What do you think of this year's national budget. What has it got for you. The views of the man/woman-in-the-street follow;

Joel Gonsalves - teacher/musician: `One of the positives is that there are no new taxes but on the other hand I would have liked to see the threshold raised. Even if it was raised to about $25,000 that would have been acceptable. It would have helped to raise the living standard as well as up the minimum wage. As it is, it has not impressed me as a development budget. So much more, I think could have been done. The party's manifesto was very promising but I am not sure that it is living up to its promises. I was also looking for duty-free concessions for certain commodities. As a musician, it is not encouraging for the entertainment industry. The budget does not speak on increases in salaries but I would look forward to that being settled soon. But what I have noted is that the budget continues to focus on infrastructure and ignores the human factors. You just cannot keep on putting down nice new buildings and ignore the welfare and well-being of the workers.'

Hecroy Barry - photographer: `The freezing of the income tax threshold is my main concern in this year's budget. Other than that I have taken no interest in what it has to offer because an increase in salaries at this time would make no difference to the high cost of living and the current economic situation which exists. One would have thought that the raising of the threshold to about $30,000 would have given some relief to low income workers in particular. The reality, right now though is that every worker, low or middle income, is feeling the pressure.'

Candace La Fleur - teacher: `I am so dissatisfied with the economic situation of the country that I do not think that the prospects will be any better. Even if teachers and government workers are paid a 10% increase in salaries, I don't expect it to make a difference to my status. As a graduate teacher my take home is just over $30,000. That together with my husband's cannot see us through the month paying rent and only some of the bills with food. The economic situation is causing many broken homes and contributing to the break up of marriages. The men cannot take the stress and the economic situation is affecting the children as well. Only God's intervention to cause Cabinet and the Opposition to think otherwise can bring about some changes.'

Sandra Prass - housewife: `My main concern is with the freeze in the income tax threshold. Any increase right now will not have any impact because we cannot look forward to retroactive pay.'

Richard Mallay - businessman: `Personally as a businessman I am disappointed with the budget. I was expecting a reduction in consumption tax on manufacturing equipment which is needed to develop industries necessary for job creation. Thirty per cent consumption tax is still too high.'

Asgar Ally - fisherman: `This budget is the biggest `jet' full of problem. To be frank I am disappointed in it because I cannot see any of the programmes for job creation the minister talk about coming on stream this year or in the near future. Half of the year is already gone. What could we expect. To me the budget does not make provision for the poor people. It will only encourage the rich to get richer and the poor, poorer. You know if I was a young man with my whole future ahead - `Backtrack' or by contract, I would have found myself in another country. Right now I only go on holidays to my children in the (United) States and Trinidad. If they don't send me $1 or $2 I would find it difficult to live here. But I am comfortable because of the US dollars.'

Sharla Hernandez - media practitioner: `I am disappointed in the budget because it is not encouraging for the young people in particular. Young people want jobs today and want opportunities open to them to create their own job and provide employment for others coming up. The prospects are not there at least right now or I am missing it. Provision should have been made for increases in salaries and while increases may have little effect, government should have been imaginative enough to provide incentives which would compensate for the areas in which it has fallen short. The cost of living, the cost of internal transportation is not encouraging to live in Guyana. If visas were giving away Guyana would be empty. Imagine travelling to Lethem is far more expensive than travelling to Trinidad and Tobago. There is no opportunities for the people in the interior. In Rupununi for instance the only government-paid employees are teachers. That is one of the reason why so many Guyanese cross the border every day and go to Brazil seeking jobs. Young people these days who have not lived and enjoyed life as such are waking up with headaches wondering what the day is bringing.'

Warren Williams - unemployed: `We got to live with the budget. As far as I am concerned it has given young people nothing. I have been unemployed for the past four months and with the way things are going I can see myself not getting a job for the next four months and even more. I still have to look after myself and take a job here and there to keep going. When I see investments and job opportunities, then I will begin to be confident about budgets.'