OVER the last few weeks, I’m constantly reminded of the relevance of a once famous calypso by the legendary Lord Canary, “De people will talk.”Fortunately, most of the people I’ve heard have nothing but praise and gratitude for the $10,000 per child ‘Because We Care’ grant they received from the PPP/C Administration through the Ministry of Education. Only a few misguided fools that choose to see this programme as a gimmick to boost the PPP/C popularity as Guyana edges closer to new elections have had the courage to shamelessly add their names to the few letters and articles of criticisms published in the local press.
From the time this brilliant initiative was made public by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and long before the AFC signalled its intention to table a vote of no-confidence against the PPP/C Administration, I followed the process very closely. It was clear to me that the Ministry of Education had meticulously planned and implemented a strategy to withstand the most rigorous form of scrutiny that they knew would come from the Joint Opposition in Parliament. Every conceivable precaution was taken by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand to avoid criticisms and to promote full transparency. Consultations were held with parents and guardians in 55 locations throughout the country, to inform them of this much-needed initiative by the Government, and to hear from them specifically: 1. How they wish to receive this money: In the form of a voucher that they can cash? Or a voucher similar to the Uniform Vouchers that can only be exchanged for school supplies, and 2. Where do they wish to en-cash their vouchers, at a bank; the post office; MoneyGram, Mobile Money, or Western Union? Because of the enormous risk and concern for the safety of everyone, taking large sums of money to all the distribution points was ruled out as an option. Except for those remote areas in the hinterland, parents, for one reason or another, voted overwhelmingly to use Western Union to en-cash the GOG $10,000 Education Vouchers. This process adopted by the Ministry is in keeping with the demands of APNU Member of Parliamentarian, Amna Ally, who urged Minister Manickchand earlier this year, to have consultations first with the recipients, and to expedite the payout of the $10,000 given to each child in the public education system.
As Minister Manickchand said repeatedly, the disbursement of the grant could not have commenced before the first week of October, to allow the registration of thousands of new nursery students that would have been disenfranchised had the money been paid out earlier.
To those who unfairly criticised the distribution of the funds, I observed that the distribution process was largely marked by order, civility and efficiency, and it was the long waiting lines at Western Union outlets that gave the impression of disorder. Let’s be fair here, how can anyone justifiably blame the Ministry of Education for these lines at the Western Union outlets when it was on the advice of those very parents that Western Union was selected. In addition, parents knew that they have until the 30th of November to en-cash their vouchers, but most made the deliberate choice to wait in long lines to get their money. I have not seen anyone blaming the parents for being impatient, yet they jump at the opportunity to blame the Ministry for the “chaos.”
I read Lurlene Nestor’s lengthy missive recently with some amusement, as she called the “Because We Care” initiative “a big political gimmick.” This PNC sycophant appeared more concerned with the promotion of this programme as it demonstrates yet another commitment to education by a caring Government that she opposes. Not once did she had the courage to admit that mothers throughout Guyana, especially single parents, and perhaps even members of her own family, have benefited from this money she referred to as “hand-outs.” The PPP/C Administration did not discriminate either. Parents that voted for PNC/APNU and those who voted for AFC received the same amount as those who support the PPP/C.
In her letter, Nestor wrote, “How can this Government even attempt to fool people into believing that their, the people’s own, taxpaying dollars are nothing but gifts from this insipid regime?
People should be reminded that the money they receive or will be receiving is their own.”
Surely Nestor would know that Guyanese have been paying taxes during the reign of the PNC too, and they were never given “hand-outs” from their own tax dollars. As I recall, many Guyanese migrated to other countries during the dark years of the PNC rule, leaving behind the homes they lived in to rot. They could not sell their homes because it was Forbes Burnham’s and his ruling PNC policy that Guyanese leaving Guyana would take nothing with them but for a measly 100 Guyana dollars (US$50 then). Those were the days when, if you had a roll of toilet paper in your home, you hid it and only bring it out when you have house guests.
Although she was part of the cabal, Lurlene Nestor may have forgotten, or choose not to remember, those days. Because, like so many others, Guyanese now take the development that is evident throughout all regions of Guyana for granted.
The $10,000 per child that parents received was possible because the Guyana economy can now afford it. Former Finance Minister and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo started the recovery, and the challenge to continue the reform was surpassed by the brilliance of our Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, who along with Jagdeo, deserve all the credit for transforming the Guyana economy from a bankrupt state under the PNC (now calling themselves APNU), to what it is today. As the economy continues to grow, I feel sure that Guyanese of every race, religion or political affiliation can look forward to bigger “hand-outs” from a Government that truly cares!

Harry Gill