A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian and co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds is putting on record that he does not touch “one cent” of his monthly parliamentary salary, as it is used to support causes in the community.
Dr. Hinds had reason to respond to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP/C) Kwame McKoy, who, during the budget debate, told the WPA co-leader that he has once given his salary to a “black man” in need.
Dr. Hinds said since becoming a parliamentarian following the September 1 elections, his entire salary of almost $300,000 has been used to help vulnerable Guyanese.
“My parliamentary salary, I have not touched a cent of it. It is turned over to the WPA and the WPA then uses it to support causes . Everyday, people come to us for assistance and we are able to use that salary to assist people with paying their children’s passage to school. We are able to give elderly people some kind of assistance here and there.”
He said the money belongs to the people.
“So, I just want to reiterate that I have not, and I do not intend to touch one cent of my parliamentary salary. That is the people’s money. And as small as it is, it is relatively small, I think just about $300,000, we use every cent of it to support causes in the community.
Dr. Hinds has already labeled the 2026 national budget a national financial plan that lacks love and a true understanding of the genuine needs of ordinary Guyanese. In his analysis of the budget, he had urged the government to consider using his party’s cash transfer and universal basic income models to help lift especially ordinary citizens out of poverty.
Meanwhile, reviewing the 2026 budget debate, the first time member of parliament said has been a revealing experience for him. He said he hopes APNU parliamentarians could contribute to “lifting the standard of the debate. I have gotten a lot of feedback on the APNU’s contributions and a lot of people said we have raised the bar and I am quite happy about that”
He said further, “It occurred to me how distant the voices and the thoughts of ordinary people are from this place. Because parliamentarians sit among ourselves and we spend a lot of time talking to ourselves and about ourselves, and not talking about people. We are here to represent people, and I find that has been lacking.” (Release)
