The National Budget, from all indications, will be pro-working class...

the  working class budget will be prepared on March 30

Mar 30 will seperate those who are concern with the Welfare of the Guyanese People from those who are Neemakarams!!!!

On March 30 a working class budget will be presented in the National Assembly, which deserves the support of all...

 None of the PPP pork and backroom deals will be funded. They better learn as the Scandinavians that they have to sit down and hammer out issues as a combined national entity with the Opposition or they will be screwed. The few thousand defections will turn into a stampede away from their autocratic rule.

Every year the latest budgetary allocations is towards the social sector....that is of benefit to the working class

 Guyana does not have a patrician/bourgeois class except as is represented in the rise of the fatted calves in the PPP from gluttonous slurping at the nations teat.

All of Guyana is working class. The budget will deserve support if it is transparent and if it is bereft of the usual pork and slush accounts.

As of every year.....the 2012 budget will be pro-working class

It cannot be otherwise so no need for the old communist verbiage. Only the PPP are the bourgeois and their need to inform us they got our backs is simply to gull us into complacency. We need to know all the nuts and bolts so there can be no Fip or no new Pradoville or excessive pensions or bail out of PPP kith and kin.

The largest sum of the budget goes to the social sector

(Excerpts from the 2011 Budget)

Investment in People

a. Education.

2010

 Government expended a sum of $21.8 billion over the last year in the sector.

 The National School Feeding programme which cost over $900 million and benefited more than 63,000 students.

 The National School Uniform Assistance Programme which benefited over 200,000

 $923 million was expended on construction works at 2 new technical institutes in Regions 3 and 5, along with the procurement of furniture, tools, and equipment for all institutes,

 $129 million was expended on the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme implemented in 18 additional secondary schools.

 $875 million has been expended on teacher education towards the operations and renovation works at the Cyril Potter College, which added a total of 364 trained teachers to the education system in 2010.

 $2.4 billion was also expended in 2010 towards the maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities throughout Guyana

 78 information technology laboratories were completed at primary and secondary schools

2011

 $24.3 billion has been allocated towards the continued successful implementation of the National Education Strategic Plan in 2011

 US$4.2 million Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project of which $200 million is budgeted for 2011

 $919 million has been budgeted for teacher training towards the medium term target of achieving 70 percent trained teachers in the system by 2013.

 Work has commenced and will continue during 2011 on the design of a US$10 million project to strengthen the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana as a permanent academic and research institutional

 University of Guyana has been allocated $769 million towards the operations and maintenance of the Turkeyen and Tain campuses.

 $450 million has been provided for student loans.

 The National School Feeding programme has been allocated over $1 billion and will continue to deliver a snack to every student in all nursery schools and grades 1 and 2 of primary schools.

 School Uniform Assistance Programme will continue to be implemented in 2011, and will see every school child provided with one school uniform during the year.

 $1.6 billion has been budgeted for technical vocational education and include the completion of construction works at the vocational centres in Regions 3 and 5, the construction of a student dormitory at Essequibo Technical Institute.

 $2.8 billion has been allocated for the continued maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities countrywide.

b. Health

2010

 Government expended $13.4 billion in 2010 towards the implementation of the National Health Sector Strategy 2008-2012.

 $1.3 billion was expended for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health care facilities in 2010.

 Over $280 million was expended on training, while more than 150 new health workers entered the public health sector contributing to improved doctors and nurses’ population ratio.

2011

 $14 billion has been allocated to the health sector

 Government has budgeted to inject $345 million into training activities, which will provide for an additional 250 professional nurses being trained and 140 clinical and technical staff, while over 280 students in various health disciplines are currently in training across the various schools.

 1 billion has been budgeted for the construction and maintenance of health sector buildings and infrastructure nationwide

 Storage bond in Diamond will be completed in 2011

 $235 million has been budgeted for the completion of the GPHC inpatient facility. Additionally, facilities at Enmore Polyclinic, West Demerara Hospital, Leguan, and Oscar Joseph District Hospitals will be upgraded.

c. Housing

2010

 Over $9.6 billion was expended in the housing sector in 2010

 Allocated of 6,331 house lots as well as the distributed 4,591 land titles surpassing our targets of 5,500 house lots and 3,750 land titles

 $343.7 million was expended over the last year for the successful completion of a $2.2 billion housing project which has realised the construction and upgrading of roads, drains and structures benefiting 4,636 lots in areas such as Cummings Lodge C&Y, Sophia, Westminster, Belle West, Glasgow and Onderneeming.

 $680 million was spent on the construction of roads, drains and structures in areas such as Block 8 Mon Repos, Plantation Schoonord, Anna Catherina, Hope Estate

2011

 $3.6 billion is allocated to the housing sector to facilitate the development of housing schemes which is expected to result in the allocation of 7,500 house lots and the processing and distribution of 4,000 land titles.

 $700 million will be spent on improving the road network and water distribution systems to the benefit approximately 1,500 households.

 Under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme, 148 core houses are expected to be completed

d. Water

2010

 $3.4 billion was expended in the water sector

 Completion of the water treatment plants at Lima, Vergenoegen, Cotton Tree, Central Ruimveldt, Sophia and Corriverton benefiting over 100,000 persons with improved water quality.

 15,000 service connections were upgraded and in excess of 5,000 water meters were installed.

2011

 $1.5 billion has been allocated to the water sector to achieve its objective of ensuring improved water supply

 $850 million is allocated for improving water distribution in areas such as Hope, Calcutta, Lochaber, Anna Catherina, Diamond, DeHoop and Bartica.

 In Linden, $75 million is budgeted to improve transmission and distribution systems at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc from which over 7,000 residents will benefit.

 Another $103 million is budgeted for provision of water to hinterland communities such as Sand Hills, Wiruni, Calcuni, Kariabo, Kwebanna and Mahdia where over 5,000 residents will benefit.

(e) Sanitation

2010

 An allocation of $180 million to commence implementation of the US$10 million Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme.

 Work on the access road to Haags Bosch has been completed whilst work on the landfill is now expected to be completed during the first quarter.

2011

 $800 million has been allocated to facilitate the advancing of further works on the construction of the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill.

(f) Vulnerable groups and Other Targeted Interventions

i. Children

2010

 The national foster care programme became fully operational and has seen the permanent placement of 69 children into foster homes

 The Child Care and Protection Agency has moved 360 children from abusive situations and placed in safe environments.

2011

 Government will continue to extend the protections we give our children through the passing of the two additional pieces of legislation governing child care.

 The foster care programme is expected to expand.

 Sophia Care Centre for children is expected to become operational in the first quarter of this year.

ii. Youth

2010

 2,000 out of school youths were trained under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) programme.

 570 young people were trained through the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) Programme

 219 youths were trained in various disciplines such as basic air conditioning, electrical and fuel systems management and garment construction under the Board of Industrial Training.

2011

 261 youths are targeted to be trained under the BIT and over 700 more young people under the YEST programme.

 $120 million has been allocated to the National Sports Commission to facilitate the expansion of sporting activities in schools.

 $200 million has been allocated for the upgrade of several sports grounds countrywide.

iii. Women and Single Parents

2010

 The Women of Worth (WOW) programme launched in June of last year resulted in over 500 women benefiting from approval of loans ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.

 Training programmes under the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) benefited 150 women

 333 single parents from Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 graduated in such areas as cosmetology, computer repairs and electrical installation.

2011

 Under the WOW programme a further 1,720 applicants are expected to be processed

 GWLI will train 220 women and once again $25 million is allocated for the single parent programme

iv. Elderly

2010

 Financial support in the form of monthly old age pension benefited over 42,000 of our pensioners

 Subsidised water payments were afforded to qualified pensioners to the tune of $3.6 billion.

2011

 With effect from February 1, 2011 old age pension is $7,500 monthly, a 14 percent increase compared to the $6,600 per month paid previously.

v. Homeless

 The construction of the 300-bed residential centre for rehabilitation and reintegration at Onverwagt has commenced and is expected to be completed later this year.

 The Night Shelter has extended its capacity by 60 persons to now cater for 250 persons.

 As it should...but we are to make sure the PPP are not pocketing a lions share as is their habit.

Other Vulnerable Communities

2010

 9,000 persons received monthly support through the public assistance programme

2011

 Public Assistance is currently paid at a rate of $4,900 per month, would be increased to $5,500 per month with effect from February 1, 2011.

E. Enhancing Security and Justice

a. Public Safety and Security

2010

 Security sector expended $14.2 billion on institutional strengthening, capacity building, infrastructural works and equipment.

 $527.9 million was spent on the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of our security buildings and infrastructure.

 $580.8 million was spent on the acquisition and maintenance of vehicles

2011

 $15.9 billion is allocated for the sector in 2011.

 $1.1 billion will be provided for improving infrastructure and buildings including the construction of a modern forensic laboratory and firefighting training school, new fire stations at Mahaica and Diamond

 $140 million will be expended on training our security forces.

 $662.2 million is allocated for the purchase of vehicles including trucks, pick ups, fire tenders and buses

Excerpts from the 2011 budget

You left out the graft that made porkers of  PPPites. They are to us  as Suharto was to Indonesia.

The size of Budget 2011 is $161.4 billion, 13.1 percent higher than last year’s budget and the largest budget in our country’s history

Budget Measures

 With effect from February 1, 2011 old age pension is $7,500 monthly, a 14 percent increase compared to the $6,600 per month paid previously.

 Public Assistance is currently paid at a rate of $4,900 per month, would be increased to $5,500 per month with effect from February 1, 2011.

 The threshold will be increased from $420,00 to $480,00 with effect from year of income 2011

 Commercial Companies Corporate (except telephone companies) Tax rate has been reduced to 40 percent from 45 percent with effect from year of income 2011

 Non-Commercial Companies Corporate Tax rate has been reduced to 30 percent from 35 percent with effect from year of income 2011

 The economy is projected to continue to grow in 2011, by 4.6 percent, with the non-sugar economy projected to grow by 2.8 percent

 Sugar production is targeted at 298,879 tonnes, 35.3 percent above 2010 level of production

 The rice industry is projected to increase its production even further 379,628 tonnes which would be the highest ever level of production.

 The manufacturing sector is targeted to grow by 7.7 percent

 The information and communication sector is expected to grow by 5 percent.

 The engineering and construction industry is targeted to grow by 4.5 percent

 The inflation rate is targeted at 4.4 percent.

 The deficit of the non-financial public sector is projected to decline to $17.3 billion or 3.5 percent of GDP.

You left out the graft that made porkers of  PPPites. It is what has them in the minority....a slap on the hand for being adroit at filching food from  our peoples mouth. Why are we spending 2 million to prepare grounds for  medical tourism when we cannot spend a third of that to pull the 20 families in depraved conditions in Plastic City? The cost of the sewer line to Pradoville would rescue 10 Plastic city....That is what concerns us.

it seem that the only working class that is benfiting from the budget is pradoville 1 and 2 ask the sugar workers if they is benfiting

In two days we will separate the Patriots from the NEEEMAKARAMS!!!!!!!

For those Naysayers Officer Nehru will be willing to debate anyone on ALL proposal in the Budget.

You will have to add a minimum of a thousand words to your workable vocabulary to debate anyone and make sense. Further, you would have to desist from using the overworked few non-informational phrases you are wont to rant on the board   with at every  post

And you Debate like someone with a very long stick up your ASS.

This budget will put Guyana another step forward. The most important sectors of the economy shows projected positive growth. The combined opposition needs to keep a close eye on the ministers of the government to ensure that corruption does not exist.

Let us all support the people of Guyana. Politics aside.

Well said Yuji but it is difficult for a stubborn GOAT to understand such simple things.

If that is your retort you may presently be sitting smugly on one. My ass is not in the equation, my wits are.

(Excerpts from the 2011 Budget)

Investment in People

a. Education.

2010

 Government expended a sum of $21.8 billion over the last year in the sector.

 The National School Feeding programme which cost over $900 million and benefited more than 63,000 students.

 The National School Uniform Assistance Programme which benefited over 200,000

 $923 million was expended on construction works at 2 new technical institutes in Regions 3 and 5, along with the procurement of furniture, tools, and equipment for all institutes,

 $129 million was expended on the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme implemented in 18 additional secondary schools.

 $875 million has been expended on teacher education towards the operations and renovation works at the Cyril Potter College, which added a total of 364 trained teachers to the education system in 2010.

 $2.4 billion was also expended in 2010 towards the maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities throughout Guyana

 78 information technology laboratories were completed at primary and secondary schools

2011

 $24.3 billion has been allocated towards the continued successful implementation of the National Education Strategic Plan in 2011

 US$4.2 million Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project of which $200 million is budgeted for 2011

 $919 million has been budgeted for teacher training towards the medium term target of achieving 70 percent trained teachers in the system by 2013.

 Work has commenced and will continue during 2011 on the design of a US$10 million project to strengthen the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana as a permanent academic and research institutional

 University of Guyana has been allocated $769 million towards the operations and maintenance of the Turkeyen and Tain campuses.

 $450 million has been provided for student loans.

 The National School Feeding programme has been allocated over $1 billion and will continue to deliver a snack to every student in all nursery schools and grades 1 and 2 of primary schools.

 School Uniform Assistance Programme will continue to be implemented in 2011, and will see every school child provided with one school uniform during the year.

 $1.6 billion has been budgeted for technical vocational education and include the completion of construction works at the vocational centres in Regions 3 and 5, the construction of a student dormitory at Essequibo Technical Institute.

 $2.8 billion has been allocated for the continued maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities countrywide.

b. Health

2010

 Government expended $13.4 billion in 2010 towards the implementation of the National Health Sector Strategy 2008-2012.

 $1.3 billion was expended for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health care facilities in 2010.

 Over $280 million was expended on training, while more than 150 new health workers entered the public health sector contributing to improved doctors and nurses’ population ratio.

2011

 $14 billion has been allocated to the health sector

 Government has budgeted to inject $345 million into training activities, which will provide for an additional 250 professional nurses being trained and 140 clinical and technical staff, while over 280 students in various health disciplines are currently in training across the various schools.

 1 billion has been budgeted for the construction and maintenance of health sector buildings and infrastructure nationwide

 Storage bond in Diamond will be completed in 2011

 $235 million has been budgeted for the completion of the GPHC inpatient facility. Additionally, facilities at Enmore Polyclinic, West Demerara Hospital, Leguan, and Oscar Joseph District Hospitals will be upgraded.

c. Housing

2010

 Over $9.6 billion was expended in the housing sector in 2010

 Allocated of 6,331 house lots as well as the distributed 4,591 land titles surpassing our targets of 5,500 house lots and 3,750 land titles

 $343.7 million was expended over the last year for the successful completion of a $2.2 billion housing project which has realised the construction and upgrading of roads, drains and structures benefiting 4,636 lots in areas such as Cummings Lodge C&Y, Sophia, Westminster, Belle West, Glasgow and Onderneeming.

 $680 million was spent on the construction of roads, drains and structures in areas such as Block 8 Mon Repos, Plantation Schoonord, Anna Catherina, Hope Estate

2011

 $3.6 billion is allocated to the housing sector to facilitate the development of housing schemes which is expected to result in the allocation of 7,500 house lots and the processing and distribution of 4,000 land titles.

 $700 million will be spent on improving the road network and water distribution systems to the benefit approximately 1,500 households.

 Under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme, 148 core houses are expected to be completed

d. Water

2010

 $3.4 billion was expended in the water sector

 Completion of the water treatment plants at Lima, Vergenoegen, Cotton Tree, Central Ruimveldt, Sophia and Corriverton benefiting over 100,000 persons with improved water quality.

 15,000 service connections were upgraded and in excess of 5,000 water meters were installed.

2011

 $1.5 billion has been allocated to the water sector to achieve its objective of ensuring improved water supply

 $850 million is allocated for improving water distribution in areas such as Hope, Calcutta, Lochaber, Anna Catherina, Diamond, DeHoop and Bartica.

 In Linden, $75 million is budgeted to improve transmission and distribution systems at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc from which over 7,000 residents will benefit.

 Another $103 million is budgeted for provision of water to hinterland communities such as Sand Hills, Wiruni, Calcuni, Kariabo, Kwebanna and Mahdia where over 5,000 residents will benefit.

(e) Sanitation

2010

 An allocation of $180 million to commence implementation of the US$10 million Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme.

 Work on the access road to Haags Bosch has been completed whilst work on the landfill is now expected to be completed during the first quarter.

2011

 $800 million has been allocated to facilitate the advancing of further works on the construction of the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill.

(f) Vulnerable groups and Other Targeted Interventions

i. Children

2010

 The national foster care programme became fully operational and has seen the permanent placement of 69 children into foster homes

 The Child Care and Protection Agency has moved 360 children from abusive situations and placed in safe environments.

2011

 Government will continue to extend the protections we give our children through the passing of the two additional pieces of legislation governing child care.

 The foster care programme is expected to expand.

 Sophia Care Centre for children is expected to become operational in the first quarter of this year.

ii. Youth

2010

 2,000 out of school youths were trained under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) programme.

 570 young people were trained through the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) Programme

 219 youths were trained in various disciplines such as basic air conditioning, electrical and fuel systems management and garment construction under the Board of Industrial Training.

2011

 261 youths are targeted to be trained under the BIT and over 700 more young people under the YEST programme.

 $120 million has been allocated to the National Sports Commission to facilitate the expansion of sporting activities in schools.

 $200 million has been allocated for the upgrade of several sports grounds countrywide.

iii. Women and Single Parents

2010

 The Women of Worth (WOW) programme launched in June of last year resulted in over 500 women benefiting from approval of loans ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.

 Training programmes under the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) benefited 150 women

 333 single parents from Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 graduated in such areas as cosmetology, computer repairs and electrical installation.

2011

 Under the WOW programme a further 1,720 applicants are expected to be processed

 GWLI will train 220 women and once again $25 million is allocated for the single parent programme

iv. Elderly

2010

 Financial support in the form of monthly old age pension benefited over 42,000 of our pensioners

 Subsidised water payments were afforded to qualified pensioners to the tune of $3.6 billion.

2011

 With effect from February 1, 2011 old age pension is $7,500 monthly, a 14 percent increase compared to the $6,600 per month paid previously.

v. Homeless

 The construction of the 300-bed residential centre for rehabilitation and reintegration at Onverwagt has commenced and is expected to be completed later this year.

 The Night Shelter has extended its capacity by 60 persons to now cater for 250 persons.

The Government continues to invest heavily in the social sector.....

Generalities are quite nice. The devil is in the details and I am sure if the exist the opposition will tell us. The PPP has their rear ends to the fire and their sticky fingers in oil. No thievery tolerated.

The 2012 Budget will be the same as those in the past.....pro-working class, with the largest allocation to the social sectors

Gt it in your noggins; there is nothing but working class in Guyana, except for the newly  minted plutocrats in the PPP

Saying it is the same as in the past meant it is another of their con jobs fully lathered for a PPP washing of  the nations funds to make the fatted calves even fatter.

My advice to the opposition is that the ferret out every grift and curtail every graft. Let them work for the money.

The Working Class Budget will be passed in the National Assembly....the Guyanese Populace will see the true intentions of the Joint Opposition parties....

If it is pro PPP plutocrats; it will soon be on ice.

It is predicted that the largest budgetary allocation will be again to the social sectors, that will as always be of benefit to the working class...

Benefits will be scrutinized. PPP slight of hand tricks to pile funds into seemingly innocuous projects will get the once over just as with serious works. They are going to have to explain every line item. Lacking that it is curtains for that project. The PPP will  not get the chance to hide behind secret deals ever.

The Budget will be a pro-working class budget....and will always be of benefit to all Guyanese...especially those of the working class

  I know you mean those in the PPP "working" to fatten their wallet. This will not be the case again. This budget better be respectful of the nations trust or the people will demand redress. The PPP will no longer simply claim the are proletarian, working class, or what ever nomenclature amenable to deception to cover their tracks. They will have to explain every item in the budget for its integrity, accuracy and accountability and then they get to have it passed.

The joint opposition was silence when the Guyana Government release to the media the major contracts, all were proven to be transparent.....the joint opposition parties are swiftly running out of criticisms...

I think the Marriott deal did not go over well nor did the Amelia Falls one or the private hospital either because they stink. You have the Chinese asking usurious financial guarantees for their loan ( wonder what else was promised them! the first born of every Guyanese?), the government financing private deals with the people money and hen there is the Fip fiasco. No. I think you had a hard 100 days

Finance Minister says budget comes at a time when Guyana's economy is strongest. He says real GDP growth has average at 4.4% in the last 5 years. The 2012 budget is being presented under the theme  "REMAINING  ON COURSE, UNITED IN PURPOSE: PROSPERITY FOR ALL"

The Income Tax Threshold is now set at $50000, exempting 21000 Guyanese from paying income tax.........thus taking home over $40000 more yearly

Presenting a $192.8 billion budget in the National Assembly this afternoon, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announced, among other things, that old age pension will be increased to $8,100 per month,up from $7,500 and public assistance would increase to $5,500, up from $5,100.

In addition, the new income tax thresholdhas been set at $50,000, up from $40,000. He also announced that $4 billion will be given to GuySuCo and another $6 billion was announced for GPL.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh presenting the budget in Parliament this afternoon

The budget, presented under the theme ‘Remaining on course, unite in purpose, prosperity for all’.

Excerpts  from Stabroeknews