"Almost all of the programmes that we can identify in the budget have some poverty targeting; it's pro-poverty reduction and pro-growth," Kowlessar said at a post-budget news conference at the GTV 11 studios in Georgetown Monday.

He said the Government will spend nearly $2B this year on projects to be implemented under the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP), Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Linden Economic Advancement Project (LEAP), the Poverty Fund and the Poor Rural Communities Support Services Project.

On completion, these projects will improve the standard of living of the people, especially the poor, Kowlessar said.

He also indicated that the Government has designed short-term programmes aimed at providing cash and other support to displaced workers while they seek other opportunities in the labour market; giving support to pregnant and lactating women; and providing targeted subsidies to the poor, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly and pensioners.

In addition, the Government will provide vouchers for textbooks and examination fees for students of poor families, the Finance Minister said.

Kowlessar said too that beginning this year, the Government will implement a Temporary Employment and Maintenance Programme (TEMP) under which unskilled persons will be employed to clean drains and weed grass verges on the highways and main roads throughout the year.

"In terms of poverty, we have set aside substantial sums of money for the Poverty Fund itself, then we have SIMAP which will kick in with about US$22.2M and the Basic Needs Trust Fund with another US$8.3M that they will kick in this year and other programmes like the Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme.

"So there are a range of programmes that are designed to reduce poverty," he said.

"...the budget itself does focus on creating jobs and employment and also the TEMP programme will be implemented in various parts of the country where some 300 to 400 jobs will be created in that way," he added.

About 67 projects have also been identified by the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST) and these, Kowlessar said, are expected to create about 3,000 jobs for this year alone.

Asked if there is anything in the budget that will lead to an increase in consumer prices, the Finance Minister noted that there are no new taxes, fines or fees in the budget which, in itself, will guarantee from a government perspective that there would be no increase in prices

In this context, he is doubtful that there will be an increase in consumer prices related to the measures outlined in the budget.

Kowlessar also noted that the 2002 Budget, the largest ever presented in the history of this country, has evolved out of a process and is well informed by documented papers such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), the National Development Strategy (NDS) and the governing PPP/Civic's manifesto for the last elections.

"So we have a framework within which we are working," he said with reference to the theme of the Budget - `Promoting economic growth and accelerating social gains'.

"In terms of the contents of the budget we have put out a programme on policies that will eventually lead to poverty reduction, to stimulate economic growth and to sustain economic development," he said.

"Last year we had a 1.9 per cent economic growth and we want to sustain that and consolidate on the gains for last year to move the country forward," he added.

Also at the news conference were two of the main architects of the 2002 Budget, Dr. Ashni Singh, Director of the Budget Unit, and Mr. Winston Jordan, Budget Consultant.