The Deputy Speaker Hon Asha Kissoon expressed her great disappointment in the MPs from both the Government and the Opposition. According to Kissoon, both sides spent their allotted time to addressing inter-party-political issues and “who rigged the elections” as opposed to detailing policies.
The Deputy Speaker commended the Government for the visible improvements in the various sectors across the country or as she posits “some truths”. These truths included the distribution of house lots and affordable housing to thousands of Guyanese, the growth in the agriculture sector, and the “breadbasket” of the Caribbean status. It also included the raising of the Income tax threshold allowing 13,000 Guyanese to have more disposable cash.
However, Kissoon asserted that there is “room for improvement”, stating that the Pay as you earn taxes are way too high and while 30,000 Guyana Dollars to be received by the pensioners is a great increase, there is room for improvement. The Deputy Speaker further stated that while thousands of Guyanese received GOAL Scholarships, and several children benefitted from the other education initiatives, the reality is that teachers are the “backbone” of this sector. As such more consideration should be given to the teachers, especially junior teachers.
In closing, she posited that she would support Budget 2024 and to ensure that it benefits the Guyanese people consideration should be made to the areas she addressed.