Pres. Ali raps Opposition for claiming Budget 2026 has nothing for the ordinary Guyanese

President Dr Irfaan Ali has rapped members of the Parliamentary Opposition who are claiming that Budget 2026 has nothing for the ordinary Guyanese.

In a live broadcast on Thursday, President Ali contended that successive budgets of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) have translated to significant benefit for citizens of all backgrounds.

He reminded that it was a “PPP/Civic Budget that removed more than 200 taxes from your lives that were imposed by the APNU+AFC government”.

Additionally, he reminded that it was a PPP/C budget that removed VAT on electricity and water that was imposed by the previous APNU+AFC administration.

“It was a PPP/Civic [budget] that reduced the water rate that was increased under the APNU+AFC government…It was a PPP/C [budget] that returned the ‘Because We Care’ grant that was taken away from your children under the APNU+AFC government. It was a PPP/C that reversed land rental charges and increased D&I fees that was imposed upon you by the APNU+AFC government,” the Head of State added.

Budget 2026, he emphasised, is no different.

“To say that the budget has nothing for the ordinary Guyanese is to ignore the measures that are clearly outlined in the budget speech. Either the opposition, either the parrots did not read or listen carefully to the presentation by the Minister of Finance or they’re deliberately misleading our nation,” President Ali contended.

Delving into some of the budget provisions that will benefit citizens of all backgrounds, the President referred to the move to increase the low-income mortgage ceiling to $30 million.

“Who does this benefit? Low-income homeowners, middle-income homeowners, young professionals who can now borrow a loan of $30 million and have the same rate applied as low-income. How does this not translate into benefit? When persons own their own homes, when you have the security of your own home, collateral that can be used to accelerate wealth creation,” he outlined, reminding that of housing improvement subsidy of $7.5 billion that will directly support the housing needs of the vulnerable segment of the population.

President Ali also pointed to the reduction of VAT on various types of vehicles, which every citizen can benefit from. “Why do you think an entire series is completed in three months now? Because we have made it easier for the ordinary family to own a vehicle,” he posited.

Budget 2026 reduces vehicle import costs by removing VAT on new vehicles under 1500cc (less than four years old) and hybrid vehicles under 2000cc. Additionally, all VAT and import duties on All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and outboard engines up to 150 horsepower are eliminated.

President Ali also reminded that citizens from all backgrounds will benefit as Budget 2026 also extends the freight cost adjustment measure for another year, from January 1 to December 31, 2026. This measure aims to counteract inflationary pressures on imported goods by maintaining freight charges at pre-spike levels for customs valuation purposes, preventing increased shipping costs from affecting consumers on essential items.

Furthermore, he highlighted that households with children stand to gained from the increase in the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and the introduction of the school transportation grant, which when coupled with the uniform voucher, will see every student getting $85,000. He also reminded that the government is now paying for student’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations, further removing that burden from parents.

He added that the increase in the income tax threshold to $140,000 will further benefit all working individuals. “That will put more money in our workers pockets. These are measures that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars,” the President noted.

“And I’m not adding all the measures that we’re going to continue that we started in 2020. Who benefits? It is the Guyanese people,” he affirmed.