‘We have 5 years to fulfill our commitments’ – Pres. Ali

Emphasising that Budget 2026 remains true to its theme of ‘Putting People First’, President Dr Irfaan Ali reminded critics that his administration has a five-year mandate to deliver on all the commitments outlined in its manifesto.

Aimed at building a modern and prosperous Guyana with opportunities for all, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has presented a $1.558 trillion Budget 2026, featuring tax incentives across multiple sectors, higher thresholds, housing subsidies, and measures to ease the cost of living.

This marks the first budget of the Dr Irfaan Ali–led administration following its re-election in September 2025.

While many welcomed the measures in the government’s fiscal plan, some critics have claimed there is a mismatch between certain budget provisions and the party’s campaign commitments.

For instance, some have pointed out that President Ali promised to increase the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for students to $200,000, inclusive of a new transportation grant.

In Budget 2026, each student will now benefit from $85,000, following the increase of the grant to $60,000, the introduction of a $20,000 transportation grant, and the $ 5,000 uniform voucher.

In a live broadcast on Tuesday, President Ali reminded that his administration was elected to serve for another five years, and during that term, it will deliver on all its commitments made to the people.

“We have five years. The naysayers believe that we have six months or one year. You elected us for five years to fulfil or surpass our commitment. And I assure you that we will do just that. Together, we are going to do great things,” the Head of State noted.

This point was also highlighted by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in a live broadcast on Monday evening.

“This is just the first installment of the commitment that PPP/C would have made,” he contended, highlighted the gradual increase of the “Because We Care” cash grant during the last five years, in keeping with the party’s commitment during the 2020 elections.

“We moved from $10,000 to $15,000 in the first installment, but we closed at 2025 with it being $50,000,” Edghill outlined.

Referring to the increases catered for in Budget 2026, he explained that “this first installment, we are adding an additional $10,000, which will take it to $60,000, the $5,000 uniform grant and the $20,000 transportation grant will take it up now to $85,000…So we got 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 to fulfill a series of commitments at a particular ceiling that was proposed in our manifesto that we promised the people.”