3RD SITTING – THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT | 2026 BUDGET DEBATE | DAY 5| PART 2

Wow.

You're right.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Good morning.

Heat. Heat.

Everyone

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

train.

Hey

Everyone suffered.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Oh,

heat.

Everyone

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Here

come train.

How do you

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Good morning.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

I got it. Heat. Heat. N.

in the morning.

Let

me see.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Thank you honorable members. Please be

seated.

And let us invite

our honorable prime minister,

Brigadier

Super

Mark Phillips.

I forget your medication.

>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>> Mr. Speaker, the only reason I'm walking

with this medication because I have

concern for the honorable members on the

other side of the house.

So if during my presentation or

afterwards

>> you need some relief, it's here.

>> We have enough for them.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> I was about to say thank you for walking

with it. I You reminded me to send for

mine.

>> You might need it.

>> Mr. Speaker, today

I rise again

in support

of budget 20

26. And I say again because I rose many

times before from 2020 to now supporting

budgets that has transformed the lives

of the people of Guyana. as prime

minister of Guyana,

>> proudly as the prime minister of Guyana,

supporting his excellency

and of course supporting

our senior minister of finance in the

office of the president

Dr. Ashni Kumar Singh

and I must take the opportunity to

compliment

Dr. Singh for once again

having a budget

prepared that continues to keep us on

the trajectory

one of development.

Mr. Speaker,

this budget is being presenting

presented it was presented

on the 26th

of January 2026

at the defining moment

in our national life.

Following the general and regional

elections of September the 4th, 2025,

the People's Progressive Party Civic

>> Government returned to office not with

33 seats,

with 36 seats.

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

>> The people of Guyana sent a message,

>> clear message.

>> Loud and clear. We want the PPPC

in government for the next 5 years to

steer the ship of development in Guyana

and

>> more.

>> And you know,

Mr. Speaker,

I sat unfortunately I wasn't here for

the first two days, but I heard

the presentations

from

the opposition, the combine opposition,

the smaller and smaller

components of the opposition.

And of course,

The seat that is awarded based on the

remainerium

enshrined

in our laws, our electoral laws. Some

say left leftovers.

>> Left left bun.

>> But then they will say a seat is a seat.

Bombay.

>> Bombay. That's right.

>> But you know, Mr. Speaker,

before I go into

the areas

of development that falls within the

ambit of the office of the prime

minister and you know as a prime

minister this is a unique prime

ministerial ship

hearkens back to the time of Mr. Samuel

Hines.

He was a prime minister with

responsibilities

>> not like

>> and

>> we had an intergnum

like that

>> and we have decided to continue with the

tradition

>> restore dignity to the prime

>> restore dignity to the prime minister

office

>> responsibility

>> and responsibility

>> responsibility

>> so even though I speak to you as prime

minister I still have to report on

several areas

not only on the prime ministerial

secretariat,

>> on disaster preparedness,

>> on energy.

>> On ICT connectivity.

>> Yes. Yes.

>> Areas.

>> All right. and on public communications

and information in Guyana.

>> Of course, I'm a member of the defense

board, too.

>> That's right.

>> And I'm ready to serve in any other

capacity so directed by his excellency

or president.

>> Mr. Speaker,

there are two or three matters that I

want to clear before I move into

discussing those areas of

responsibility.

And unfortunately, I would have expected

the

opposition leader or leader of the

opposition to be present here

because that would be in the true

fashion of a budget debate.

Should not be one-sided.

Both sides should be led

>> by their appointed constitutionally

appointed leaders.

me being leader of government business

and the leader of the opposition.

Unfortunately, this chair is empty.

>> So, we start with an empty chair

>> after a lot of excitement,

a lot of protesting

>> to occupy that seat.

>> And now the seat empty. And now the seat

is empty. Mr. Speaker,

>> and you know, Mr. Speaker,

>> if you're going to come to this house in

the absence of the leader of the

opposition, I want to educate the

members over there. If you're going to

come to this house and you're going to

criticize,

the policies,

the projects, the programs of the

government side, at least do some

research

>> and be present.

>> I know somebody complain that is a lot

of reading. But I used to be instructor

to start school in the military. And

whenever a student come to me and say,

"But you know, directing staff, it's a

lot of reading."

My response to that student was always,

"It's only a lot of reading if you do it

all."

Bit deep, right?

>> It's only a lot of reading if you do it

all.

>> The reality is that if you want to pass,

you have to do the readings.

>> That's right.

>> That's correct. That's correct.

>> That's correct. That's correct.

>> You have to spend the time and do the

readings. government is actually real

work.

>> You as opposition

>> is an important part of the governance

structure of Guyana.

>> And you have

>> you as opposition. You are. I said you

are.

>> I said you are. I did.

>> I said no. I'm sorry. If I say that, I'm

sorry. I'm I stand corrected.

>> I stand corrected. You you as opposition

you are

>> an important part of governance. You

have to keep us

literally and figuratively on our feet.

And you could only do that if you read.

As somebody said before, leaders are

readers.

>> Leaders are readers. So now that you

earn your seat

>> on the side of the opposition, you have

to do the reading. That's right.

>> You have to do the readings.

>> It will be a lot of readings.

>> And you have to do it all

>> if you're going to be effective here.

>> So you don't just ask somebody to send a

photograph.

>> And in addition to reading, you have to

do research. You have to go on the

ground.

>> The members on the depleting side of the

opposition, they have a favorite term

they always use, boots on the ground.

You have to put on your boots and go on

the ground.

>> Not to come like the honorable member,

Miss Scarlet, and tell this house, but

the lights off at Kato.

>> The lights ain't off at Kato. The lights

never went on at Kato.

You know why? Because we constructed the

hydropower dam and we wiring the 32

buildings to take the colors. We

finished wiring 28. And tomorrow,

tomorrow,

tomorrow we will turn on the lights

because the staff who has to man the

facility 247,

they went to let them for training and

including the staff are five women. You

should have pulled one of them aside and

asked them.

>> Don't come and mislead this house.

Because if you're a member of a party

that started on a lie,

>> you have to end on a lie because you led

by lies and liars. Is that a lie, Mr.

Speaker?

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> no. No. Unreal PM is not but um you're

treading on the unparliamentary

language.

>> Until

lie with untruth.

>> Mr. Speaker, I stand corrected.

>> I replace lie with untruth.

Mr. Speaker,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> the honorable member Sar Boholly,

>> come to this house

>> and introduce a new word,

>> corruption.

>> What is corruption?

>> You are led by the poster child of

posterby of corruption.

>> That is your leader.

That is your leader and that is poetic

justice.

>> You come to tell us one thing and it fly

back right in your face

>> because you are led by the poster boy of

corruption.

>> Are you going to shout Mr. Speaker

again?

>> Are you going to shout Mr. Speaker?

And when you have your next when you

have your next conversation with your

leader,

>> tell him

>> that once you are blessed with life,

>> there are two things that you cannot

avoid. Debt and taxes.

>> I say no more.

>> You just said it all.

Don't come to this house

>> as merchants of grief

>> trading on people's sentiments

>> and sorrows

>> and sorrows.

>> You come here with your emotional

appeals

>> crocodile tears

>> false crocodile tears

>> tears.

>> I could cry too and I could wipe my eye.

>> Cry me a river

and nobody. You talking about a hospital

that since it opened every day treating

hundreds of gyles free of charge, saving

lives

and then they had

a routine servicing

of the roof and the guttering and

somebody failed to turn off failed to

turn off the top, right? fail to turn

off the pump. When they checking the

roof and the pumping system, some water

get on the ground, somebody picks and

send it to you,

>> right? And quickly they clean up the

water, right? Mop up the place, fix the

roof, fix the leaks, everything and

continue to serve people. All right.

>> You must not be a merchant of grief,

>> a propagandist.

>> Because if you keep telling yourself

that over and over, everybody around you

going to believe in the lie

>> yourself.

Don't come to this house and tell

halftruths and untruths.

>> Well, again, I corrected myself. Half

truths and untruths.

>> Halftruths and out truths.

>> Strangers to the truth.

>> You're strangers to the truth.

>> If you started with halftruths and

untruths, you will continue along that

line.

>> You continue along that line.

>> You hear me?

>> And you know,

>> Mr. Speaker,

come back to this thing about reading.

Read the list. Read the list.

>> If you don't want to read, use the phone

that is given to you as a member of the

operation.

>> And Google,

>> Google. Use your phone on Google.

>> And AI.

>> AI will give an overview

of Guyana's budget. Just type in

Guyana's budget 2020 to 2026.

>> No, I just I I'm trying to help you to

understand because I thought was

something difficult when we reading but

then I realized AI already captured it.

Guyana's budget 2020 to 2026

reflect a shift from pandemic recovery

and economic stabilization to rapid

oildriven infrastructure transformation

and social development. Hold on. Hold

on. Hear this one. Hear this one.

Putting the people first. focusing on

massive infrastructure investment,

education and strengthening household

incomes.

>> That is on AI. So if you didn't do the

relay AI, you would have been you would

have been educated.

Don't come to this house.

>> The honorable member

>> the honorable member Missnam

in our presentation talk about live

react.

I stand corrected.

Talk about lived reality.

>> Live reality.

>> I am 6 to 4 years old. I'll be 6 to 5.

I'll be 6 to 5 this year. And I want to

tell you about live reality in Gana.

Live reality. And it's significant that

this year, this year we are celebrating

our 60th anniversary of independence

with a democratically

elected government in place.

>> Remember in 1966 we had a democratically

elected government in place.

You're looking back.

>> Hello.

>> I was not 136 or six. I never said that.

I was 5 years old. But I remember I did

all the readings.

>> I did all the readings.

>> Don't try to throw me off. 1966 we had a

democratically elected government.

>> Our level of education and development

was surpassing

who?

>> Caribbean.

>> Don't worry. Who we led by?

>> We were led by boredom.

>> But he disappointed all of us. I don't

want to invoke his name here. Mr.

Speaker,

>> fast forward to 1968.

What has happened in Guyana? From 1968

>> to 1992. She had a walk. They can't

handle the truth.

>> Once you walk is because you can't. It's

two things. Either you're going to use

the bathroom or you can't handle the

truth.

>> He's going to use the bathroom.

>> He's going to use the bathroom. I said

it. You either go to use the bathroom or

you can't handle the truth. He's going

to use the bathroom.

>> 1966

independence under an elected democratic

elected government. I ain't going to say

history.

1968

right through 1985 electoral

malpractices that kept a government

illegally in office in this country and

took this country downhill. You heard it

from the previous presenter

at the end. By the time we took office

in 1992,

we were among the three poorest

countries in Latin America and the

Caribbean.

>> You had Bolivia above us. Then you had

Guyana and then you had Haiti.

>> Comrades

and I know my dear friend Dr. David

Hines, Professor Hines,

>> previously known as David Osborne before

he earned his doctorate.

You know, I want to take you down memory

lane

>> because you choose

in your earlier life to be a member of

the WPA,

the Working People Alliance and you

sitting next to people

whose leader that they glorify by

calling his name just now referred to

your group as the worst possible

alternative.

>> You remember that?

>> Worst possible. Are you comfortable

sitting next to them?

>> As a little boy in London,

>> when I was going to school, I had to

cross the river in the boat. Sha Solomon

don't know nobody. He didn't bar yet. He

didn't bar yet. He bar after

>> and when you cross from when you cross

from the western side to the eastern

side behind the bus terminal

>> written there was reactionaries beware.

64,

>> the PNC will fight fire with fire

>> and steel with steel.

>> And I kept reading that every time I

come over. And I decided to do further

readings.

>> And I saw that they also had other

slogans aimed at the WPA because the WPA

was a pain in that side of the anatomy

that I will not mention in this house

>> of the PNC. the history.

>> You were advised to sign your wills. Yes

or no?

>> Dr. Hines, you were collectively advised

to sign your wills.

>> Let it sink in a little bit. They will

understand. Don't worry, hecklers.

>> Don't worry, hecklers.

>> They should keep quiet and understand.

>> Fight steel with highly tempered steel.

No holes barred.

>> That is what you as a young activist in

the WPA.

>> You had to

you had to dance between the raindrops

because if any drops fell on you, you

would not have been here at us.

You would have suffered the same fate

>> like your fellow members

>> who was left lying in the prominard

gardens with the weapons next to them.

Do you remember that Dr. Hines? Give me

a nod if you remember.

>> Give me a nod if you remember.

>> Give me revolutionary.

>> So they were revolutionary too.

>> They were revolutionaries too.

You're a revolutionary, but you're on

the wrong side of the house.

>> Joshua Rami, you name him.

>> And for the young people here, don't let

them fool you.

>> You read about Venezuela.

>> It happened in Guyana, too.

>> I was a youngster going to school and I

had to fetch water. Dale talk about

fetch your water.

I had to fetch water.

>> And my friends, we had no gas stove, no

kerosene stove. They had to gather wood

and coals. So we had a PNC government

>> that relegated us in a biblical sense to

the fetchers of waters and heers of

wood.

>> That's what the PNC did to us.

fetchers of waters and viewers of wood.

>> When you go into the supermarket

>> and I used to go to a supermarket in

Lyndon known as the co-op crescent

supermarket used to be run by the

government. Let me talk. Let me talk.

Let me talk.

>> Don't Don't try to Don't try to

>> Don't try to shout me out.

There was nothing in the supermarket

beyond rice and sugar. Obviously

>> because it was grown in Gyana.

Whenever they bring the supply of the

other stuff, you had to line up and it

was rationed to you. And as a little

boy,

>> we like to play with names and

abbreviation.

So, LFSB

as little boys, LFSB meant lynen

forborn, but as little boys, our lived

experience

caused us

>> to see LFSB

and we said it as little boys because we

were innocent.

>> Line up for soap and butter.

>> That's what we did as little boys.

line up for soap and butter.

>> Wow.

>> That happened in this country.

>> People had scor

another name.

>> People had ricketetts scor.

And after day two, when you pull it, so

there some long slime

berry berry, you can't stand up

properly.

White belt.

>> Are you coming telling us

>> for people starving?

>> Fast forward

>> to another time

>> because you all benefited from the

democratic dividend that was ushered in

in the 1992 elections. and you were able

to win an election in n in 2015 and you

run this country from 2015 to 2020. We

fast forwarding now.

>> But before we go to fast forward, I talk

about the supermarkets.

>> They had and you know they had this way

like many socialist countries of finding

some

>> peculiar names

>> peculiar names for enterprises.

Mr. Hines. Professor Hines, do you know

or can you remember the knowledge

sharing institute?

>> Yes, sir.

>> Can you remember the knowledge sharing?

Am I lying?

>> KSI. They used to sell fish

>> and the other member talk about

corruption.

When you go there, you had to beg the

guy who selling not to give your basher

only.

Throw in some bangamary. Throw in some

butterfish.

I am saying this because I want

everybody here and the whole of Guyana

to understand what took place in this

country under the PNC

>> 19. It started in 1968

>> and it continued until we took office in

1992.

Comrades,

>> I'm telling you this because

those those who forget the past are

condemned to repeat it.

>> And many people many people enjoy the

democracy in this country. They enjoy

the social and economic gains in this

country from 1992 to 2015.

in fact of 2011. So they get complacent

and they decided to vote for y'all in

y'all took them right back

>> like the proverbial swine who returned

to wallow in the marrier. Y'all took

this whole country right back

to what obtained go back to

>> what obtained in 1968 1985.

>> Fast forward to 2020

in the army.

>> I did everything in the army including

leading the army.

>> Including being the head of the army.

>> You had to be talented to be selected as

the head of the army.

>> Unlike you.

2020

>> 2020

>> we went to an election.

>> The people said clearly with their votes

that we don't want you.

>> We give you 5 years and you failed

>> and you held on to office

>> for 5 months.

We recounted the votes

>> and what we knew

>> on closer business

>> on the 3rd of March 2020

>> was finally declared as the official

results of that election. The PPPC was

returned to government.

The PPPC returned to government at a

time when people were starving again as

a result of an APNU

clouded

changing the name. What is PNC?

>> AFC government.

>> The people were starving. We had CO.

>> Talk about

>> we had CO and we had the worst

the worst

>> spit

>> of management. Yes.

>> In fact, it was a high level of

mismanagement

>> in this country at that time.

>> You were trying to hold on to

government.

>> You were filling your pockets.

You were spending without any budget

that was legally authorized by this

house

>> because you could not have come to the

house. You could not have come to the

house,

>> right? because you should have held the

elections after the no confidence

motion. You held on to power and this

country went down.

>> All the markets were closed. You close

the markets. You close the supermarkets.

People were in their homes.

>> Then you know what?

>> You know what? You continue to fool the

people. The honorable member Sarabu talk

about a hospital that was leaking. You

took a hotel and you said you're going

to convert it to an infectious disease

hospital.

>> You had inherit what?

>> You had a commissioning activity and the

media's there. You could ask them after

they had the ceremony. They cut the

ribbon and they asked for a tour of the

facilities. You said no. No tour because

nothing was in there.

>> Nothing was in there.

>> We assumed

office on the 2nd of August

2020

and in less than 3 months

>> Dr. Frank Anthony and his staff had that

hotel

that that hotel converted to a hospital

up and running with gas with specialist

with dedication and saving lives.

That's what we did for these people of

Guyana. And that's why I'm saying

do not

forget the past

because you're condemned to repeat it or

to endure it. If you elect people,

you forget the past and reelect people,

you're condemned.

Mr. Speaker

>> at the end of 2025 elections

>> 109,000

>> and 66

>> D voted for win

>> 77,998

>> D voted

>> for the remnants

>> AP and UFC

>> remnants win got 16 seats

>> AP and you got 12

>> and the left left.

>> The person who got the largest among the

leftovers got a seat.

>> And you know what?

We got 242,498

votes.

But

>> we made a promise to the people in our

manifesto.

>> We made a promise to the people in our

manifesto

that when the PPPC is in government,

>> we manage

for the improvement of all the people.

We don't care who you voted for.

>> We don't care who you voted for.

We manage for all the people

>> in the government.

>> Comrade, listen and learn.

If you're disabled,

>> if you're old,

>> if you're young,

>> if you're unemployed,

>> if you're undermployed,

a waste,

>> if you're a business owner,

>> if you're a woman, you're a child.

>> There is something in this budget for

all of you.

>> All of you.

>> Comrades. from 83 billion to 12 billion.

>> That is not important.

>> What is important is that you are on the

other side of the house

>> and we will ensure that you don't starve

because we'll ensure nobody in this

country starve and that's why we have

the measures in that budget. Read it and

read it again and again and again until

you understand it. And when you

understand it and you start believing it

and see it being unfolded around you and

start benefiting from all the programs

and all the projects by 20 30 20

>> you will be you will be voting for us on

this side of the house.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> this budget is about putting people

force

budget,000

>> comrade

when you finish I will continue on the

budget from

>> Mr. Speaker

>> given the given the above context.

>> It is now my honor

>> to demonstrate

>> the developments and achievements across

>> the core programat programmatic areas

that fall under the opaces of the office

of the prime minister and how they play

into that vision.

>> Power generation.

You failed this country at power

generation.

>> You had no vision.

>> No vision.

>> And there was no growth.

>> So you sat on what you were generating

>> and you felt

>> that that was enough for Guyana.

>> But after dealing with CO and setting

this country on a sound footing for

economic takeoff, that's a new term.

Check it out. for economic takeoff

>> significantly

>> for economic takeoff.

>> We have seen

>> tremendous growth in the demand for

power in our country and we had to plan

for it in the short, medium and long

term. Something that you failed to do.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> power generation sit at the center of

our development agenda

>> because it underpins productivity,

competitiveness,

and quality of life.

Our approach, Mr. speaker combines

investment in renewable energy with

transformational projects such as the

gas to energy project to deliver

affordable,

>> reliable

and accessible electricity to all gy,

>> Mr.

This is directly aligned with our

commitment to advancing the global

goal of universal access to modern

energy while reducing costs,

strengthening energy security and

supporting sustainable

economic expansion.

>> I write to myself,

>> Mr. Speaker, the gas to energy project

remains

the most consequential investment

undertaken by this government

>> and is aimed to transform Guyana's

economic foundation

>> in 2025.

>> The program move firmly from planning

into large scale execution

>> at Wales. Phase one construction

advanced materially

>> under the EPC

>> and that is the engineering procurement

and construction works program.

Approximately 6 to 7% of foundation

piling was completed to date.

>> More than 3,000 cubic meters of

structural concrete were poured.

All four turbines were transported and

positioned on their foundations.

>> Mr. Speaker, six power transformers are

now in place at Wales and the structural

foundations for the four heat recovery

steam generators were completed.

>> This Mr. Mr. speaker is a transformative

project

>> that will take Guyana

>> into the future. We will have

electricity from that project in the

last quarter

>> of 2026.

>> 2026

>> reliable and low cost electricity

>> enabling heavy manufacturing

>> anchoring Wales development zone

>> and it will attract local and foreign

investors

>> that Mr. speaker will have a tremendous

industrial and economic impact here in

Guyana.

More stable electricity supply. That's

how it will affect you.

>> Lower energy costs over time.

>> New job skills,

>> new jobs and skills training,

stronger local industries, more

affordable food

>> and goods.

>> As part of the project, Phase one, we

have phase two and phase two

will see an advancement in terms of the

procurement process this year.

>> But definitely it is on target for

completion by 2030.

And phase two, we will have the

fertilizer plant which will lower food

cost in Guyana. A gas bottling plant. I

trust your word.

>> Low cost of cooking gas in Guyana.

>> A glass for the construction and export

of G of of glass from Guyana.

>> Data center important for us here in

Guyana will be established

>> to support our digital economy

>> and the NGL export

>> for revenue

>> generation.

>> Mr. Speaker,

Comrade,

>> just listen and learn.

>> Listen and learn.

>> Mr. Speaker, over the past 5 years,

>> the gas the Guyana Energy Agency has

played a central role in advancing our

government's commitment to affordable,

reliable, and renewable energy,

particularly

for Hinterland and Riverin communities.

Between 2020 and 2025,

>> this information,

>> we have invested as a government $25.4

billion in renewable energy

interventions

>> over that period. We've installed

renewable energy

in many

locations of Guyana and we've expanded

the capacity from 5.35 megawatt to 37.23

23 megawatt.

>> While more than 4,500

jobs were created across construction,

installation, operations, and

maintenance

>> 2026.

We will install 21 new solar photovolta

mini grids in Guyana.

>> We will upgrade 11.

>> Coming to you. coming to you. We will

upgrade 11 solar to voltax PV mini grids

>> in Guyana. We will construct a 3

megawatt solar PV plant at the Cheddon

International Airport.

And we have a project that is ongoing

with the World Bank where we will

implement

Caribbean efficient and green energy

building projects putting solar PV

system on over 250

buildings here in Guyana.

Honorable PM, I'm

>> I have the authority to give you five

minutes to wrap up.

>> PM, take an hour of my time.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> take an hour of my time here

with the speaker's permission.

>> Mr. Speaker,

this upgrade

of an installation of solar PV systems

will benefit many of our hintterland

communities. Over 12,300

persons will benefit and villages like

Barameita, Cibby,

Caraburi, Quibbana, Akawini, Yarakita,

St. Monaco and Waka Pauo Oral and

Searuta

and Karau all will benefit from these

projects.

>> Listen, listen, pay attention. Pay

attention.

>> The 21 new solar PV mini grids will be

installed in regions 1 3 4 7 8 9 and 10.

>> And Mr. Mr. Speaker, I want to add

that at Lynen,

we are constructing a 15 megawatt solar

PV farm for the people of Lynden

and we have been able

to encourage

a private sector investment

from

Bosai

who will also construct a 10 megawatt

PV

farm in Lynden. Lynen will get a combine

of 25 megawatt of renewable energy by

the end of 2026.

>> Excellent. Excellent.

>> More than any other tongue, more than

any other region in Guyana.

That is what will happen to Lynen.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> they like to talk about NDMA

and Wifi and what they did.

>> My lived experience, Mr. Speaker.

>> My lived experience.

>> Honorable member over there, I'm using

your tour. my lived experience

prior to 2020 when I was campaigning in

the hinterland.

Every location I went to,

>> I asked a simple question. Are you

connected to the internet? They said,

"Oh, we got a Wi-Fi

and I tried to connect.

I spend on the average of two hours

holding political meetings

and visiting people. And when I'm ready

to leave, I check my phone again. It

still has connecting, connecting,

connecting, connecting.

Today,

today,

253

villages in the hinterland of our

country, 100% connected villages and

satellite villages. go to any one of

them and go to the ICT hut or go to

where the Wi-Fi gy is and you will get

on the internet

>> thanks to the PPPC government.

>> That's what we did.

>> I don't have the time to give all the

details as to how we did it. However,

Mr. Speaker, 96%

of all our schools

are now connected to Wi-Fi GY. In 2020,

23% was connected. Today, 96% connected.

Mr. Speaker, in 2020, 10% of our health

centers and hospitals were connected to

the internet. Today, 88% are connected.

Mr. Speaker, 7% of our police stations

were connected in 2020. Today 69% of our

police stations and all our stations in

the hintterland are connected. Mr.

Speaker,

>> our prison

>> and no surprise 100% connection.

>> You had about 60% 100 our fire stations

100% connected.

>> Mr. Speaker, this is progress and this

is what the people of Guyana has been

looking forward to a long time and

they've enjoyed and benefit from 5 years

of progress 2020 to 2025 and it's no

surprise that they elected us with a

greater majority because they're looking

forward with great expectations for

another five years of development which

we will deliver. This is just the first

installment.

This is just the first installment of

the second phase of development for the

people of Guyana.

>> Mr. Speaker, everybody else,

>> we recognize that we could build all the

infrastructure,

but if we are to move forward into this

information age, we have to spend time

and money on training our people. And we

have established

an industry and innovation unit out of

the office of the prime minister. And

that unit will be busy again this year

>> training

>> training our people not only on the

coastland but in the hentterland.

Training our public servants.

Training the trainers who when they come

they will go back to their villages and

train the people in their villages. We

are spending more money doing that

training. We're spending more money on

competitions because we recognize that

in this digitalized world, we have to

build the capacity. We have to spend

money on upskilling our people. Another

important project before I go, Mr.

Speaker,

there was a project known as Hinterland

Pool and remote communities ICT

connectivity project

>> that was set up quite rightly said by

Mr. Sharma. It was set up by the APNU

AFC government. I assume office on the

2nd on the 2nd of August and I called

the project leader and I asked him some

questions

and he keep avoiding me and I decided I

want to do a field visit.

>> Let's go and see the equipment.

>> What did you find?

>> I find several containers parked in a

hotel on the east bank with the

equipment.

>> What?

And then when I tell him to open those

containers overnight he moved it. He

converted a supermarket in diamond to a

storage one for the equipment.

>> Mr. Speaker, we arrested that situation.

>> We restaff that facility and that unit.

And today I want to repeat I want to

report to this house that we have

constructed

172

172 ICT huts throughout the hintterland

and the coastal and riverin areas of

Guyana. We have another 18 under

construction and by the end of this year

we will satisfy the requirement for that

project with the final construction and

commissioning of all 200 ICT huts

and we have trained over 2,000

>> young people

not so young people

>> to manage those hs

>> to deal with the repairs for those hot.

Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, they don't want me to talk.

>> They don't want you to talk.

>> They don't want to hear progression.

>> But Mr. Speaker, I'm thankful for the

time you're giving me

>> to finish. And I want to say this, Mr.

Speaker, the digital identity card

>> with no legislation

>> is up and running. It is issued under

the authority of the digital identity

identity card act number 19 of 2023. You

just said no legislation. You just said

no legislation. While we have adopted

While we have adopted a phase approach,

listen and learn. While we have adopted

a phase approach to implementation,

let me be clear, Mr. Mr. Speaker, this

process is governed by law.

>> The current pilot phase is strictly

voluntary.

>> Mr. Duncan, strictly voluntary,

>> ensuring no citizen is compelled before

the full commencement of the act.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, it is

appropriate to note that the data being

captured is that which has already been

legally provided to other state

registries, GRA, GRO and immigration.

This is simply a consolidation

of existing legal records into a more

secure format. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker,

with the appointment of the data

protection commissioner on January the

2nd, we have established the independent

oversight necessary to ensure that every

bite of data collected meets the highest

international standards of privacy and

security. And very soon, very shortly, I

will issue the commencement order.

Honorable,

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> disaster management and disaster

preparedness

is important for any country. If you're

talking about development, you have to

plan for disasters because a disaster or

a complex emergency that you have to

deal with disrupts the development

process. And Mr. Speaker, as the

minister responsible for disaster

preparedness, I am thankful for this

budget that will provide $73 billion to

ensure all of us are safe in Guyana and

to ensure we have the early warning and

all the contingency plans in place to

secure a Guyana that is developing and

transforming

at an accelerated rate.

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> you know,

>> I would like again to commend

Dr.

Ashdi Kumar Singh,

>> the director of budget, Miss Sonia

Rukdat, and all the hardworking staff of

the Ministry of Finance for another

stellar performance

>> in crafting and delivering

a budget

>> of 2026

that put the people force in this

country. that put all the people first

in this country.

>> The people who voted for the opposition,

the people who voted this government in

the office, the people who refused to

vote or for some reason could not have

voted.

All the people in Guyana will benefit

from this budget

putting the people force aptly named.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for indulging me.

>> Excellent.

>> Beyond the time, I have more information

that I will gladly impart to the

honorable members. They're very

receptive. Please decide the larger of

the the opposition. They're very

receptive to to what I'm saying and uh

but I have to leave now. Next week we

have the estimates and you could come

with some questions.

>> Lyndon will continue to develop without

you.

>> Thank you, honorable prime minister.

million. Thank you very very much.

The next speaker

the next speaker

his excellency Dr. Bar Jagio

his excellency Dr. Bar Jack deal

Gail.

>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, I'm advised that the

vice president will not uh speak will

not be here yet to speak. So I believe

his time can go to the additional time

go to the minister of finance when he's

closing.

>> Thank you Minister Tira. Honorable uh

just before we start

as last we gave a message to a young

lady. She's not three violations. She

Chill.

Wait,

this

Good.

>> Respect the boss here.

Honorable members, our next speaker is

the honorable leader of the opposition,

the honorable member, Mr. Ashudin

Muhammad.

>> Honorable leader of the opposition,

>> your time will start now.

>> Mr. Speaker, I rise as the leader of the

newest political movement. We invest in

nationhood which was established on

Independence Day of 2025

and in a mere 3 months was able to

disrupt the political landscape of

Guyana

despite the name calling sanctioned man,

gold smuggler, international fugitive.

Despite the delay,

>> resistance and every effort

>> to keep me out, I am standing tall and

strong.

>> And as the youngest leader of the

opposition

because over 109,000 voters believe in

me and my MPs,

>> they chose

>> hope over fear

>> and gave win a chance.

Right.

>> I thank our supporters who therein

bestowed on me this opportunity to

scrutinize the largest budget ever in

the history of Guyana, putting people

last. Yes.

And in this vein, I want to remind the

members on the oppos opposite side that

Guyana's parliament does not belong to

you. It belongs to the people.

Mr. Honorable Nandal, I want you to let

the nation know about the extradition

request.

The extradition request that came here

on the 26th of November,

>> that is transparency and accountability.

>> That is transparency and accountability.

There is an extradition request since

November and up to now

>> up to now we cannot charge we cannot

charge and bring these persons.

>> I hope you in trouble them law books

over there now.

>> I hope you in trouble those law books

over there.

>> Right, let I want you to know that you

could never be a presidential candidate

for the PBP.

>> Never.

>> Today in this honorable house, I am

conscious of the weight of the moment,

>> conscious of the expectations

of the GY people and conscious of the

responsibility that comes in responding

to a national budget of this magnitude.

Let me from the onset say thank you to

the hardworking public servants of the

different ministries.

>> Although nothing is in the budget for

the public servants. Absolutely nothing.

>> Even your guards out there.

>> Even your guards out there. No increase

for them.

>> That is the heart you got for the G

people. Honorable Nandal.

Read the budget. Read the budget.

>> Of course, I know the numbers more than

you.

>> I want to know how much is in the budget

to pay all the lawyers,

>> the prosecution team.

>> We need to know that.

>> Concerning the sanctions. Concerning

the sanctions, the PPP influenced the

sanctions.

>> Before the sanctions,

>> before the sanctions,

>> before the sanctions, no, the country

must know.

>> I want to answer this. The country must

know before the sanctions, your leaders

told me that if I don't release a

statement that I won't be running for

office, things going to happen. And

indeed, it happened.

Wing.

>> We need justice for crummy wing. What

about justice for crummy wing?

>> Mr. Speaker, let me make this clear. The

size of the budget does not impress us

on this side.

>> Not at all.

>> Does not impress us.

>> Perhaps the honorable member Ashi Singh

can draw comparisons to the nation and

size versus substance. Julius

>> and while he can present for 20 minutes

short of seven hours this much he won't

be able to do

>> right

>> because this budget lacks substance

>> putting people last

>> this week I listened to PPP members

heavily focus on personal attacks

>> on opposition members

>> and very little on their respective

portfolios again. Say it again.

Say it again.

>> The government presents this budget with

much pride and chatter

>> about its size.

>> You're right. We I think we getting a

lot of headache under this government.

>> A lot of headache under this government.

>> All week speakers from the government

boast about their 1 trillion $558

billion budget. Yes,

>> with assurance to the nation that the

budget is financed entirely with no new

taxes.

>> Right.

>> But I want to caution those honorable

members who are out of touch with the

realities of the ordinary citizens

>> that size

>> is not a measure of success. This year's

budget represents a 12.7%

increase from last year's budget and is

five times larger than the PBP's first

national budget in 2021.

>> Exactly.

>> Every year they come to this house with

historic groundbreaking numbers.

>> But where is this money going, Mr.

Speaker?

>> Right.

>> And who really benefits?

>> To Florida.

money in Florida.

>> A budget should be judged not by how

much is spent,

>> but how smartly it is spent

>> and how the people benefited.

>> Right.

>> Mr. Speaker, the first duty of this

house is to therefore look behind the

glossy

>> catchy headlines and ask tough

questions.

Who are the revenue streams carrying?

>> All right.

>> In this unprecedented level of

expenditure,

>> how much of this budget flows from oil

revenue?

>> A responsible nation plan must be built

on stable foundations,

not hope that the world market will

always be kind to Guyana.

Mr. Speaker, honorable Ashley Singh told

this noble house that the economy is

projected to grow 16.2% overall

>> and the non oil economy will expand by

10.8%.

>> These are impressive numbers. They look

good on paper,

>> but they do not help a mother who stands

in the market

>> and finds that the salary she earned

this month buys less than it did

>> last month. Ask me how I know. Honorable

members, it is because I have been on

the ground,

>> right? I have traveled the length and

breadth of this country

>> and I have reached into my own pockets

on numerous occasions to help many

people when the government failed them.

Oh my

>> fantastic.

>> Honorable Gail Tashiro.

>> Mhm.

>> You're present,

>> right? Why are you finding out about my

the little $298,770

monthly?

>> I had a lot of I had a lot of respect

for you, honorable Tisher.

>> Right.

>> But don't worry, every month I will

donate some money to you for cigarettes.

Don't worry.

You can see nobody disrespectfulness.

>> I listen to your speech.

>> How you can lie and say,

>> right?

>> Sorry, you can't use those words.

>> Mr. Speaker, did I hear a word that's

unpolarament?

>> Dishonest.

>> Withdraw. I withdraw that.

>> You better have. Thank you.

>> Yes.

>> You mentioned 98%.

>> Honorable member. Uh both words are on

parliamentary but more particularly for

me is the imputation

guided guided

>> you mentioned 98% of Gian

>> receiving water portable water

98%

is that true

continue sir. Don't let the pedophiles

distract me.

>> No one can distract me.

>> I went through the worst under the

people's progressive party

>> and that is why I will ensure

>> by the blessings of almighty god I work

every single day for the people of this

country for the voiceless

the oppressed

to get you out of power 2031.

Yes,

>> so I ask are these projections realistic

for ordinary citizens facing high cost

of living at a time when the recent IDB

stats I know you don't like to hear the

stats

>> 58%

58% of GE living in poverty and 32% in

object poverty Right.

>> Where in these figures do we see

betterment for the single parent,

>> the teacher,

>> the king cutters,

>> the fisherman,

>> the pensioner,

>> our indigenous people.

>> The honorable Sarah Brown is here.

Please do better for the indigenous

people.

>> Yes.

>> Please do better for them.

>> Because we will be on your backs every

day to ensure that you better the lives

of the indigenous people.

>> Growth that is felt only in boardrooms

and government reports is not growth.

Those connected to the PPP are the only

ones seemingly happy.

>> And even they are tired of the

dishonesty.

>> They are in my inbox complaining every

day.

>> Every day they're giving me information

as it relates to corruption.

>> Corruption.

>> Corruption.

>> Corruption.

>> Corruption.

>> Our priority should be the poor people.

that the rich can handle.

>> Our priority should be the poor people

in this country.

>> We're going to address that very soon,

very shortly.

>> We're going to address that very soon,

very shortly.

>> If the PPP

was so keen,

>> as it relates to this $191 billion, they

are claiming taxes.

Why they drop the charges?

>> Why did they drop the charges?

>> Honorable Kwami

back in 2018

when I used to bankroll the PPP. Your

leader told me don't leave the the money

withwami.

He told me don't leave the money with

honorable me.

>> Mr. Speaker, the government wants the

nation to believe that because the

budget is the largest in our history, it

will automatically produce the best

outcomes.

>> But bigger budgets

>> do not equal better lives. Right?

>> Ask the farmers, the youths, or better

yet, speak to the auxiliary staff in the

ministries.

>> A family can double its spending and

still fall deeper into debt

>> if priorities are wrong.

>> A country can triple its expenditure and

still leave its people struggling if

those monies are not properly spent.

Do the salaries of our frontline workers

and public servants increase relative to

the rising cost of living?

>> Mr. Speaker,

>> I wish to go back to standing.

>> Honorable member M. Shashira.

>> Yes. Thank you, sir. Uh 386.

A member shall not read his or her

speech except with the leave of the

speaker, but he or she may read excerpts

from books or papers in support of his

or her argument and may refresh his or

her memory by reference to news. Mr.

Speaker, I'm asking for you. This has

been raised several times in the House.

I'm raising it again. Thank you.

>> Thank you, Minister.

Honorable leader of the opposition, you

heard the uh point that the honorable

>> minister raise continue.

>> Thank you, sir.

>> I saw

I saw the high flip man in bellies

reading his speech.

I saw him reading his speech.

>> Honly the opposition, I think everyone

know who you're trying to talk about.

Please, please.

>> Okay.

We must ask ourselves, Mr. Speaker, how

callous are the members on the opposite

side of the house?

>> To stand boldfaced in this chamber and

present the biggest budget in the

history of this country, while more than

half of Guyana lives in poverty.

>> Amen. And there is still and there is

little to nothing to cushion the cost of

living or to ensure that the people of

this country can live better lives.

>> If parents must still choose between

medicine and school supplies,

>> then the size of this budget is an empty

boast.

>> Right.

>> Mr. Speaker, as Nelson Mandela reminded

the world, a nation should not be judged

by how it treats its highest citizens

but its lowest ones. Right.

Let that be the standard by which this

budget and the PPP government are

judged. The opposition does not oppose

development.

>> Mr. Speaker, 386. Again, the honorable

member is making no attempt to not read

his speech. He's a politician who has

won elections. He said that he won

109,000 votes. Mr. Speaker,

democracy.

>> Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, just give me a

second, please. 386 says, "A member

shall not read him.

Honorable Chief Whip for the opposition,

I think I'm well well

>> and while I might be the slowest person

in the room,

>> I I won't I don't I wouldn't mind some

lessons from you in interpretation.

>> Lady the opposition.

>> Thank you.

>> And let me remind the members of this

assembly that everybody had a forest

time.

>> Honorable to Sher who rose and stand in

order 386 during our first speaker's

presentation. Mr.

>> Parliament

>> even she had a first time.

>> Mr. Speaker, you stood in this house

once.

>> I want to remind the honorable members

he said he's new on the job. He's a new

kid in the block that under Derek Jagen

as speaker of the house we were not

allowed to read our speeches. Honorable

Honorable Minister Tisher, we you and I

know the rules well.

>> Honorable leader of the opposition. You

were speaking about the speaker's first

experience.

>> No, sir.

>> You were saying about my first

experience.

>> No. What I mentioned is even you had a

first time. We all had a first time.

>> Except my first time I think I ad

>> very nice. I like that.

>> Yes.

>> I like that.

>> Mr. Speaker, permit me a brief personal

reflection.

six-year-old Stacy Ross and her two

teenage sons from

Mo

were promised assistance

from the very members right in here.

>> Three honorable members promised to

assist her building a home.

>> She waited for months.

She's differently able and I'm happy to

know that I delivered

>> and build a house for her.

>> Although

although we have $900 million in the

budget for the men and mission program,

>> we got to ensure that these monies are

spent to uplift the lives of the people.

Someone take note take note

continue.

>> That said, when I stand in this

assembly, understand that I'm not here

to criticize without solutions. I am

force a humanitarian before I'm a

politician.

>> I am first a humanitarian before a

politician.

I am not here for the position, the

title, the ranks,

>> to sit in the Land Cruisers,

>> right, to live the big boy lifestyle.

>> I lived it and I know of it.

>> I lived it and I know of it.

And it is from these real stories, Mr.

speaker from standing face to face with

real people and real hardships that I

can confidently say this budget does not

benefit the people.

>> What this budget is designed to do is to

have big numbers on paper and then in

dark rooms billions of dollars are

siphoned off for kickbacks.

Ax is axe zulfikar susan vicram or batty

lion

referring to them.

>> Yeah.

>> This is why every single day with the

strength of almighty god I will ensure

that we highlight expose and scrutinize

public spending.

>> We will pay attention to how taxpayers

dollars are spent. and come next

elections, you will be out of office.

>> Mr. Speaker, when the members on the

opposite side of the house announce

another historical budget, I hope that

this budget would have been a turning

point from dependence and poverty to

empowerment.

>> Right?

>> This is not putting people first. This

is putting people last.

>> On these fronts, this budget falls

short. Painfully,

>> painfully.

I listen today. Honorable Mark Phillips.

>> No, that was painful.

>> You're failing us big time with GPL.

>> Every day blackout.

>> Every day blackout.

>> Just in region six residents call and

say blackout while you were speaking.

>> Lucky them.

They spite 40 to something billion

dollars a year for the power ships

>> for the rental every month and the fuel

something billion dollars.

>> When those power ships decide to leave,

>> what happened?

>> Oh my god. We done.

>> We done.

>> You promised 50%

>> 50% slash in the light bills

>> for last year up to now.

>> No decrease in the light bill.

>> Right.

Another year,

>> honorable Vicram,

>> remember in 2020,

>> you talkless story because you get

excited when I hear about gold,

>> right? Excitement. Remember in 2020, you

didn't know how much penny weights make

an ounce.

>> Remember, you didn't even know the gold

price and how to find the price. But I

know there's a forest time for

everything, sir. I know there's a first

thing for everything.

>> How we know how we know about it?

>> This country,

>> right?

>> We get a lot a lot of reports

>> in Mudi,

>> right?

>> The name I think the name Rodrio,

>> you got to look into that. Honorable

Vicram,

>> right?

>> I know the name rings a bell to you.

>> Let's go.

Let's go. We doing this.

>> License gold dealership

>> for 2025

declines steeply by 21.5%.

>> 121,000 ounces.

>> But when

>> but when I was in the business,

>> the declarations were higher.

>> Where is the gold going? Honorable

Vikram,

>> where is the gold?

>> Where is the gold going?

>> An average an average of2 billion US

>> leaking out of our banking system

>> causing a heavy rate right now. If you

go to the banks,

>> if you go to any one of the banks, you

can't get us.

>> Don't listen to them.

>> And the honorable Ashi knows very well

what I'm speaking about. Right?

>> If you go to the banks

>> for 20,000 wire transfer, you got to

wait 2 three weeks.

>> Right?

>> But when I was in operation, the banks

would call me midnight to ensure they

get a couple million US for the next

day.

>> Right?

>> So that is why we are facing a heavy

increase as it relates to the cost of

living in Guyana. But they won't tell

the honorable members in here about this

or the people.

>> They won't mention this.

>> And this is affecting the people big

time in this country.

You don't worry about that, sir.

>> Tens of billions.

>> You mentioned spent on roads

>> and look at the condition of the roads.

>> I would highlight it every week.

>> All right.

>> But we know where the money going.

>> When the contractors receive their

payment,

>> they're not doing nothing. No job as it

relates to maintenance of the roads.

>> That is it. You continue, sir.

>> Elections time. They don't want the

truth.

>> Prior to the elections, you went and

meet all these small miners. You give

them engines. You give them tarpolins.

You give them pumps. And in the other

hand, you shut down all the small

miners.

>> Right?

>> But at the end of the day, the small

miners are the lifeline

>> and the backbone of this mining economy.

>> We need the small miners.

>> The gold price is $5,000 an ounce,

>> right? You check if two billion US

dollars are coming back to the system.

>> Y'all withdraw $2.4 billion US dollars

from the NRF. Just imagine two billion

US dollars leaking out the system and

you guys are turning a blind eye.

>> Right.

>> God help poor people.

>> I know very well about the gold

business.

>> Exactly. Exactly.

>> And from 2015 to 2020,

>> right? From 2015 to 2020, the PBP

benefited the most from my business.

I could recall a story

>> back in 2019 2020.

A senior person on this side in

government

call me

>> and they mention

>> I want you to release a statement that

you're not providing security for the

big boys in the PPP. I said I can't do

that.

>> I said I can't do that. that that man is

my brother and I won't do that.

>> Do you know that the APNU never

victimized me for that? Although they

were in power,

>> never victimized me for that.

>> And I told them straight

>> I told them straight that man is my

brother. I assisted both parties as a

businessman but I cannot do that. All

right,

>> honorable members on this side

victimizing everyone that is supporting

the wind party.

>> Look, just recently on the highway,

>> just recently on the highway, a lady

went for a a house a house lot Julius

>> and they told her that she's a wind

supporter. She cannot get it. But I want

to thank um

>> the honorable Colin Cole. I think he

looked into the matter and everything

was sorted

>> right.

>> Yes.

>> That is it.

>> Was your friend sir? Your friend,

>> right?

>> Mr. McCoy, please have some decorum in

this house.

>> What is the heavy hatred about?

>> Let's go. Let's go.

>> Honorable Vicram, I would like you to

make lands available for the small

miners,

>> viable lands.

>> Ensure you focus on the small miners.

>> Huh?

>> You seize all the lands,

>> right?

>> Tell the people you seize all my mining

lands,

>> right?

>> You seize all the mining lands.

>> The gunmen are terrorizing the small

gold miners.

>> We got to ensure

The minister, honorable Onich, we need

to put systems in place as it relates to

security

for our small miners.

ly that oil and gas are propelled

development. Oil and gas are a catalyst

for developing other sectors. Guyana

produces 920,000

barrels of oil every day.

Record numbers and more than half of the

country live in poverty.

>> We were told by the honorable minister

that the oil revenue is managed by

parliamentary oversight.

But how are we going to be parliamentary

oversight when you guys controlling

everything?

>> Is that transparency and accountability?

>> The minister claims oil revenues are

protected because parliament approves

withdrawals from the NRF.

>> But parliamentary

approval under a government with a

built-in majority is no oversight.

>> No oversight.

All right, let's go.

>> Real oversight requires transparent

audits

>> done by internationally recognized for

firms,

>> right?

>> Not reports filter through the same

government withdrawing and spending the

money like there's no tomorrow.

>> At present, the same executive that

requests the money controls the vote,

the agencies, and the reporting system.

That is my

>> Where is the transparency?

>> Honorable Tashira,

>> I had a we had one of the biggest

business in this country,

>> right? We're all the banks depending on

me for foreign currency and also your

party too. So have some respect.

I don't know what is this. What is the

problem with her?

>> Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

>> Mr. Speaker, we are generating revenues

that previous generations could only

imagine.

>> Yet, this budget treats oil oil wealth

as routine income,

>> not as a transformational opportunity.

Win made it clear oil wealth must be

renegotiated, restructured and

redirected for across theboard national

benefit.

This budget does none of that. There is

no commitment to revisiting unfair

contracts. There is no clear strategy to

protect future generations from the

volatility of oil dependency.

>> Mr. Speaker, oil money spent without

reform is oil money wasted. And we see

that from the poor quality

infrastructure. This government is

heavily investing in new schools,

hospitals, and roads with alarming

structural defects mere months after

completion.

>> But we know why they like these big

infrastructural projects. We know why.

>> Oversight must be judged by outcomes. A

country earning billions should not have

communities begging for basic services.

the EITI that the honorable Vicramar

boast about at the end of the day there

is no transparency and accountability

there because all the records you have

to submit to the EITI

>> what's

>> the extractive industries extractive

sorry

>> yes

>> extractive industries transparency

institute

>> you learned something

Many resourceri countries are EITI

members and still suffer massive

exploitation

and Guyana must guard against such. The

minister boasted about transparency in

the oil and gas sector. But could the

minister tell us what the final cost of

the gas energy project is

>> and why they secretly settle a dispute

with a contractor without telling the

nation what that cost is?

Tell me

>> where is the report for the third audit

of Exxon Mobile

>> historical question

>> that audit reviewed over US 19.6 6

billion in expenses that Guyana must

pay.

>> Right.

>> Yet it is being hidden from Gian. Where

are the quarterly updates on the field

development plan?

>> Right.

>> The VP wants us to believe that the

reports were published. But when we

found out differently, he then said that

it doesn't need to be public

>> published public because the guy people

won't understand to read it. Hi.

>> But I know how to read it and I will

read it and analyze it for the gy

people.

>> The current system allows the government

to decide NRF withdrawals. The same

government to control information flow.

The same government appoints key

oversight officials. This concentration

of power is exactly what oil producing

nations are warning to avoid. Guyana

cannot risk repeating the resources.

Wealth for a select few and crumbs for

the majority of citizens.

>> Let me offer some solutions because they

are quick to say we criticize without

having any solutions.

>> Mr. Speaker, here is what real oversight

would look like for the approximately

3.25 25 billion USD sitting in the NRF

>> again.

>> Forensic audits published in full. A

truly independent NRF board with

opposition

>> with opposition of civil society

nominees.

>> Reestablish a petroleum unit with

specialists to provide oversight on the

FPS 24/7.

We want here but one man from natural

resource, a man from GR, one from the

Bureau of Standards.

>> We want a 247 service fully monitored.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Right.

>> Correct.

>> Additionally, many of the offshore

workers and the four FPSOs are being

unfairly treated.

>> Yes.

>> And if they dare speak up, they get

transferred or knocked off. Yet you

stand in this assembly to clap for

yourself under oversight you give to the

natural resources sector.

I love this.

>> The young PPP minister, the honorable

Koma,

who was ballsy enough to address wind

with disparaging remarks on bank

accounts right to speak

>> gloating in the victimization

of his master through prepared PPP

rhetoric.

Honorable, the same bank accounts.

The fellow members benefited so much

from them.

>> Mr. Speaker, the PPP ministers would be

happy to tell this assembly that

over,200 Gy businesses are covered by

the local content act. How much belongs

to those same PPP members?

>> The thing, man. Stand the thing, sir.

Stand the thing sir.

>> We got to see how much the shell

companies do.

>> Mr. Speaker, there are many gaps between

what was presented and the realities on

the ground.

>> All right.

>> Let us turn our attention to social

services.

>> Allow me to amplify the voice of my

colleague Honorable Natasha.

>> Mr. Speaker, this budget glorifies

social services as world class through

big spending without sensible reform. We

we propose in our manifesto an increase

in pensions, an increase in children's

cash grants, and modern and improved

hosts. We propose to build care homes,

special needs centers, and child care

facilities.

>> Not like the overpriced $94 million flat

building

>> at Anacrina, right?

>> But I'm happy since I visited there, the

building is finally open for the public.

big fanf fair, fancy headlines, ribbon

cutting ceremonies

before the elections. And yet that

building was there for months.

>> But our people, they are benefiting from

the building now.

>> Right. Thank God.

>> Let's go.

>> Yes sir.

>> Yeah. Because of it. Thank you.

>> Let's go.

>> They boast about having housing

programs. Well, housing must be treated

as an extension of good social services.

Housing and a livable wage are all

inseparable.

>> All right.

>> Housing without affordability cannot

provide shelter.

>> I could tell you a thing or two in this

regard. I have built many homes out of

my pocket.

>> Mr. Speaker, we the members of WIN

believe that this budget has plenty of

words and big numbers with heavy

misguided spending so that the elites on

Rob Street could get wealthier.

>> Against this backdrop, Mr. Speaker,

here's what a winning budget would have

done. Increase salaries for public

servants.

cut the cost of living by employing

several measures even if temporary while

we await the major projects to offer a

more fixed relief

>> measures like offering subsidies

>> on electricity. Honorable Phillips

on water across the board setting up

food banks even if it's to offer rice

flour oil and sugar to the poor and

needy. reducing fat

>> and starting a nationwide kitchen and

community garden project.

These are measures that should help one

to understand the plight of the people

and what is needed to ensure you put the

people first.

This and more could have been included

in this budget.

What we need to do, Mr. Speaker, is to

invest directly in people, not just

projects.

Many people still cannot afford food,

rent, transport, and utilities with

salaries alone. If a pensioner still

depends on family remittances or

informal work after an increase, that is

not major relief. It is survival

support.

>> In 2023, we had 73,000 pensioners.

And I'm using numbers presented to this

house by the honorable Ashnney Singh. In

2024, we had 76,000 pensioners, an

increase of 3,000.

And in 2025, just over 76,000

pensioners, no fixed number on the

increase, but in this year's budget,

Honorable Ash Singh said we have

approximately 95,000 pensioners. Where

did we find these new 19,000 pensioners?

Are we therefore implying that in the

year 1961

19,000 G were born?

>> Oh my.

>> Oh my.

>> One must question if these numbers are

accurate and where the money is going.

>> Right.

>> Can you live on the 46,000? Honorable

Phillips,

>> you said you're one of them.

>> Can you live on $46,000 a month, sir?

Yeah,

>> Mr. Speaker, while the PBP government

spent approximately 4.245

trillion from 2021 to 2025,

4 trill245

billion spent from 2021 to 2025. How did

it uplift the lives of the people?

>> Oh my god.

>> Pensioners received a pittance of

approximately $4,100 per year. And this

year the PBB comes to this house asking

us to support a mega 5,000 for our

pensioners.

>> Ridiculous.

>> That's ridiculous.

>> Is that putting people first?

>> Listen.

>> Listen. 5,000 is the increase.

>> 5,000.

>> Let's go.

>> $160.00.

I could recall

>> I could recall in Mashabo region 2 I

built a house for the oldest citizen

ever in this country 115 years of age

right when her family sent me the

pictures

how she used to live before

in deplorable inhumane conditions but

after all this is the uncaring

government we have to deal with the PPPC

See,

these are things that the PPP should

look into to better the lives of the

people of this country, especially our

centinarians.

I visited so much of recent and they all

complain that it's hard to survive on 4

to $1,000 a month.

>> What is required, Mr. Speaker, is a

different vision for Guyana. But some of

the honorable members are visionless.

This budget supports inequality. It

fuels frustration and it does not meet

our expectations. We on this side of the

house and thousands of win a new and

even PBP members refuse to support this

hardship. Guyana deserves a future where

prosperity is shared, not promised on if

the people behave well.

>> That's fire.

>> Not like the Eckles rally. If you behave

well, you're going to get this cash

grant.

of the country,

>> trick the entire country, but come 2031,

this not going to happen again.

Mr. Speaker, Guyana deserves a present

and future where dignity is guaranteed,

not negotiated. Mr. Speaker, the

interest of the members on this side of

the house is to serve the people, not to

lord over them,

>> but to serve them. And we will continue

to demand a budget that does the same.

There is little evidence that the 2025

social services measures provided any

transformation relief to citizens.

>> When I tell you, she

>> especially when you pay a visit to the

Palms or the Amarinian Hostel. I visited

so I know. Yes,

>> they act like the realities elude them.

Mr. Speaker, let the honorable members

address the declining birth rate in the

country.

>> Oh, wow.

>> Fewer women

>> are making babies in Guyana with 2025

recording the lowest birth rate in years

despite the introduction of the newborn

100,000 cash grant that takes months.

and their leader stood right here and

promised the mothers that they would

receive it before they leave the

hospital. I asked a few women why the

same song reverberates. The cost of

living is too high. You can't raise

children comfortably in this economy

with no proper social safety net.

Budget 2026 expanded spending in some

areas, but by how much? These social

services barely increased under the PPP

administration. Pension increased by a

mega 5,000. Wind proposed an increase in

pension to 100,000.

Public assistance went up from 22,000 to

25,000. WIN proposed an increase in

public assistance to 50,000.

From 2021 to 2025,

the PBP only increased public assistance

by $9,000.

>> Wow.

>> How can our differently abled people

survive?

>> Increases were not indexed against

inflation because they do not care. We

promised to reduce VAT from 14% to 10%.

Mr. Speaker, not only did we suggest a

meaningful reduction in VAT, but we also

propose a revision of the PAE and the

income tax thresholds to protect

worstinass families.

>> In our manifesto, we propose PA from 25%

to 20%. Right?

>> And the income tax threshold to 200,000.

But this uncaring government only

increased the income tax threshold to

$10,000 to 140.

>> Let's go.

>> Come on now. Let's go.

>> This uncaring government did not reduce

VAT. Right.

>> Instead of easing the burden on food,

utilities, school supplies, and

transportation, they remove VA on things

like new vehicles, hybrid SUVs, security

systems, jewelry, and high-end

furniture. Walk through our markets or

ask a normal man on the street. Speak

speak to

have some manners, please. Speak to

staff in your ministries and ask how

many of them can afford to buy new

vehicles,

>> upgrade their home,

>> right,

>> or buy jewelry.

>> These measures are more like gifts to

contractors and the rich than relief for

ordinary ges.

>> These tax measures favor luxury

purchases over daily necessities.

>> Mr. Speaker, you cannot claim to be

putting people first.

>> 386.

The honorable member is reading his

speech.

Thank you, Auntie.

>> Honorable member,

>> the campaign trail. You're going to hear

it. Don't worry.

>> On the campaign trail, you're going to

hear it.

>> You're going to hear it in the campaign

trail.

Our nearly 70,000 hardworking public

servants got nothing in this budget.

Absolutely nothing.

Not even a small salary increase, not a

bonus, nothing planned for them in this

year's biggest budget.

>> Right?

>> Nothing at all. On teachers day in 2025,

I can recall sitting in the botanical

gardens and the teachers complained

bitterly how hard it is to survive and

the pitons they're receiving.

>> Right.

Mr. Speaker, our public servants carry

this nation on their backs, but this

budget turns its back on them.

>> They come here and praise them with

words. Sell big dreams on the campaign

platform.

>> Sell big dreams on the campaign

platform.

>> Yes.

>> In turn,

>> they pay them with crumbs. This budget

brings no serious wage reform, no

consideration for rising food prices,

rent and transport, no answer to the

frustration in every ministry and every

police station. Wind's manifesto offered

a real solution. Structured wage

increases tied to productivity funded by

national growth and phased responsibly.

Because we understand this much. You

cannot demand first class service while

paying third class wages.

>> This budget forgets the working class.

But we will not. Mr. Speaker, after

infrastructure, which demands the

biggest portion of our budget, we have

education next demanding an allocation

of 183.6 billion.

Notwithstanding that in the last five

years from 2021 to 2025 we have expended

over 500 billion

over 500 billion to the Ministry of

Education

>> but in every region our schools have

plenty of problems. In every region we

have problems as it relates to our

schools.

Our education system is not properly

managed. The big C word we can't use

plagues the Ministry of Education.

>> And Mr. Speaker, I have highlighted and

assisted many schools with

inefficiencies in education.

>> My track record will show that act that

across nursery, primary and secondary

schools, I have reached into my own

pocket to assist students and teachers.

>> Mr. Speaker, again I raise 386. The

honorable member is making no attempt to

abide by the standing rules.

>> Honorable member, the standing rules,

the standing orders are quite clear

about reading.

>> So,

picking up the slack.

>> Picking up the slacks. Long before I was

elected leader of the opposition.

Honorable Paragon.

>> Honorable Parag, you need to ensure you

do better for our children.

28 years now the PPP in office and the

children of this country are forced to

use pit lines in schools. Bullying in

many of our schools across Guyana is

excessive. The school feeding program

needs a complete overhaul.

We have received so many complaints

about the meals and with the billion

spent to build these schools and dorms.

Many are way behind schedule and there

are visible structural defects within

months.

I urge the honorable parak to take a

walk up the road to the $700 million

rid dry weather school. Walk across on a

rainy day and you will see that the

school is leaking.

Another rush project. Another example of

mismanagement.

>> Honorable member, two things.

it. The honorable minister said the roof

was not leaking in this house. That a

tap was left on

and

>> that tap

that tap was left on between the roof

and the floor.

Right.

>> So to accuse

>> the honorable

minister of not doing anything about a

leaking roof is not accurate.

>> Guided sir.

>> And then the second thing is uh

>> look at the reading because it's obvious

from here.

>> Yes sir.

>> You don't have to read everything that

Chris

Our honorable members on the other side

of the house want to talk about putting

people first.

>> These are some of the issues you need to

address if you truly want to put our

people first.

>> Address bullying and blunt violence

among our students and even physical

assault. metal outer teachers. A senior

female teacher at Charity Secondary

School in region 2 was brutally

assaulted by a grade nine male student

on June on January the 22nd, 2026.

>> Address the unstable electricity supply

in schools at Kurukuru Nursery and

Blackwater Primary in the Bereimma

River.

>> Address the bat and pigeon infestation

in schools, namely the Zeberg Secondary

School and Port Kauma Nursery School.

All right.

All right.

>> Work on fixing schools of our dear

Amarinian children like the dangerous

dilapidated China nursery and primary

schools.

The Chinoing school.

Some schools in the hintterland that

should have dormitories are still

waiting to see them built. Though the

contracts were awarded awarded to

>> though they were awarded a lot of them

unfinished.

>> Oh my god.

>> Parents must send their children to live

with relatives or keep them home.

>> Teachers sharing beds at the home of

another teacher because the living

quarters they were given is not fit for

humans.

allocate more space for sports and

recreation for many of our schools that

are woefully lacking.

>> The because we care cash grant

>> $200,000

>> before the elections

>> in Lemm was promised

>> to the 206,000

children across this country. And now

you come to this honorable house

>> to give us $85,000.

>> To give us $85,000

>> $85,000. What happened? You promised

$200,000.

>> $200,000 you promised the children.

>> Mr. Speaker, as if enough mess was not

made at Ministry of Education,

>> they picked up this very member and put

her in a corner at local government. The

Ministry of Local Government is asking

us to spend 2 billion to upgrade

markets. But in 2025, the Ministry of

Local Government expenditure was 41.9

billion with over 2.7 billion approved

for upgrades to border and other

markets.

>> So, we must ask where is the money

going?

Mr. Speaker, the honorable prayer

>> is wrong and about the markets taking

pictures without addressing the issues.

>> It is like putting band-aid on a womb

>> that needs to be cleaned and dressed

properly.

>> I have visited both markets and they are

poorly maintained and remain the same.

>> Poorly maintained and remain the same.

We need to desilt the drains. We need to

ensure the washrooms are working.

>> Right?

>> The vagrants are taking over the market.

>> Right?

>> So these are the things we have to focus

on.

>> Drainage is a mess.

>> Drainage is a mess.

>> Drainage.

>> Last year billions were budgeted for

solid waste management. Yet garbage bins

were overflowing in the city.

>> This year again the big spender comes

for more billions.

Mr. Speaker, the PB cabinet is uncaring.

How a minister could try to convince us

that chocolates from humble beginnings

can have you buy houses abroad and build

mansions at home? The average chocolate

vendor would be lucky to get one of the

core homes they are building. And

according to the honorable member

Duncan, your bath towel is a wallto-wall

carpet in some of the homes they are

giving. But they do not care. I keep

saying their priorities are misaligned.

The honorable member can find time to

address me so often,

>> can find time so often to address me,

>> but can't sort the things out for the

common man on the road.

A city that looks neglected is not just

an aesthetic failure. It adversely

affects tourism. Tourism is built on

first impressions.

Visitors remember how a place looks when

a vlogger films overflowing garbage bins

and stagnant waste in downtown

Georgetown

>> and highlights it for an international

audience. That message becomes the image

of our country to millions of potential

visitors.

>> Infrastructure without cleanliness is

like building a showroom with broken

windows. But, Mr. Speaker, if we want to

put people first, we will redirect our

energies to ensuring the trillions we

are spending are spent wisely and people

in every sector are getting a part of

the pie.

>> Mr. Speaker, I choose to d the sad state

of public infrastructure in this country

as expensive incompetence. Mr. Speaker,

under public infrastructure, a whopping

196.1 billion has been earmarked to

expand and rehabilitate the country's

road and bridges.

>> The largest single transport

infrastructure component of the 2026

budget, another installment for the big

boys. When the government chooses to

hand out road and bridge contracts to

their friends and family instead of

awarding the contracts based on merit,

what we are left with is not quality

infrastructure. We are given

infrastructure that is unable to stand

up to the test of time.

This government touts a 2026 budget in

which over 50% reflects expenditure on

capital works boasting about providing

transformational infrastructure. World

class infrastructure. What world-class

infrastructure are we talking about? Is

it miles upon miles of road

infrastructure plagued by shoddy work

requiring massive repairs just a few

years after they were newly constructed?

Lyndon Tquani, our children can't go to

school. Kumaka to to Corbano. Honorable

Sarah Brown, please let your husband

look into this. I heard he's the

contractor.

Roads built today, break up tomorrow,

bridges built today. I just want to

interject about the standing order

people who are not here. I don't know

who is the contractor, but whoever is

the contractor, they're they're not in

this house.

>> Guided

>> poor planning, poor quality

infrastructure, poor outcomes, and the

sea. Well, Mr. Speaker, you b that word

from the parliament.

>> Mr. Speaker, this government's

incompetence is expensive, a burden that

our ordinary GY brothers and sisters are

forced to shoulder.

>> To the honorable Edgel, what you need to

do is simple. Allow the process of

awarding contracts at the tender board

to function as it should, transparently

so that qualified contractors and as far

as possible, local contractors get a

fair chance to qualify for these

projects.

Very soon, very shortly, we will address

the CEO of the tender board.

>> Playgrounds and recreational spaces,

>> Mr. Speaker, this assembly cannot ignore

the state of our nation's playgrounds

and recreational grounds

>> across Guyana.

>> Even recreational spaces for our

children and youth to go play gets named

among the big sea.

The honorable VP has repeatedly spoken

about the importance of recreational

centers and community grounds. Yet, they

are being sold to friends, families, and

favorites.

To this end, I l the efforts of my

colleague, Honorable Odessa Primers for

debunking the myths that all is well

over at the Ministry of Culture, Youth,

and Sports.

I highlighted so many problems with

community grounds, and the list keeps

getting longer. We have cows in these

community grounds.

>> Almost most of the community grounds in

this country.

>> Most of the community grounds in this

country. We got grass taller than me.

>> We need spaces for our children for for

the families in these communities to go

in the afternoon when they come home