During the 2026 Budget debates, Mandalall Ramraj, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, announced that over 12,000 small and medium-sized contractors benefitted from contracts awarded by the Ministry last year, aimed at building capacity among young contractors for critical works across the country.
Ramraj reported that 10,868 small contractors received contracts starting at $14 million, while 1,600 medium-sized contractors were awarded contracts ranging from $14 million to $100 million. “We are talking about 12,000 contractors; these are small people who are benefiting from the government, and this is only from Public Works,” he emphasized.
The Minister stressed that the goal is to ensure communities see direct progress from government projects. He defended the government’s infrastructure initiatives against criticisms, pointing out that these efforts have created more business opportunities and improved livelihoods.
“For instance, in Sophia, all those road contracts were given to local contractors,” Ramraj noted, showcasing the government’s commitment to empowering communities across various villages, which he described as a legacy of the PPP/C administration.
However, APNU Parliamentarian Saiku Andrews countered during his budget presentation, arguing that the budget is primarily focused on infrastructure and lacks balance in addressing other areas. He expressed skepticism regarding the government’s value for money concerning its infrastructure projects.
“This budget is clearly about sand, stone, and cement; 50% goes to capital expenditure,” Andrews stated. While he acknowledged the need for transformation, he asserted that true transformational projects should deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
He compared current infrastructure projects to those previously developed under PNC/R governments, citing the Demerara River Bridge and the Linden-Soesdyke Highway as examples. “We in the PNC have a record of delivering truly transformational infrastructure,” he asserted, referencing the vision of former leader LFS Burnham in 1978.
Andrews urged the government to implement strict project monitoring mechanisms to ensure the safeguarding of taxpayers’ money, emphasizing the need for accountability in the execution of developmental projects.
