By Mark DaCosta-In a move that has stirred fresh waves of criticism on social media and on the streets, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government returned to the National Assembly last Friday to request an additional $57.5 billion in public funds, barely three months after securing parliamentary approval for its record-breaking $1.3 trillion national budget.
The request, presented by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, is being positioned as necessary to advance the administration’s developmental agenda. However, critics argue it is yet another indication of poor fiscal planning and questionable spending priorities by a government already flush with unprecedented oil revenues.
The minister said that the bulk of the requested funds, $29.8 billion, is earmarked for expanding electricity infrastructure under the Office of the Prime Minister. Officials claim this will address ongoing issues in reliability and affordability, especially through the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and in remote communities disconnected from the national grid. This includes areas like New Forest and hinterland villages that are set to receive solar panels. Yet questions persist over the transparency and efficiency of previous energy projects, many of which have failed to significantly alleviate power outages or high consumer costs.
An additional $12 billion is being sought by the Ministry of Housing and Water to further accelerate the government’s ambitious housing agenda. According to the administration, this injection will be crucial to help achieve the goal of distributing 50,000 house lots by the end of 2025. However, this same ministry was already granted over $112 billion earlier this year, raising concerns over whether the initial allocations were ever realistically budgeted, or simply used as political optics during the budget debates.
In the realm of public infrastructure, the government is now asking for $4.9 billion to enhance road networks, of which $2.9 billion will continue already launched works. Notably, $1.5 billion is designated for hinterland roads, $1.4 billion for farm access paths, and $2 billion to fortify river and sea defences. These projects, while vital, fall under a ministry that had already been granted over $209 billion at the beginning of the year. Such redundancy underscores fears of budget inflation with little to show in tangible results across many rural and coastal communities.
Also included in the supplementary ask is $3 billion more for the continuation of a cash grant programme that distributes $100,000 to eligible citizens. While the government maintains this is part of its wider social protection efforts, critics argue that it is being used more as a populist tool than a sustainable economic measure, particularly in light of persistent inflation and a rising cost of living.
Supplementary funding, by definition, refers to additional budgetary allocations that governments seek after the passage of the main national budget. These are typically justified for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. However, what is becoming increasingly evident under the current administration is a recurring trend of premature budget exhaustion followed by massive follow-up requests — revealing what many see as either chronic underestimation or deliberate obfuscation of true spending needs. In either case, the implications are troubling. The government’s request for a supplementary allocation of over $57 billion — just three months after celebrating a trillion-dollar budget — raises urgent questions about transparency, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility.
Citizens are being asked to trust a government that appears to struggle with basic budgetary discipline, even in an era of unprecedented national wealth.