Dr. Ganesh Rampat, writing in the Guyana Business Journal, recently credited the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government for gaining full control over the country’s budget and spending patterns in 2021, following their assumption of office in August 2020.
Rampat noted that the previous government, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), had “gone on a spending spree” in 2020, causing the fiscal deficit to triple—from G$29.9 billion to G$90.2 billion, marking a 201.2 percent increase, which he described as the most significant fiscal expansion of the current century.
The claim, however, was strongly disputed by Winston Jordan, the former APNU+AFC Minister of Finance. Jordan, a seasoned economist/statistician, immediately took issue with Rampat’s accusation, defending the APNU+AFC’s fiscal record in 2020. According to Jordan, the assertions were without merit and lacked factual foundation.
Jordan first pointed out that 2020 was a particularly unusual year. The APNU+AFC government was left without a budget due to parliament’s dissolution in December 2019. This meant that the government’s spending was restricted to just one-twelfth of the previous year’s expenditure on a monthly basis. Moreover, the year was dominated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating substantial additional spending to address the public health crisis. Finally, 2020 was marked by contentious general elections and the prolonged political unrest that followed.
After addressing the timeline, Jordan turned his attention to the numbers. He emphasised that despite these unprecedented challenges, the APNU+AFC government still managed to spend GY$182 billion—about 54% of the total expenditure for 2020, as reported by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during the 2020 budget presentation. The PPP/C government, which took office in August 2020, was responsible for the remaining 46%.
Jordan further clarified that the PPP’s 2020 budget included sweeping tax changes that resulted in significant revenue losses. The combined effect of reduced tax revenue from COVID-19 and the increased expenditure during the final five months of 2020 led to a deficit of G$86 billion, not the G$90 billion cited by Rampat.
In light of this evidence, Jordan questioned how Rampat could continue to claim that the APNU+AFC government had gone on a spending spree in 2020. He rhetorically asked for the physical or statistical evidence to support such an accusation, asserting that the facts speak for themselves. His counterarguments exposed what could be termed “deception” in Rampat’s claims, and impressed on the readership the importance of fact-checking before accepting statements as truth.
Jordan’s direct and fact-based rebuttal highlights a rare occurrence in Guyana’s political discourse, where government officials are held accountable for misleading claims that could harm reputations or public policy decisions. His challenge serves as a reminder of the importance of scrutinising information and questioning narratives, particularly in a time when misinformation can easily spread.
Winston Jordan, who has an extensive career in budget preparation and management across six presidential administrations- seven if Sam Hinds’ brief stint is counted- continues to be a key figure in Guyana’s fiscal debates. His experience spans decades, from the days of Forbes Burnham’s government to Donald Ramotar.
