$30 Billion more approved for $100,000 cash grant distribution

An additional $30 Billion has been approved by the Committee of Supply for the continuation of the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant. Distribution of the grant started with public servants and pensioners in December, but has slowed down since.

It is expected to now continue after the passage of the budget this week.

The $30 Billion allocation forms part of a total allocation of $40.450B that was approved under the Office of the Prime Minister under the line item – Disaster Preparedness, Response and Management, other.

As the Committee of Supply considered the sums on Monday, Prime Minister, Mark Phillips explained that the $30B will cater for an additional 300,000 eligible Guyanese to access the grant.

Last November, the National Assembly had approved an initial sum of $30.5B for the initiative, targeting 305,000 persons.

“We envisage that some 600,000 Guyanese will receive their payment. The money is there, and the attitude to ensure that the people of Guyana receive that money in the shortest possible time is there among the workers. Let us commend our workers again, the foot soldier who are paying the people,” the Prime Minister said.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson told the Committee that based on reports to the National Assembly, as at December 31, 2024, only 90,000 Guyanese had their cheques, although an initial sum of $30.5B was approved. She called on the Prime Minister to explain the reason behind the delay.

“Based on the report coming out from the Minister of Finance, he said that 90,000 cheques were cut, so, therefore, my calculations, is nine point something billion dollars would have been expended just before the 31st December 2024, leaving us with some $21.5B to play with. You, like many of us in this House, are aware, that Guyanese, many Guyanese who would have registered whether it’s 400,000, many of them have not received their cash grant. So, could you explain the reason behind 305,000 Guyanese were unable to receive their cash grant as of 31^st December, 2024?” she enquired.

Prime Minister Phillips, in response, explained that it was an ongoing process, and to date, approximately 121,000 Guyanese have received their cash grants.

“We have paid 121,000 Guyanese their cash grants. And let us add to that, we have 300,000 cheques that were cut. So, do the Math, do the Math. We cut 300,000 cheques and we already paid out a 121,000, and this is a process that is ongoing, both the registration and the payment,” he reported.

He said Government officials including Ministers, are on the ground monitoring the distribution of the cash grant, with distribution and registration schedules being advertised in communities across the country.

Opposition MP Juretha Fernandes said while Guyanese are appreciative of the cash grant, the chaotic scenes that have unfolded at the registration and distribution sites has left many persons frustrated.

Prime Minister Phillips has indicated that additional distribution sites are being set up.

“There is an increase in the number of distribution points inside communities, and that in itself, we have seen has positively impacted on the distribution, in the sense that less people would have to congregate at any one point to collect their cash grant. That has been working well. We are using schools, we are using community centres, we are involving staff from other ministries. So, more or less, it is a whole of government approach to ensure that the cash grant, moving forward, is distributed in a faster manner, a more efficient manner, and less chaos, as you called it,” the Prime Minister explained.

He said the Government is open to recommendations from the Opposition on the improvement of the distribution process.

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul, while raising the concern that the Government may have breached the Financial Management and Accountability Act, having failed to distribute all 300,000 plus cheques at the end December, pressed the Prime Minister to provide a clear timeline for the completion of the distribution exercise.

In response, the Prime Minister said the remainder of the grants will be distributed in the “shortest time possible.”