The Parliamentary Committee of Supply on Monday approved a significant budgetary allocation of $141.5 billion to bolster critical initiatives led by the Office of the Prime Minister.
The funds are earmarked for high-impact projects, including the pivotal Gas-to-Energy (GtE) venture in Wales and the rollout of the electronic identification card (e-ID) system, among several others designed to enhance national infrastructure and services.
The comprehensive budget includes $65.8 billion for capital projects and $75.6 billion for ongoing operational costs and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, alongside his office’s staff, faced extensive questioning from the parliamentary opposition before the funds were confirmed.
A substantial portion of the funding—$51.2 billion—has been allocated to further the construction of the Wales Gas-to-Energy project on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) in Region Three.
This transformative project aims to convert natural gas into electricity, helping to meet the country’s growing energy demands sustainably.
The Prime Minister clarified that $36.2 billion would go towards the development of a natural gas power plant and a liquefied natural gas facility. In addition, over $1 billion will be used to secure consultancy services to oversee the project’s successful delivery.
This investment is part of a broader $88 billion national commitment to enhance Guyana’s energy sector.
Among the other allocations, $18 billion has been set aside to support Guyana Power and Light (GPL), which will help offset fluctuating fuel costs and ensure that electricity rates remain unchanged for consumers.
“Despite global fuel price surges, we’ve managed to maintain electricity rates at their current levels for households and businesses,” the Prime Minister explained.
Moreover, the government is investing in small-scale hydropower projects in various regions, particularly in Region Nine, to further diversify Guyana’s energy generation mix and promote renewable energy solutions.
In addition to energy, the Prime Minister’s Office is focusing heavily on modernising telecommunications and infrastructure. A total of $16.7 billion has been allocated to advance information and communication technology (ICT) projects, including $1.4 billion specifically for the e-ID initiative.
‘Prime Minister Phillips assured the public that the e-ID project is on track for completion by June 2025, a significant step towards modernising government services.
The Safe Country programme, designed to enhance security and surveillance nationwide, received $6.2 billion in funding. Additionally, $1.9 billion will be used to implement an advanced border control system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which will include the installation of 12 electronic gates (e-gates) to streamline the arrival and departure process for both citizens and visitors.
Furthermore, $382.9 million has been allocated to improve road safety through the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS), a key component of the government’s broader infrastructure improvement strategy.
