If re-elected, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) plans to introduce a suite of measures that will ensure citizens have more money in their pockets to address cost of living woes. According to its manifesto, the party will maintain a policy of no new taxes throughout all the budgets it will pass.
It also vows to gradually lower income and corporate taxes. The party will also slash taxes on vehicles, while maintaining its policy of allowing importation of vehicles irrespective of age, thereby making vehicle ownership more affordable.
Apart from taxes, the red party said it will conclude multi-year agreements with the unions in the public sector, in keeping with the principles of collective bargaining, and continue to grant salary increases and improve benefits to employees.
With respect to increases, it said citizens can look forward to an increase in Old Age Pension from $41,000 to $60,000 per month, or more, depending on revenue collections. It will also provide an annual Transportation Support Grant of $50,000 to each pensioner. Further to this, the party said it will continue to increase National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensions and expand home-based healthcare services for the elderly.
Public Assistance grants will also increase to $40,000 per month.
Notably, the governing party said it would provide additional cash grants to households and individuals and reduce the cost of electricity by lowering the tariff on the grid by 50 percent. It would also reduce the cost of cooking gas, and continue efforts to keep fuel prices low.
In addition to all of the programmes in the education, healthcare, and other sectors that would benefit children, women, and the elderly, over the next five years, the PPP/C government vowed to continue the one-off newborn cash grant for every baby born in Guyana to a Guyanese mother. It will also expand day and night care facilities in all regions.