OPPOSITION MP Viam Pillay has dismissed the 2025-2026 National Budget as a “candy budget”, accusing the Government of using sweet-sounding measures to mask economic instability and failed promises.
“It looks sweet,” Mr Pillay said.
“Sounds generous. But once it’s spent, there’s nothing left.”
Mr Pillay said the budget had no structural support and no lasting relief, just “fiscal sugar that melts away and leaves the people wanting”.
Drawing on a childhood anecdote about being given 20 cents to buy sweets that quickly disappeared, Mr Pillay likened the national budget to a fleeting treat.
“The budget headlines may impress, but the households are unimpressed. This is a budget built for political theatre, not everyday survival.
“It’s calibrated to distract. It gives with one hand and quietly takes back with the other.”
He criticised the Government for what he called “policy backpedalling wrapped in PR,” specially on value-added tax (VAT), which was raised from 9 percent to 15 percent in the 2023-2024 budget, only to now be lowered to 12.5 percent this year.
“Now, the Government wants thanks for reducing VAT to 12.5 percent starting in August. They increased it, then dropped it, and expect gratitude?
“That’s not tax reform. That’s policy backpedalling wrapped in PR.
“Why did you raise VAT from 9 percent to 15 percent, hurt the people, and now bring it down to 12.5 percent and expect gratitude?
“This is not leadership. This is manipulation.”
Mr Pillay said the budget headlines may impress “but the households are unimpressed”.
