Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand on Thursday pushed back against claims that Guyana’s current development and social programmes are driven solely by oil revenues, arguing instead that “political will” and a “love for people” have always been the foundation of major initiatives.
Contributing to the ongoing 2026 budget debates in the National Assembly, Manickchand said the government’s approach to development predates the oil era and should be viewed in that context.
“Mr. Speaker, we keep hearing in this House about oil money and oil giving us the ability to do what we’re doing right now. And the only reason we could do what we’re doing for the people of Guyana is because we have oil,” she said, before adding, “If we want to build Guyana, if we want to make people’s lives better, if we want to put people first, we have to begin with political will. We have to begin with a love for people. And we have to be willing to work hard.”
The minister pointed to decisions taken by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government in the 1990s and 2000s, noting that they were made at a time when Guyana was a heavily indebted poor country without oil revenues.
“When the People’s Progressive Party Civic came to office in 1992, this was a heavily indebted poor country, HIPC… In 1992, sir, without oil… Dr. Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party took a decision that they were going to give every single old-age person their pensions when before you had to be a card-carrying member of the PNC to get it. We didn’t have oil. We had the will and we loved old people,” she said.
Manickchand also referenced the introduction of the uniform voucher programme in 2006, which she said emerged from consultations with citizens.
“In 2006, Mr. Speaker, we didn’t have oil. When we started the uniform voucher… people said… we’re finding it a little hard to put our children in uniforms and give them lunch kits. And he said, we’re going to introduce the uniform voucher program,” she told the House.
She noted that the programme later became universal in 2014. “Will, political will, love for people, and the desire to see your country grow. That is what the PPPC brings,” she said.
Turning to criticism of current cash grant programmes, Manickchand reminded that the then APNU/AFC opposition removed support for children while increasing other budgetary spending.
“As soon as the APNU/AFC got into office, a program that was introduced by the PPP/C to give children $10,000 was collapsed. You said you couldn’t afford it… You took that away, snatched it from the hands of parents who needed it,” she said.
She added, “What he says is that the 5Bs program was superior, so what I want the parents of this country to know is that if the PNC ever got their hands on power again, they are taking away your Because We Care cash. They’re taking it away.”
