The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Coalition has reaffirmed its commitment to bold and far-reaching social investments under its People-Centred Development Strategy (PCDS), declaring the projected expenditures both necessary and financially sustainable.
With general elections approaching, the Coalition has laid out its vision to transform Guyanese society by focusing on human development, equity, and economic justice.
In its official statement, the APNU Coalition said that once elected to office, it will significantly invest in raising the quality of life for all Guyanese. During its first term, the Coalition plans to guarantee all households a livable monthly income, bring inflation under control, pursue full employment, and ensure that all full-time workers earn a living wage.
Broad Agenda for Social Progress
Among its key goals, the APNU plans to:
- Reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty, especially food and nutrition poverty
- End child malnutrition and stunted growth
- Create a comprehensive social safety net, “from womb to tomb”
- Vastly improve healthcare and education outcomes nationwide
- Build an opportunity society where citizens can own businesses, make investments, and generate wealth
- Shift to a well-being economy, measuring progress not just by GDP but also by quality-of-life indicators such as safety, job satisfaction, mental health, and institutional trust
- Guarantee good governance, transparency, accountability, and rule of law
- Ensure participatory and inclusionary democracy, where citizens and their representatives shape decisions that directly affect them.
The Coalition stated that these policies are responsive, affordable, effective, and sustainable. Unlike the ruling PPP, which it accuses of relying on the “guesswork of one man,” APNU pledged to use economic planning, supported by a medium-term fiscal framework and robust public financial management, to ensure macroeconomic stability and fiscal responsibility.
$400B in New Spending Backed by Oil Revenues and Efficiency
In its first year, the Coalition projects no more than 30% of the national budget—approximately $400 billion—will be used to fund new people-centred investments, broken down as follows:
- $100 billion to raise public service salaries
- $40 billion to increase the tax-free threshold to $400,000/month, impacting over 200,000 workers and self-employed persons
- $53 billion to raise old-age pensions to $100,000/month, benefitting 74,000 pensioners
- $9 billion for a student stipend program for tertiary students
- $25 billion for a childcare allowance programme
The Coalition stated that sufficient fiscal space exists now and into the future to support these measures. It highlighted expected increases in oil revenue as existing FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units) are paid off and three new FPSOs, including Yellowtail, begin production by 2027. Oil production is expected to more than double, contributing an additional $4–5 billion to government revenues by that time.
Part of this revenue will be prudently invested through the Natural Resource Fund to earn returns on international stock markets. The strategy also includes robust auditing of oil operations to prevent leakages and ensure maximum returns for the people of Guyana.
“Good Governance Dividend” and Tax Gains
The Coalition further projects at least $200 billion in savings by minimizing corruption and waste under the current administration. It cited examples like the inflated cost of infrastructure projects—specifically road construction—which, under the PPP, are said to cost twice as much as under the former Coalition government.
These savings, referred to as the “Good Governance Dividend,” will be returned to the people through direct cash transfers. Economic growth will be driven by increased local demand and multiplier effects from public investment, leading to higher tax revenues without raising tax rates. The Coalition emphasised that no new taxes or increases in existing tax rates are planned. Instead, greater consumption will naturally expand VAT and other tax collections.
Moral Obligation and Global Standards
The APNU Coalition described these social investments not just as economic policy, but as a moral and constitutional obligation. It condemned the current state of inequality, noting that Guyana’s per capita GDP—adjusted for prices—is comparable to oil-rich nations like the United Arab Emirates, yet poverty remains between 35% and 42%.
The Coalition declared confidence in achieving key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—such as ending poverty and hunger, ensuring healthcare and education, and promoting decent work—well before the 2030 deadline.
Final Rallying Cry
In closing, the Coalition issued a clear political message: “All are convinced that for Guyana to grow, the PPP must go.” The APNU Coalition’s PCDS signals a decisive shift toward an inclusive development model, powered by data-driven economic planning and anchored in a belief that Guyana’s wealth must serve the people—not a privileged few.
