By Abena Rockcliffe
The lone wolf on APNU+AFC’s side of the House to admit, thus far, that Budget 2024 includes “good” measures to promote growth and development in Guyana, is Region 10’s Jermaine Figueira who made his contribution yesterday to the ongoing debates. However, his candor on the positivity highlighted in the government’s plan was tempered by his ridicule about the approach to human empowerment, especially in the context of the needs of ordinary Guyanese in a climate characterized by steadily increasing cost of living.
Figueira therefore called on the government to adjust its “staying the course-posture” to accommodate initiatives that will empower citizens to create inter-generational wealth.
He said adjusting the course of Budget 2024, is necessary to make real, President Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ dream. According to Figueira, a Guyana that is on a true journey to oneness would see a government that guarantees reasonable increases for public servants so as to make an actual impact on their lives. He said that a Guyana that seeks to secure oneness would capture a reality where the masses experience personal growth that does not span so far off from the surreal and unprecedented growth of the country’s economy.
Figueira noted that Budget 2024 has established itself not only as the largest in Guyana’s history, but the one which shatters the trillion-dollar ceiling “with a mindboggling 46% increase over last year’s.” With that noted, Figueira then questioned, “But how does this record translate, in real terms, for the people.”
The Lindener told the House, “Most would agree that a picture tells a thousand words. I put it to you that the very cover of the budget speech tells a story, a story that encapsulates many unanswered questions of Budget 2024.” The picture referenced by Figueira is one that captures government’s transformational infrastructural development, it is the roundabout that connects Heros Highway, the big ticket infrastructure that was named in honour of the soldiers who perished in the helicopter crash last year.
Many times, in the past, the covers of budget speeches were decorated with the faces of Guyanese children. Figueira’s position is that the focus, even on the cover of the speech, on infrastructural development highlights his point about neglect for the ordinary man.
He questioned, “What is in it for the ordinary man, the small man? What is in it to immediately provide some relief and comfort to one’s life, in the context of the skyrocketing cost of living?”
Figueira said that while the budget has commendable measures, it is void of an actual plan to alleviate the struggles of the poor and vulnerable. He said that if the focus can be shifted to accommodate that, a good budget will be made much better.
