Opposition Parliamentarian Nima Flue-Bess, who has responsibility for sports, culture and youth within A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), used her contribution to Day Two of the Budget Debate to deliver a sweeping indictment of the government’s $1.558 trillion 2026 budget, arguing that behind record spending and oil-fuelled growth projections lies a plan that fails to improve the lived realities of Guyanese people.
Flue-Bess, a trained physical education teacher, critique was grounded not only in policy analysis but in real-life experience working with young people and athletes, allowing her to see first-hand the consequences of underinvestment in human development. Responding to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s presentation, Flue-Bess said the budget was “void of meaningful information” and accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of mistaking noise for progress.
She framed her opening with an African proverb, stating,“a chattering bird builds no nest and a roaring lion kills no game,” which she said reflected the government’s record in office.
She reminded the National Assembly that between 1997 and 2012 Guyana witnessed “more than 400 extra-judicial killings of young men, predominantly of African descent,” and argued that lawlessness, ministerial overreach and abuse of authority remain unresolved features of governance.
Questioning accountability, she asked who enforces the law on government officials, citing the destruction of Cane View in 2023, unexplained fires and other injustices that, she said, remain etched in public memory. She also challenged claims of a landslide electoral victory, alleging irregularities involving non-nationals on the voters’ list.
Turning to the economy, Flue-Bess noted that the government is boasting of the largest budget in Guyana’s history against projections of 60.2 per cent economic expansion in 2026, driven largely by oil. While acknowledging the scale of growth, she argued that the administration has failed to convert oil wealth into sustainable development in non-oil sectors.
“Culture, youth, and sport can become a viable project, fueled by the oil boom, and a very productive industry that outlasts oil,” she said, but warned that “there’s nothing in this budget and the previous budgets that suggest that the potential of the sector will be realised.” She pointed out that only 5.3 per cent of the ministry’s allocation will be spent directly on people, saying the sector continues to be treated as non-essential.
Flue-Bess dismissed the government’s much-publicised orange economy agenda as largely symbolic, describing the task force as “more a ceremonial add-on rather than policy and a plan.” She criticised the continued absence of updated copyright legislation, noting that many cultural practitioners have been forced to seek protection abroad.
“Where is the Heritage Commission? When will Guyana ratify the UNESCO 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage?” she asked.
She highlighted that of the $3.7 billion allocated to culture, $2.6 billion is earmarked for buildings, furniture, equipment and capital projects, while the remaining $1.1 billion will largely be absorbed by administrative costs. “This approach will not develop the sector and the people within it,” she said, warning that growing state control over culture undermines creativity. “When artists must please government, creativity suffers,” Flue-Bess told the House.
On youth development, she said empowerment exists largely “on paper,” while young Guyanese grapple with a high cost of living, limited job opportunities and inadequate access to skills training that leads to livable incomes. She noted that the $1.2 billion allocation for youth in 2025 was repeated in 2026, concluding that there is no new strategy.
Questioning the effectiveness of short-term training programmes, Flue-Bess asked how a four-month skills programme could meaningfully impact labour quality when CVQ standards recommend six to 12 months. Citing ministry figures, she said that in 2025 12,292 youths were trained, but 4,970 remained unemployed, and warned that 2026 projections would leave more than 10,000 trained but unemployed youths in the system. She called for alternative approaches, including mandatory enrolment of delinquent youths in CVQ-TVET programmes.
Addressing sports, Flue-Bess acknowledged the approximately $6 billion allocation, but said most of it is tied to capital projects rather than athlete development. “Stadiums and facilities are important, but they are not substitutes for athlete development, coaching, sports science, or competitive opportunities,” she argued, pointing to underfunded grassroots organisations, poor workmanship and maintenance at community grounds, and repeated delays in major projects.
She also criticised Guyana’s readiness as a host for international sporting events, citing examples of logistical failures, inadequate facilities and poor planning that, she said, damage the country’s reputation.
Turning to Region Four, Flue-Bess said residents from Georgetown to Timehri are experiencing the collapse of the government’s promise to put people first. She highlighted chronic traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure and overstretched health services, declaring, “Development without planning is not progress, it is guessing.” She said stories emerging from public health facilities contradict claims of national advancement and instead reflect stress and neglect.
In closing, Flue-Bess argued that the 2026 estimates fall far short of a people-centred budget. “A people-centered budget places citizens, not stats, at the heart of national development,” she said, adding that transparency, equity and consultation are essential if public spending is to translate into improved livelihoods and shared prosperity.
“Clearly, this is not such a budget,” she concluded
