The Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity, is pressing the Government to keep its promise and make an announcement soon on the payment of a cash grant of no less than $150,000 to the citizens of Guyana.

On Monday, the APNU hosted a small picketing exercise outside the President’s Office to remind the Government of the need for the cash transfer to be paid out.

Leading the picketing exercise was APNU Parliamentary Leader, Dr Terrence Campbell, who told reporters that in addition to the cash grant, a broad-based programme is needed to tackle poverty head-on.

He said statistics show that more than half of the country’s population is living in poverty.

“Listen there are people who are suffering in this country. Recent report from the IDB shows that 58% of the people in this country live in poverty. We in the APNU, we are not only concern about a cash grant, but we are concern about a broader package, a broader programme to bring help to the suffering people,” Dr Campbell said.

He said at the core of APNU’s 2025 Manifesto was a comprehensive plan to take the masses out of poverty, including cash transfer, and social programmes to address the root causes.

“The demand for cash transfer is just one part of a package that we expect the government to bring help to the suffering masses. We must take our people out over poverty” the APNU Parliamentary Leader said.

APNU Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said in the run up to the last elections, all of the major political parties indicated that they would be issuing cash grants to citizens to cushion the rise in cost of living, including the incumbent.

He said now that the elections are over, it is time for the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to make good on its commitment without delay.

“You made a promise. It is expected that you keep that promise. You see the people who are not fully supportive of cash distribution, cash grant or cash transfer, are the ones who are wealthy, are the ones who are benefiting from contracts, are the people who are not in need. The people who want the cash grant, who want the cash transfer or the cash distribution, which ever terminology you want to use, are the people who are looking for a beautiful Christmas and they are in the majority,” MP Mahipaul said.

He said right across the country, there are Guyanese facing difficult financial situations. Noting that the country is now producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day, MP Mahipaul insisted that the finances needed to facilitate the cash transfer are available.

“The money is available, and what we said is that we expect a minimum of a $150,000, which if you multiply that by 600,000 people, which is based on amount of people they used for the $100,000 cash grant last year, that is going to give us $90B. Now, if they want to give us $200,000, which we would welcome because $200,000 is even better, that is a $120B,” MP Mahipaul reasoned.

APNU Member of Parliament, Dexter Todd said after promising Guyanese a “beautiful Christmas,” President Irfaan Ali must make good on his promise, adding this is “no joke.” MP Todd said people are desperate in need of the cash grant.

“We are also failing to recognize that Guyana still has an alarming number of unemployment; there are still a lot of qualified people who are home, who are without jobs. There are many single parents who still have to consider how they will buy basic food for this holiday for their families,” MP Todd said.

He said at the level of Parliament, the APNU will push for statutory timelines to be established for cash transfers, noting that it should not be left up to a government to decide.

Also on the picket line were members of the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP). ALP Leader, Simona Broomes spoke of the importance of fixing clear timelines for the disbursement of the cash grants.

“The citizens are not feeling, and benefiting from this wealth, and we believe that every year, there must be a defined policy as to how much, and how will wealth  transfer take place. It is not to be used for a political tool, the government giving you something. And the language of the government is to impoverished and to keep people in enslaved in their mindset. For the president to say if you behave yourself, he will give you but this is not his personal funding, this is not his resources, it belongs to all of us and it must happen,” Broomes said.

Last Friday, APNU said the Government should approach the Parliament to initiate the approval process for the proposed cash transfer to ensure prompt disbursement. President Irfaan Ali has indicated that he will keep his campaign promise.

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