Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that Budget 2026 will be presented early and will include funding to fulfill key promises made by the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Among these promises is the establishment of a structured legal migration framework aimed at addressing labor shortages while safeguarding national identity and security.
During his weekly press conference at the PPP/C’s Freedom House headquarters in Georgetown, Jagdeo outlined the government’s continued commitment to job creation, improved healthcare and education, community development, and enhanced national security. “The President spoke again about the orientation of our manifesto… creating more and better-paying jobs, ensuring our people are better educated and healthier, and solving community problems like drainage, garbage, and security,” he stated.
Jagdeo emphasized the prioritization of a migration policy in light of recent developments. A significant aspect of this policy will involve the rollout of a national biometric identification system, which will register every citizen and migrant in Guyana. Each individual will receive an electronic ID card containing facial recognition and biometric data.
“This card will be mandatory for work, banking, and other services, and employers will face penalties for hiring anyone without it,” he explained. “If you don’t have that card, you can’t survive in this country… you can’t be working.” Jagdeo warned that employers who hire individuals without the ID card will face serious penalties.
The system will also integrate with an expanded network of 4,000 surveillance cameras, enhancing public safety and border control by allowing authorities to identify individuals throughout the country.
As part of the broader policy, the government is exploring the potential for granting residency—without voting rights—to legal migrants who come to Guyana for employment, particularly in sectors like construction experiencing labor shortages. “We want people to come and work because we need that,” he noted, adding that these migrants should not change the nature of Guyanese society.
Jagdeo cited examples from countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which allow foreign workers to live and work under specific residency arrangements without full political rights.
He stressed that these policy directions, along with the establishment of a Development Bank and other national initiatives, represent “weighty issues” that will have lasting effects on Guyana’s future. “These are not short-term matters—they will impact generations of our people,” he asserted.
While addressing what he described as “noise and political hysteria” from the Opposition, Jagdeo reaffirmed the PPP/C’s commitment to governance that emphasizes accountability, long-term development, and the protection of citizens’ interests.
He concluded by stating that Budget 2026 will continue this path—funding growth, modernization, and security while ensuring every citizen and legal resident is properly documented and included in Guyana’s transformation.
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