Among the first set of salvos fired in the government’s direction this afternoon by opposition member, Jermaine Figueira was a shot at the popular initiative that will see Guyanese mothers collecting $100k from the government upon delivery of a baby.
When Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh read Budget 2025, this measure was one that gained immediate popularity, especially on social media. Guyanese seemed to embrace the initiative with many suggesting, perhaps jokingly, that they are eager to benefit from the budgetary measure. Others however posited that that a one off $100k cannot do much for mothers in the grand scheme of things.
The initiative was brought to the fore by Figueira as he sought to highlight that many budgetary measures announced by Dr. Singh are “cosmetic”, and void of the ability to address the structural challenges facing Guyana’s economy, public sector, and social services.
Addressing the Speaker, Figueira said, “the one-off $100,000 cash grant for pregnant women, which is being touted as a grand gesture, is nothing more than a political maneuver designed to appeal to voters in an election year.” He said that the policy is one that fails to address the root causes of the real challenges facing women and families in Guyana, such as access to quality healthcare, nutrition, and comprehensive maternal support.
Figueira said that instead of investing in areas that can truly help families, the PPP/C government remains hell bent on focusing in infrastructural projects.
The opposition MP asserted, “It is disheartening to note that the government’s focus continues to be on physical infrastructure projects, while the primary and fundamental needs of our citizens are left unaddressed.” He added that the government’s emphasis on new roads, while necessary, will not address the immediate struggles of families who cannot afford the basic necessities.
He added, “The policies in this budget do not reflect a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted issues that people face. Instead of symbolic gestures, we need comprehensive policies that directly impact the lives of our people, policies that focus on the delivery of quality healthcare, improved nutrition, job creation, food security, and poverty alleviation in a safe Guyana.”
Figueira said that a balanced, inclusive, and forward-thinking budget should be one that meets the aspirations of all Guyanese, addresses their immediate and long-term challenges, and sets a course for sustainable development. Unfortunately, he said, Budget 2025 falls short in many areas, and fails to address the core issues facing the majority of the citizenry.
Figueira told the House that the priorities in Budget 2025 need readjusting to achieve a secure prosperous and sustainable Guyana.
