Private Sector consulted on Budget 2026

Jan 18, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Saturday met and engaged with leading representatives of the private sector at the Ministry of Finance.

The engagement allowed representatives of the private sector to raise and discuss issues of interest as government intensifies preparations for Budget 2026.

Senior representatives of the Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry Guyana, Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Ltd., Guyana Association of Bankers, and Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association attended the meeting.

Also joining the engagement was the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Mr. Godfrey Statia, and a team of senior officials from the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance in a statement said that Dr. Singh reassured the representatives of private sector that the government is committed to maintaining an environment that is conducive to increased private investment, job creation, and income generation.

“We want more people working, earning, accumulating savings, and wealth, investing and prospering,” Dr. Singh was quoted as saying while assuring attendees that the government is committed to doing all that is necessary to ensure that Guyana remains an attractive destination for diversified private investment.

The private sector representatives expressed appreciation for the government’s continued engagement and recognized the government’s efforts to drive economic transformation and foster a more competitive business environment, the ministry said in its statement.

The private sector bodies also reiterated its commitment to working with the government to continue developing the country’s economic potential.

This year’s Budget will be the first Budget presented to the Parliament following the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s (PPP/C’s) re-election to office.

Meanwhile, last week Kaieteur News reported that the government is yet to engage the opposition parties on this year’s budget. Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton on Friday told reporters that while his party has not been engaged on the budget, he is certain that the skewed allocation of resources will continue.

He explained, “The fundamental problem we face is the skewed allocation of resources, into programs and projects that allow family, friends and favorites to get rich.”

Norton believes that a change in this pattern would be difficult, adding that this year’s budget is not likely to be produced on equity. According to him, this means, that those with less in the population would get less while those getting more are likely to benefit from more.

“They are going to continue down the same road that they have been going. And so, I can say to you, I didn’t expect them to consult us, because if they consult us, we will put to them the things we have in our manifesto, which is based on putting the people first,” the former Opposition Leader said.

Norton argued that while the government has a tendency of refusing to consult, it has been implementing a number of policies proposed by the party in its manifesto.

“A number of things they are doing now came from our manifesto and so, they have this tendency to reject what you see, or not comment on it, but then go and bring it under a different name or approach. I expect them to do that again,” he noted.

Further, he argued that the government lacks ideas and is instead focused on ensuring resources flow to themselves and associates.

To this end, he pointed out, “They can only become involved in meaningful consultation if they are prepared to make the changes, and to ensure that Guyana is governed in a way that the resources from Guyana go to a wide cross section of the Guyanese society.”

Norton is adamant that this year’s budget will not address poverty in a holistic manner, as this would not serve the interest of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).  He reasoned that a number of recommendations so far made by the party have been ignored by government. Consequently, he said, “I expect the same old budget.”

Likewise, Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party Azruddin Mohamed told this publication that his party has not been consulted on crafting the fiscal plan.

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• Azruddin Mohamed, Budget 2026, Consultations, Dr. Ashni Singh, Private Sector, We Invest in Nationhood

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