority in this parliament.

Their message is clear.

>> A message I believe that is lost on that

side of the house. That message, Mr.

Speaker, is for the People's Progressive

Party to continue governing and carrying

out our manifesto promises unimpeded.

That's right.

>> And to ignore all the obstacles and the

whimsical opposition towards every

initiative of this government.

>> Mr. Speaker, I do not envy the honorable

members sitting in the combined

opposition. They have to come here in

this honorable house to try and

criticize a budget that they themselves

do not understand. And it was evident

over the past couple of days. Mr.

Speaker,

>> I saw I saw on Facebook, Mr. Speaker,

the joy and enlightenment when the

honorable opposition leader proceeded to

tell us how he can use the monies

allocated under the office of the

president having seen the budget book

for the first time in his life. Mr.

Speaker,

>> 50 million for

>> I would not be surprised if this was his

first look at the estimates. With this

explanation, Mr. Speaker, I'm afraid we

are in for some long days and nights

come next week when we go through the

estimates.

While I have some sympathies for members

such as the me honorable member Harbagan

>> who took to his social media to protest

having just one week having just one

week to go through the budget speech and

estimates

I suspect many of them are now realizing

what real work is.

Mr. Speaker,

>> the people of Guyana, however, have no

sympathies

>> for anyone that they elect that cannot

read a budget book

>> and cannot formulate any policies or

programs on their behalf.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> over the last two days and briefly this

morning, what we and the people of

Guyana heard from the presentations of

the honorable members of the combined

opposition were representations that

were devoid of any ideas on how we can

address, improve, and better the lives

of all Gines.

Representations that were devoid of any

solution to everyday issues.

and representatives who are devoid of a

real understanding of how a country is

governed.

>> Mr. Speaker, we were however regailed

with the opinions rather than the facts,

the stories instead of the realities

that confront us, fairy tale issues

rather than solutions.

Mr. Speaker, in contrast, the honorable

members on this side of the house stood

one after the other and spoke of the

initiatives they have implemented, what

they will continue to do, and the new

programs they will be implementing from

this year. That, Mr. Speaker, is

leadership.

>> That's right.

>> That is a party and a government who

cares for our people. And that, Mr.

Speaker, is how you put the people

first.

>> That's right. Even when the PPPC was in

opposition, Mr. Speaker, we always came

to this honorable house with practical

solutions aligned with the best interest

our gy brothers and sisters at heart. We

told them

>> we told them not to close the sugar

estates. We told them to do the study

and carry out its findings. The

honorable member at that time said not

to close the

>> honorable member at that time who is now

our president presented to the

opposition the effects that closing

those sugar estates would have on our

sugar workers and their families.

>> We told them what it would do to the

village economies and the economy in

general.

>> Even then they did not listen.

>> Apart from the fact that at best, Mr.

Speaker, at best their tenure in office

was considered to be abysmal.

>> You're being very kind,

>> Mr. Speaker. The members of the auin

opposition got up and boasted.

>> They have boasted in this parliament how

they cannot support the budget. The

honorable Careta Macdonald spoke

boastfully and confidently how she

cannot support the budget. Well, Mr.

Speaker, we knew already

>> they were coming here to do just that.

disappointed but not surprised again.

>> But I would like to ask all of the

honorable members through you, Mr.

Speaker, in the aptuin opposition, go

now in the communities across Guyana and

look our citizens in the eyes and tell

them tell the 206,000 students and their

hardworking parents that you do not

support the 60,000 because we care

cash,000.

Tell tell them that your vision is to do

what you did the last time. Take away

it.

>> Take away it from them. Take away. Go to

the communities and look at the 14,000

parents in their eyes and tell them you

do not support the people's progressive

party government paying for their kids

to write eight subject at CEC and cape

and free tertiary education being

offered by this PPPC government because

that is in the budget

>> and you're giving them boots and buses

then

>> look look the pensioners in their eyes

and tell them you will take back their

water and electricity subsidy. ities

like you have done in 2015. That is in

this budget again.

>> Look into the eyes of our young

entrepreneurs, our women and persons

living with disability and you tell them

that you did not support the creation of

the Guyana Development Bank and the

injection of 100 million US that will

provide them with interest free loans to

start or expand their small business.

>> Interest free loans. Mr. Speaker,

Boast to the thousands of people that we

have budgeted 7.5 billion to support

upgrades to their homes under the

housing subsidy program. Go and boast to

them that you did not support that in

this house at this budget. While you are

at it, while you're going in the

communities and boasting, remind them

that the green and white paper that the

combined opposition

did was to encourage the private sector

to diversify into cookup and planting

ship business.

>> Remind them that because that is what

you did.

>> Mr. Speaker, over the last few days, we

have heard from the honorable members

Jordan and Solomon

quoted extensively from reports. Mr.

Speaker, let us examine reports that the

honorable members failed to quote. The

2024 labor force labor force survey

published by the Bureau of Statistics

reported overall employment fell from

12.8% in 2020 to 6.4% 4% in 2024.

>> Female unemployment dropped from 14.4%

in 25th 2020 that we inherited to 9% in

2024.

Youth employment, Mr. Speaker, youth

employment dropped from 13.2%

to 12.1%.

12.1%.

Mr. Speaker, between 2020 to 2024,

more than 104,000

GY became employed,

104,000 G became employed.

>> Mr. Speaker, let's turn to the

international reports. Let's turn to the

international reports. The 2025 IMF

article 4 report stated that Guyana's

economic transformation is advancing

strongly and broadening in scale and

that largescale public infrastructure

investment supported the highest real

GDP growth rate in the world. in the

world.

In the world, go that go pick up last

year report. The honorable member, Mr.

Speaker, Dr. Barker stated that the

budget does not provide laptops to

teachers and learners. Mr. Speaker, in

2025,

153 laptops were distributed to teachers

and 147 smartboards to various schools.

Moreover, 3,130

laptops were distributed across schools

in Guyana by this PPPC government.

>> The honorable member, the honorable

member, Mr. Speaker, I'm still on Dr.

Barker, the honorable member, a

recipient of two gold scholarships.

Also stated in this honorable house,

that goal is a symbol of poor planning,

weak oversight, and uncertainty. Mr.

Speaker, goal is anything but.

>> The Guyana Online Academy of Learning

currently has over 54,000

scholarships that are awarded.

>> Including him,

>> far exceeding the initial promise of

20,000. Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> the honorable member the honorable

member currently occupies two of those

scholarship that of that could have gone

to a more appreciative geese.

>> The honorable Keta Macdonald stated one

cannot speak of digital transformation

in schools when traditional environments

are not met. Mr. Speaker, traditional

rehabilitation

can exist alongside digital solutions.

to enhance schoolings for all of our

children. This is why over the last 5

years, this PPPC government has

established smart classrooms in over 25

secondary and primary schools.

>> The honor honorable member Dion L Cruz

spoke about inadequate LCDs support for

our hintterland communities.

>> Mr. Speaker, this PBPC government has

channeled more than 14.4 4 billion into

Amarindian villages since 2023 of which

4.8 billion was dispored in 2025

themselves.

>> Mr. Speaker, you would recall that the

coalition failed to establish a new

Norway agreement because of their poor

performance and consequently failed to

earn a single scent of revenue for

environmental services. meaning that no

Amarindian community benefited from the

initiative whose groundwork was laid by

the PPPC government. When they say they

don't have oil money, they couldn't even

raise LCDs money. That is how

incompetent they were.

>> Mr. Speaker, the honorable member Saiku

Andrew criticized this government

because we care cash grant and dare to

compare it to the coalition 5B program.

>> 5B program.

This program, Mr. Speaker, let's talk

about the program. Mr. Speaker, this

program resulted in a whopping 30 buses.

>> 30 buses,

>> 12 votes,

>> 30 buses, 12 votes.

>> And 5,000 bicycles for all the children

in all of our country.

>> Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker,

>> the public accounts committee in 2017

noted that there were several schools

that did not benefit from their version

of the school feeding program.

>> Mr. Speaker, upon resuming office in

2020, it was reported that 50%

50% of the infamous David G buses, not

the governmental Ghana bus, the David G

bus were not operational and were in

desperate need of repair. In fact, it

was estimated that it will cost roughly

$35 million just to fix one of them.

In contrast, this government resumed

office,

>> restarted the because we care grant and

incrementally increase it to $60,000,

which coupled with the uniform voucher

allowance of five $5,000.

And the new annual transportation grant

of $20,000

will aggregate to a transfer of $85,000

per child, benefiting over 206,000

children in 2026.

>> Free education.

>> This government's because we care cash

grant is universal, Mr. Speaker.

Universal across all regions and all

schools in our country.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> our government recognizes the need for

an upgrade and modernization of our

state institution. Perhaps the most

critical element in the second term of

our administration's tenure is our focus

on delivering quality citizen- centered

services. Mr. Mr. Speaker, it is

precisely because of this identified

need and the aggressive push for a

modernized, responsive and techn

technologydriven public sector that our

president, his excellency has expanded

the mandate of the ministry of public

service to include government efficiency

and implementation. I'm sorry the honor

honorable member Miss Singh is not here

to learn about the ministry.

This expanded responsibility reflects a

clear understanding that development is

tied to the government's ability to

execute effectively and deliver results.

>> Mr. Speaker, our government aims to

modernize the public service through

rigorous digitization and

institutionalize monitoring and

evaluation across all areas of

government. This ministry now stands at

the center of government's

transformation agenda. Mr. Speaker, this

ministry is about whether government

delivers, whether public funds translate

into desired outcomes, and most

importantly, whether the GY people

experience a public service that works.

My ministry's role is to ensure that

every program announced, every dollar

allocated, and every promise made is

translated into faster services, better

systems, and real benefits for the

citizens across all 10 regions of

Guyana.

>> Mr. Speaker, government is working to

make its services more easily accessible

to the citizens of Guyana through the

launching of digital platforms and

online portals as well as the

establishment of more integrated service

centers. Mr. Speaker, the APN AFC

government spoke of building a bold

digital nation in their 2015 manifesto.

After 5 years in government, they

accomplished nothing. They did not

decentralize government. They did not

simplify access. They did not leverage

technology in any meaningful way. Mr.

Speaker, let me tell you what the PPPC

administration has done within the last

5 years.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that the wave

of digital transport transformation is

no longer optional. It is essential.

That is why over the last 5 years we

have embraced as a government the

digitization and modernization of

government services.

>> Mr. Speaker, let's look at the

implementation of the national

electronic health record system done

under the PPPC government. The launch of

the Guyana digital school under the PPPC

government. the introduction of the

education management information system

to improve the management and

accountability in public schools. The

installation of egates at the CGIA, the

introduction of an e passport issuance

system, CHMPS single window and the

introduction of eitigation platform for

the high court. All done under this PPPC

administration.

Mr. Speaker, we have been steadily

laying the foundation for a modern

technology enabled public sector,

including moving with urgency to anchor

Guyana as a regional digital hub. We

have signed a memorandum of

understanding for a large scale AI data

center. That is the strategic

investment. It is about laying the

foundation to host regional digital

services. We want to use this data

center as a catalyst to build out a

robust fintech industry inclusive of

startup businesses, incubators, and

research centers.

>> I know it's a little bit over your head,

but you'll get to it sometime. The

provision of all services mentioned, Mr.

Speaker, prior have seen an increase in

the efficiency, reduced weight times,

and faster services. But there is much

more work to be done. This government

will continue to pioneer further

technological advancement.

>> Mr. Speaker, it would be remiss of me

not to mention the introduction of the

National Electronic Identification

System, which is a monumental step in

making public service delivery more

coordinated. These biometric cards will

streamline access to government and

health care services serving as a secure

and digital proof of identity.

It will modernize public service,

improve national security, and optimize

engagement across all government

agencies. This initiative has already

seen the enrollment of over 6,000

persons in 2025. By the end of this

year, tens of thousands of gy will have

their eid cards. Mr. Speaker, government

has recognized that the shift to a

digital Guyana is not something that can

occur overnight. We need to actively

train our citizens and our public

servants in the latest emerging

technologies.

We recognize early that people must have

the confidence and competence to use

technology. A major focus of our of our

administration's work has therefore been

leveraging technology to upskill and

reskill gines. Additionally, Mr.

Speaker, government has partnered to

provide structured online training for

public servants and other government

agencies through Corsera.

Through this partnership, government has

supported the training of nurses and

nursing assistants, drastically reducing

training costs while expanding access to

hintterland students. Within the public

service itself, Mr. Speaker, over 1,100

public servants are currently engaged in

online training programs. Our goal is to

ensure that as many public servants as

possible access the upskilling platform

through Corsera development.

>> In contrast, Mr. Speaker, let's speak

about the aptu

>> the Bertram Collins College of the

Public Service

>> which a new claimed as a vehicle for the

strengthening of the public service

>> was nothing more than an unacreditated

unacreditated

militaristic piece of political

machinery that duplicated and superseded

existing programs already offered by my

ministry.

trading division.

>> A government that is proud of such an

investment knows little about efficient

management of resources

>> knows little about efficient management

of resources.

Mr. Speaker, you can't get the point. It

flew over your head. Mr. Speaker,

building on the momentum laid in the

first storm of office, government will

work tirelessly to strengthen our

institutions.

In particularly, this ministry is now

advancing a new wave of digital

platforms and integrated service system

designed to make public service faster,

more transparent, and easier to access.

These initiatives are about removing

unnecessary bureaucracy, reducing

waiting times, and ensuring that

citizens can interact with government in

ways that are simple, modern, and

convenient. The development, Mr. Speaker

of the by Guyana citizen portal will act

as a single central gateway allowing

citizens access to a wide slate of

government services from filing tax

returns to and some people don't file

their tax return by the way sitting

right over there in the opposition

benches and we will do a portal for them

to file it Mr. Speaker,

>> from filing tax returns to applying for

water connection, this portal this

portal in conjunction with the eid card

system will enable easier access and

efficient interaction.

The interact the integrated service

center at Lenora, Mr. speaker is a major

step towards modernization,

making government services more

accessible, convenient, and efficient

for the residents of region 3.

>> Mr. Speaker, the government will not

stop there. Access to government

services must extend beyond George. In

the near future, citizens will see the

establishment of other integrated

service centers in various regions and

locations across Guyana, including in

region 2, 5, 6, and 10. This

decentralization

will make basic government services more

accessible and convenient to all Geese.

Mr. Speaker, 2025 saw the development of

applications and platforms with the

purpose of simplifying the connection of

citizen to government. These

digitization initiatives were launched

in keeping with the government strategy

to advance digital transformation,

enhance public service efficiency, and

expand equitable access to employment

and economic opportunity. The

introduction of the Skills Connect app

aims to strengthen Guyana's labor market

through digital innovation linking

skilled and semi-skilled blue collar

workers directly to employment

opportunities and businesses nationwide

since it began operation. Mr. Speaker,

the app has registered 1,603

persons.

Mr. Speaker, the Ask Golf platform, an

AI powered chatbot will simplify the way

citizen interact with government

services. It is a 24/7

virtual assistant designed to answer

government related questions and help

citizens access service anytime,

anywhere. And Mr. Speaker, it will help

the opposition member with reading the

budget, too.

This platform is currently in its

development phase and we hope to launch

it by the end of the third quarter of

2026.

Mr. Speaker, G Connect functions as the

official government appointment app. It

was designed to be simple, secure, and

efficient. Through the app, citizens are

able to schedule appointments with

ministries, departments, and agencies.

By the end of 2025, the fourth phase of

Golf Connect was launched at my

ministry. The second the second stage is

now being implemented at the Ministry of

Human Service and the Ministry of Labor.

Mini all other ministries are currently

setting up their infrastructure for full

implementation and integration by August

2026. Mr. Speaker, Citizen Connect

allows citizen to readily report issues,

share feedback, and stay informed about

actions taken by government agencies in

communities across the nation. The app

allows for greater transparency as

citizens receive realtime updates at

each state of each stage of the review

and resolution process. Citizens Connect

will be launched in the coming weeks and

soon all citizens will be able to relay

their concerns to government

instantaneously.

Mr. Speaker, the honorable opposition

member speak though we can run a 21st

century economy using 20th century

system. Guyana is now managing larger

budgets than ever before and more

simultaneous and more complex projects.

This is why digitization is of the

utmost importance. A government that

manages billions can no longer rely on

paper files and disconnected systems.

Mr. Speaker, when we look at the scale

and the scope of these digitization

initiatives, combined with this

ministry's expanded mandate to drive

efficiency and implementation, one thing

becomes clear. This government is not

managing the present. We are building

the future.

We are deliberately positioning Guyana

as a modern state equipped with a

digital system, stronger institutional

capacity and service standards required

in a rapidly evolving global

environment. This is what

forwardthinking leadership looks like.

Not simply reacting to challenges, but

preparing our country for the demands of

tomorrow. It is also appropriate to

note, Mr. speaker that while this side

of the house speaks about digital

transformation, service modernization

and institutional reform, the opposition

has offered little in the way of

constructive ideas on how to build

credible modern public infrastructure.

Instead, we hear the same recycled

partisan narratives year after year,

year after year with no serious

engagement on systems and technology

reforms required to make government work

better for systems. Mr. Speaker, the act

new AFC government failed to deliver any

substantial digital transformation

during its tenure in office. The

opposition promised ICT based

government. Minister, you're now into

your 5 minutes section.

>> That's okay.

>> Mr. Speaker, I

>> what I said instead of having the whips

rise to ask for the five minutes, I will

indicate they will get five more minutes

to conclude.

>> Honorable minister,

>> thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our

government continues to prioritize the

welfare of the GY people. The honorable

opposition should ask themselves if they

can do the same.

>> Budget 2020. That's why you over there.

If you did it, you wouldn't have been

over there. You would have probably been

in parliament earlier. You are stuck in

region 10. They feel sorry for you and

put you over there. Budget 2026, Mr.

Speaker, maintains a balance between

relief and sustainability.

This government responded to global

pressures through measures as

maintaining the zerorated excise tax on

petroleum project. These measures among

among others, Mr. Speaker allowed Guyana

to cons contain consumer costs through

2025 producing an inflation rate of 2.5%

for the year substantially below the

4.1%

global inflation rate and the 6.9%

inflation rate experienced in the

Caribbean for 2025.

Moreover, Mr. speaker. Year after year,

we hear the same outdated critique that

our budgets offer no meaningful measures

for the common man. Again, it should be

reiterated that these budgets are not

developed in isolation, but rather as a

cohesive strategic part of a larger

vision guided by the parties manifesto

and the LCDs.

The opposition continues continually

claims that this is a budget that

contains nothing for the ordinary man.

>> Mr. Speaker, if one looks at the

measures, it would be evident that this

is completely false.

>> It is easy politics, Mr. Speaker, to

promise everything. It is responsible

politics to promise what is plausible

and sustainable.

>> Mr. Speaker, the Arnneu also spoke of

increasing public service salaries of up

to 35%.

Under this government, the public sector

minimum wage grew by 46% since we

assumed office in 2020.

Moreover, the overall public sector

minimum wage grew by Moreover, the

overall public sector wage bill, which

stood at $252 billion at the end of

2025, almost doubling where it was in

2020 at 127 billion. This reflects

consistent annualized salary increases.

You're not going to find it in the

budget.

>> You should have known that by now. a

historic multi-year agreement made

between the government of Guyana and the

public service union as well as the

restructuring of salary scales and

allowances paid to public servants to

resume disparities among workers. Mr.

Speaker,

it is not a budget of unsustainable

promises. It is a budget of sustainable

development.

The digital transformation we embark

upon will not only enhance our

government push in transparency, but it

will enable every gy to better

understand the decisions made and the

actions we we undertake. Mr. Speaker,

this PPPC government is not going to

watch from the sidelines. We never did

and we never will. We will continue to

be in every tongue, every village, every

community, and in every home, learning

and listening from our people and craft

the policies and programs that address

their concerns and their aspirations.

This budget, Mr. Speaker, represents

that process. I want to end, Mr.

Speaker, by saying this is a decisive

budget as presented by the honorable

minister, Dr. Ashne Singh. It sets the

highest level of ambition for us to

deliver in 2026 and provided the

blueprint for the remaining budgets to

come to achieve prosperity for all

Geese. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> Thank you very much, honorable minister

Sulfikar Ali. I think I said Mustapa

initially.

Minister Ali,

>> thank you very much.

beat and teach.

>> And now for the honorable

>> member

Mr. Ganesh Mahip.

>> Thank you Mr. Speaker.

>> After being bened down by a 6 and 1/2

hour presentation from the honorable Dr.

Ashley Kumar Singh, Mr. Speaker, every

member on the government side that stood

and spoke so far just kept regurgitating

parts of his speech and we keep hearing

that over and over. And I thought with a

fresh face in the public service

ministry, we would have heard something

that is very much of substance for the

public servants. We heard what he's

talking about delivering better public

services, which I agree. We need better

public services, but we need the public

servants who are going to deliver the

proper public service to be treated

properly. And you said absolutely

nothing about the actual public servants

who deserve better than what they're

getting under your PPPC government. What

the public servants want to hear, Mr.

speaker is an update on the public

service rules and regulations that have

been in existence since 1987.

What the public servants want to hear on

Rebel Zulfikar Ali is a revisit to the

slavish hours that they have to be there

from 4 from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30.

They want us to modernize the actual

system that they function in so that

they can be comfortable and deliver that

very service that you speak of. What

they want to hear is a recommendation.

The public servants want a

recommendation from us which we

delivered to them for you to adopt and

that is to give them the opportunity to

move beyond the 55 age to 60. They want

that as an option. They don't want to

fall off the system at 55. Some of them

want to go on. But you know what the

PPPC does? They pull who they think can

go that extra five. give them a contract

with huge sums of money and then pay

them and leave off the actual public

servants who can give us an additional 5

years of service as an option. Not as a

Exactly. Not as an option. Those are

things you should have spoken about. The

people in the public service who have to

deliver the work to the population, they

want a better system. And I thought you

would have addressed that, but no. You

spent over 20 minutes of your

presentation to talk about the APNU and

the AFC doing nothing. Let me remind

you, and then every one of them speak,

Mr. Speaker, it's like that 23 years

there we were in office never existed.

It's like it never existed.

When we inherited government in 2015,

minimum wage was at $39,000.

$39,000.

When we left, Mr. Speaker, it went to

$65,000.

>> The public servants know this. When we

entered government, Mr. Speaker, when we

entered government and left, the public

servants got 77%

aggregate as their salary increase.

>> And you know what, Mr. Speaker,

>> it was one time,

>> one time the ministers of the APNU,

>> the senior ministers in 2016

>> took 50% salary increase. One time.

>> One time.

>> That 50%.

>> That 50%, Mr. Speaker, was their salary

in 2016,

>> never moved in 2017,

>> never moved in 2018, never moved in

2019,

>> never moved in 2020.

>> These hoodlums over here, they said they

don't like it. They don't want it.

They're going to take it back.

I was waiting for you to retract.

>> Apologies, sir. I retract.

>> Sir, these people over here, these

honorable people, they want it. They're

going to put it in a special bank

account and they're going to take it and

they're going to share it out to do

projects. Mr. Speaker, today they are

enjoying that 50% and they have added

they have added 40% more on that 50%.

So from 2020 to now they're enjoying 90%

salary increase. Their salaries are in

the millions of dollars. And every time,

every time, sir,

>> every time they give the public servants

a 10%, they're taking it, too.

>> Yes,

>> they're taking it, too. And 10% on

$100,000

is not the same as 10% on a million

dollars. So, they can live as fat cats

and the people, the ordinary people who

have to deliver the service, they are

just simply skinny cats. very unfair to

the public servants.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> honorable Zulfikar Ali, I thought he

would have been impressive, but he

really and truly was not. He

disappointed.

>> Mr. Speaker, this is an imbalanced

budget. This budget is not balanced. Mr.

Speaker, Mr. Speaker, we are told that

this is a historic budget, $1.558

trillion, the largest in our nation's

history. But size alone does not make a

budget significant. And it certainly

does not make a budget people centered.

What matters is how the money touches

and improves the lives of those who wake

up every morning to go to work and are

forced to struggle to survive. Growth

without fairness and equity is not

progress. Spending without fairness and

equity is not people centered

development. Mr. Speaker, when we follow

the money, the pattern is clear.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are

chneled into infrastructure projects and

mega capital works. These will benefit

large contractors, developers,

importers, and wellestablished

businesses connected to the PPPC. What

is worse is the infrastructure projects

and mega capital works are characterized

by wastage and the unparliamentary

cword. Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker,

invest investment in all businesses is

necessary. Development is necessary. The

problem is when it is geared to benefit

the rich at the expense of the poor and

vulnerable. Development that is skewed

to enrich the already rich while

marginally helping people who are in

dire need of direct assistance creates

inequality not inclusion. It pushes the

people further into poverty. This budget

overwhelmingly strengthens the position

of those who already have while offering

little or no relief to those who really

need it. Mr. Speaker, consider senior

citizens. We're asking them to live on

$1,500

a day. $1,500 a day. Those are the

people who toiled in the soil of Guyana

to put us where we are today. to put us

where we are today. And we are asking

them to go out and find another job

instead of enjoying their grandchildren.

And you know what is the job they often

times get? A security officer

>> in the latest of nights. They have to be

as a security officer. And you know for

who? One of the companies that are

getting the billions of dollars that are

in this budget. And then they are being

underpaid as the security officer. Quite

unfair to our senior citizens. I thought

they would have at least tried to give

the senior citizen $100,000 a month. At

least, Mr. Speaker,

public assistance stands at $25,000 per

month. Mr. Speaker, this is less than

$900 per day. not enough for food, rent,

transport, utility, and health care

combined. This does not lift people out

of hardship. It merely keeps them in

poverty. A budget that puts people first

would have aimed to reduce poverty, not

administratively manage it. The public

assistance program requires a forensic

audit to weed out the friends, families,

and favorites who are barefacedly

receiving it without satisfying the

criteria and are in the financial

position to provide for themselves. Mr.

Speaker, I call on government to provide

water and electricity subsidies to those

who legitimately qualify for public

assistance. In the case of p in the case

as pensioners, the government must make

public clear objective criteria for

people to qualify for public assistance.

Yes,

>> homes with special needs children should

also receive help through subsidies on

water and electricity. Adoption of this

suggestion will will suggest putting

people first. The increase in the income

tax threshold to $140,000

is presently is presented as meaningful

relief. But, Mr. Speaker, the reality is

this. Fat remains unchanged.

Direct and indirect taxes still bite the

poor hardest. Rising prices erase

marginal gains. A worker earning

slightly above the threshold is not

suddenly better off. Their wages are

still well below prices in relation to

the cost of living. This is not relief.

Mr. Speaker, in this oil rich economy

which is experiencing rapid growth, this

budget does not meaningfully

redistribute resources to help the poor

and vulnerable. Those who benefit most

from growth contribute the least

proportionally. This is not balanced.

This is preservation of privilege. Mr.

Speaker, a balanced budget must share

prosperity fairly, protect the poor, and

empower the vulnerable. Most

importantly, it should reduce

inequality. This budget does not do

that. Mr. Speaker, social supports

increase are modest and reactive while

capital spending expands aggressively.

The result is a widening gap between

those who benefit from most of from

growth and those who work hard to

realize growth. The working people that

is Mr. Speaker, they merely see people

getting rich at their expense. This is

not a fight against businesses. It is a

call for fairness. This budget creates

two Guyanas. one accelerating with

opportunity and the other fighting for

survival.

Mr. Speaker,

I turn my attention to the Ministry of

Local Government and Regional

Development for the fiscal year of 2025.

Mr. Speaker, this ministry was allocated

a staggering 41.8 billion. Of that sum,

38.7 billion was earmarked for capital

expenditure while 3.1 billion for

current expenditure. These are not small

sums. These are the people's monies

hardearned, sacred and entrusted to the

government under the promise of

development, infrastructure and improved

living condition. Mr. Mr. Speaker, under

the capital profile alone, 2.7 billion

was reportedly spent, approved by this

honorable house on the clear assurance

that tangible, visible, measurable works

would be delivered. We were told that

there was going to be a design and

supervision consultancy for Border Green

amounting to $40 million,

$260 million for phase one of Border

Green, 50 million for the rehabilitation

of the East Velt market, 100 million for

the rehabilitation of the Le Penitence

Market, 75 million for the green space

at Marman's Mall, and 200 million for

Stabbrook Market. The remainder, we were

told, went into drainage work. Mr.

Speaker, the budget books says that

every cent of the 2.7 billion was spent,

fully spent, exhausted, gone. And so I

ask on behalf of this house and the GY

people, where is the work? Where is the

200 million worth of rehabilitation at

Stab Brook Market? Where is the $75

million green space at Marramman's Mall?

Where is the $100 million rehabilitation

of all Boytown market? Where is the 50

million rehabilitation of the East

Rumvelt market? And where, Mr. Speaker,

is the $260 million phase one of Border

Green? There is no evidence of any. This

is incompetence and wastage. There is

need for a forensic audit.

These are questions of public trust,

fiduciary duty and financial property.

The minister must rise in this house and

account for every dollar. And if these

funds did not materialize into concrete

work, if they did not translate into

steel, concrete drainage, stalls, roofs,

and public space, then the unavoidable

conclusion is this. The money went into

somebody's pocket.

>> The audit will reveal who, when, and

where the funds went. Mr. Speaker, if

public funds are withdrawn, recorded or

spent and cannot be physically verified

on the ground, that is not

mismanagement. That is public theft. The

minister who was responsible for these

sums of money. Honorable Sonia Parag

must tell this house where the money is

or who has it and how they got it. Mr.

Speaker, let me go further because the

rut does not end there. across this

country. The budget document claim that

hundreds of millions more have already

been spent on markets. I invite the

people of Guyana to listen carefully and

then go and verify with their own eyes.

We are told $800 million was spent on

the Palmyra culture market in region 6,

$100 million on the port kituma market,

$200 million on the western section of

Monreo market. 75 million on the Unity

market, 50 million on the Rose Hall

market, 75 million on BA market, 50

million for the Rosnal Railway line, 200

million for Anorina market on the Esqao

coast, 30 million for Port Morant

market, 180 million for number 79

market, 40 million for the Latin

municipal market. Mr. Speaker and

members of the viewing public, the

budget states that in 2025,

all of this money was spent out,

>> gone, not allocated, Mr. Speaker, it's

spent out. I therefore issue a direct

challenge to the government. Let the man

in the street see if these markets

reflect these astronomical sums that

were allocated in 2025 and spent out.

Let the vendors, the residents, and the

commuters judge where the $2.7 billion

dollars and hundreds of millions more

are visible in actual work or only on

paper.

>> Honorable member, you are now into your

additional finance. Mr. Speaker, I have

visited these locations. I have walked

on the ground and I say without fear of

successful contradiction. The evidence

does not match the expenditure. The book

tells one story, but the reality tells

another. And when the book and the

reality partways the bl the the band C

word enters the fora the audits will

reveal the audits will reveal the

reality. This is a grave matter Mr.

Speaker. It strikes the heart of lack of

transparency, accountability and good

governance. I sincerely hope the auditor

general is listening because this house

has a duty not to rub a stamp deception

and the people of Guyana deserve answers

not excuses. Additionally, in 2025, Mr.

Speaker, this honorable house approved

41.8 billion. It was done on a clear

basis and understanding that specific

targets would be met. Program one told

us 25 staff would be trained.

Unfortunately, only six were trained.

Program two told us regional

development, eight staff will be

trained. Sadly, only two were trained.

Program three told us 180 staff will be

trained in specific areas. Only 68 were

trained. We were promised 53 new

infrastructure projects that would be

developed. Only 26 were developed. We

were told 20 existing infrastructure

projects would be improved. Only 12 were

improved. Perhaps most importantly, we

were told 30,000 entrepreneurs will get

help. Only 21,547

got. Mr. Speaker, not one of the targets

were met. Not one. Not one of the

targets was met. Yet all of the money

that was allocated for these very

accomplishments

were spent out. All were spent out. This

is the reality, Mr. Speaker, for solid

waste management. 2025 11.6 billion was

spent. But yet the hackb landfill site

continues to stink.

>> This year only 5.9 billion in the

budget. I guess we will be having

another stink year. Last year, Mr.

Speaker, I anticipated awarding the

honorable minister Sonia Parag an Agrade

for incompetence.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I am on my feet to

confirm that a grade and to increase the

grade to an A+ for great incompetence.

Mr. Speaker, I feel so sorry. I feel so

sorry for education. But it must be

noted, Mr. speaker that the allocation

this year is lower than that of last

year while the targets are higher than

what was actually achieved. This is odd.

This, Mr. Speaker, will be a test of

competence and I trust honorable Priya

Manikan will deliver. Or maybe she was

put there to fail. We will find out next

year. For 2026, the requested sum is $

36.7 billion, $5 billion less than what

it was last year. Time will tell us the

truth. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I now

speak to the person on the ground, the

people on the ground. I visited the Reed

and Hoop market and I met Auntie Lucy.

Auntie Lucy said to me that when she

came to her stall where she sells ground

provision and greens for over 20 years

to send children to school and put food

on the table. One morning she arrived at

her stall only to be told it was to be

demolished. No written notice, no

consultancy, no opportunity to relocate,

just order, just force, just power from

the great bishop. Mr. Mr. Speaker,

Auntie Lucy is not a criminal. She is

not lawless. She is not resisting order.

She simply asked for fairness.

>> Uh, Bishop,

>> stand at the point of order. Sorry.

>> The honorable member mentioned my name

>> about a matter that I have nothing to do

with. Please withdraw it.

>> Mr. Speaker, I said the great bishop. He

is not the great bishop. He is not the

great bishop. I said the great bishop

you see that is my point the great

bishop and that is not his name and that

is not his name sir

>> thank you for your protection

>> thank you m

>> Mr. Speaker, I don't know of another

bishop in this house.

>> I said a great bishop.

>> Sorry, I said a great honorable members,

please. I I heard from the honorable

minister, Bishop Edgil.

>> I didn't say Bishop Edgil. I said the

great

>> You're pulling the string.

>> My apologies.

>> So, I heard the point of order and at