Budget 2026 is being framed not simply as a financial plan, but as a development agenda rooted in human rights, constitutional obligations and international commitments, according to Gail Teixeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.
In a statement issued following the presentation of the $1.558 trillion national budget, Teixeira said the 2026 estimates represent “a profound addition” to the PPP/C Government’s record of advancing dignity, opportunity and well-being.
She said the budget is grounded in “a human rights-based approach to development.”
“This year’s Budget again places our citizens at the centre of national development,” Teixeira said.
She added that the measures are designed not only to sustain economic growth, “but to ensure that growth translates into improved livelihoods, better access to services, and enhanced quality of life across our ten administrative regions.”
Teixeira stressed that Budget 2026 supports the “respect, protection, and fulfilment of fundamental human rights,” including the rights to education, health, housing, social protection, clean water, food security, cultural life and equal opportunity.
“These investments align with our constitutional obligations, reflect our commitments under regional and international human rights instruments, and show that development and human rights can be mutually reinforcing,” she said.
According to the minister, targeted allocations for persons living with disabilities, children, women, the elderly, and Amerindian and hinterland communities reflect a governance approach “rooted in inclusion and equity.”
She said these measures are intended to ensure that “no community is left behind.”
Teixeira also linked investments in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy and infrastructure to the right to development and the right to work.
She noted that these initiatives are aimed at creating jobs, expanding economic opportunities and increasing the involvement of women and youth.
At the level of governance, Teixeira said the Government continues to build “a State that is capable, accountable, and responsive to the genuine needs of citizens,” with technology playing an important role in improving access to services and information.
She said Budget 2026 provides the resources needed to strengthen Guyana’s national reporting mechanisms, including the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-Up, the National Coordinating Committee and the National Stakeholders Forum, in keeping with the country’s international reporting obligations.
“Budget 2026 is therefore more than the sum of its investments and measures,” Teixeira said.
“It expresses a vision for a Guyana where a dynamic economy is paired with social progress, where infrastructure development is paired with human development, and where the benefits of growth reach citizens in every region.”
Urging Guyanese to assess the budget through the lens of everyday life, Teixeira said development must be “personal, measurable, and centred on our own dignity as human beings.”
She added that the Government will continue to “put people first” in its policies and programmes.
