– removal of tuition fees from government technical, vocational training institutions to benefit an additional 3,000 persons

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, announced a revised cash grant initiative that will now see Guyanese 18 and above receiving a $100,000 one-off cash grant.
The Head of State made the announcement during a live broadcast on his official Facebook in response to public feedback and concerns regarding the initial $200,000 household grant that was announced last week.
Dr. Ali noted that while ‘tens of thousands have expressed their welcoming of the previously announced measures, the government has acknowledged those who would have raised concerns of implementation and fear of being left out.
“Several persons and families have indicated to my government the complications they foresee in implementation of this much welcome benefit and a fear of being left out. It is the understanding of this fear. It is the understanding of the complexity there is even within and among families and understanding the importance of feedback that we have received,” the President said.
To this end, Dr. Ali revealed that the government, last Friday, began re-examining the initiative with the aim of expanding the benefit while removing the challenges.
“We have seen in recent days a rush to transfer registration of utility meters and a rush to prepare tenancy agreements, all of which are aimed at establishing a distinct household, as well as other complications that may arise in administering this benefit.”
The new initiative now provides a one-off grant of $100,000 to every citizen above 18 as of January 1, 2024, verified by a national identification card or passport.
This change aims to reduce administrative burden, simplify access, and ensure equitable distribution. The new measure will cost over $60 billion, exceeding the previous allocation for household grants.
“We believe that this is the best course of action and as a responsible government, as a government that understands that we have a responsibility to ensure all feel included, a part of the system. It is important that we build a system that is robust in delivering this grant, and its simplest way, most verifiable way, was $100,000 for every Guyanese.”
Additionally, tuition fees at all government technical and vocational training institutions will be abolished, benefitting over 3,000 more individuals.
This is in addition to tuition fees being abolished at the University of Guyana.
“All government technical and vocational training institutions, including all of the technical institutes, the Guyana industrial training centre, the Guyana School of Home Economics, the Guyana School of Agriculture, all of these, the tuition fees will now be abolished.”
This measure will take effect soon.
In keeping with my government’s efforts in ensuring that greater benefit, greater access to benefit, more equitable access to benefit, a more open and transparent access to benefit is the realisation of every Guyanese, and the full potential of our policies are aimed at empowering and helping as much persons as possible.”
Last week, during an address to the National Assembly, the President unveiled a slew of measures geared at addressing the rising cost of living.
These included plans to slash electricity cost, offer free university education and provide more financial aid for the elderly and children were disclosed.
These measures, he noted, are real policies and actions taken by the government to bring relief to citizens.
“This is how the resources and revenues of this country are being spent every single day; to uplift the lives of people, to expand national wealth, to expand personal wealth, to expand community wealth. This is what the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government is all about,” the Head of State said Thursday last.
While comparing the PPP/C administration’s deliverables to that of the former A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, Dr. Ali stated that the coalition administration was only characterised by promises.

He further revealed that, in addition to the increases awarded to the public sector workforce, by the end of 2025 no public sector employee would be working for less than $100,000 per month.
This, the President further detailed, will see the disposable income for these employees increasing by more than $1 billion.
“This is how we build prosperity; this is how we reduce disparity, and how we build equity in the system,” he said.