Edghill defends $1.5T budget

Feb 03, 2026 News

…says infrastructure will “transform lives”

(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill on Monday mounted a robust defence of the government’s $1.558 trillion 2026 National Budget, insisting it is designed to address national challenges while improving the lives of ordinary Guyanese.

Speaking during the opening day of the budget debates at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Edghill the first government Member of Parliament to take the floor said the budget deliberately channels resources toward working families, small businesses.

Noting that the budget balances growth with fairness and opportunities with inclusion, he expressed that it is a well thought-out people oriented, pro-poor, service oriented, development focused budget with an aim to achieve a united and prosperous Guyana.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

When this year’s budget was presented last week Monday, Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and newly elected Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed, condemned the 2026 National Budget as “top-heavy” and disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Guyanese.

He had said, “The budget reflects heavy infrastructural works which means hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts. This is the fastest way they can get their kickbacks. Right away the people of this country they are not benefiting from this budget. This budget motto is putting people first but reflects a totally different theme.”

In defending his government’s $1.558 trillion budget on Monday, Edghill said, “What would we be doing with this money because we hear that people are complaining how the budget is heavy on infrastructure, it is because they don’t take the time to link how infrastructural development will benefit the individual.”

He noted that his Ministry has been allocated $227Billion in budget 2026, with a capital expenditure of $212 billion and this represents about 27% of the total capital budget which is $779 billion.

Speaking on some of the “infrastructural development” his government undertaken that “transformed lives”, Edghill noted of the US$260 million Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge which links Region Three and Four that was commissioned last year. He noted of the new Heroes Highway on the East Bank of Demerara, and “Ask the people who use the Ogle to Eccles interlink that is now moving onto Providence, with a direct link to the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, how investment in infrastructure is making a difference in their lives.”

The minister mentioned that the new airstrips the government completed in the hinterland, and the additional of new ferry vessels have brought down the cost of living for the people in these areas.

“When we bring down the cost of transporting food, it means that the cost of living in the area goes down, when we put more ferries, we bring down the cost of shipping cargo and ensure that food is available to those regions, and we could get their products to the market to enhance their economic advantage,” he stated. The minister also highlighted in his presentation, the other “transformative” developments taking place in sectors like health, education, water, tourism and agriculture and those they intend to execute this year.

“I want to tell you that budget 2026 supports transport infrastructure, and it responds to the various challenges that it that exists,” he explained. Highlighting the various social measures, Edghill boasted that the PPP/C government “we don’t add burdens, we add benefits.” “Minister Singh, team PPP/C, I support budget 2026 and I call upon all members of this assembly and all of Guyana to support this budget that is putting people first and will bring about real transformation in Guyana and make this country a better place,” he concluded.

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