Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes is pushing for new legislation that would guarantee all Guyanese financial aid on an annual basis. 

Speaking to residents of Liverpool and Lancaster at a bottom house meeting over the weekend, Hughes said with Guyana earning approximately $1.6B per day from oil alone, the country can afford to make direct cash transfers to its citizens on an annual basis. 

He said currently, assistance provided to segments of the population in the form of cash grants is being politicized by the Administration, despite the fact that the resources of the country belong to its people.  

“So, let’s cut out all this theft, lets’ cut out all of this politician coming and play God with your money, and let’s pass a law. Let us pass a law that says, every single year, every single citizen of this country, gets a specified amount of money, determined by the economist and everybody, you got opposition economist, government economist, economist, economist, let them, decide, and you make it a law. So, on the birthday of every citizen, the money go in your bank account, and you go somewhere and collect your cash. It is not a favor. It is yours. It is your right,” Hughes said.

The Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) was among the first to propose the issuance of direct cash transfers using revenues from the oil and gas industry, but the proposal has not found favour with the current Administration. Critics have concluded that such a move would make Guyanese “lazy” but Hughes said such a conclusion is an insult to the Guyanese people, who have long demonstrated their ability to work and mobilize. 

Hughes said with the absence of meaningful financial aid, many Guyanese continue to live in poverty, but collectively, they can change the status quo, and fight against corruption and theft of resources, while lifting themselves out of poverty. 

“Think about $1.6B Guyana Dollars per day by 365 days per year, and ask yourself why all of us sitting down in this level of poverty right now. That money belongs to all of us, and I am very serious when I say this. If we, collectively, the people of this country don’t get up now, and stop the theft and plunder, they will put us not in second class citizenship but in third class citizenship. Our ancestors have fought and defeated their enemies in worst times than we are facing. So, we at least, the minimum we can do, is that in a time of peace, and in a time of plenty, we have to get up to fight collectively, all of us,” Hughes reasoned. 

Meanwhile, in the absence of such legislation that would guarantee Guyanese annual financial assistance, the AFC Chairman, David Patterson urged Guyanese to capitalize on existing programmes and projects, but come 2025, vote for change. 

“If you can get a cash grant, tek um. If you get a contract, do um. Do it good, don’t shame! Don’t shame, and help your brother. Because the money doesn’t belong to them, it belongs to the people of Guyana. They are only temporary custodians of it, and you know a fool and his money is soon parted. Them and governance, and their office will be over. Soon be over,” Patterson said. 

Elections in Guyana are constitutionally due in 2025.

Patterson said Guyanese from every “nook and cranny” must vote, and vote for a change.

Noting that every vote counts, Patterson reminded that based on the results published by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the 2020 Elections by just over 10,000 votes. 

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