Listen to article: 0:00 0:00 Your browser does not support the audio element. The Leader of the Opposition Ralph Gonsalves challenged the 2026 budget on several fronts, characterizing the estimates as “treading water dangerously.”Fiscal Skepticism• Deficit Concerns: The Opposition argued that the $15.5 million deficit, when combined with amortization requirements, creates a massive funding gap that could lead to an IMF intervention. • Borrowing Reliability: Skepticism was expressed regarding the government’s ability to raise $200 million in local loans in a timely manner, predicting potential delays in salary payments and project implementation. • “Arithmetic of Scarcity”: The Opposition stated that “the numbers don’t lie,” suggesting the budget fails to provide for necessary wage increases beyond the one-time bonus. Programmatic OmissionsThe Opposition identified several high-profile projects from the previous administration that they claim are now “on ice” or “killed,” including:• The Arnos Vale New City Development.