–but must be present in Guyana, complete thorough registration process

GUYANESE living abroad who possess a Guyanese Identification Card (ID) or passport, are eligible to benefit from the $100,000 cash-grant initiative, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo said. 

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had announced that instead of the $200,000 one-off cash grant per household, the government would be proceeding with the $100,000 one-off cash grant initiative which would be more beneficial to Guyanese given that some households might have had internal conflicts, among other things.

Clarifying some misconceptions and misinformation surrounding the cash-grant initiative, Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, said there is no residency requirement for the receipt of this financial support to citizens.

“That makes Guyanese living abroad [above 18 years old] who have an ID card or a passport also eligible for the cash grant,” he said.

The PPP General Secretary, however, explained that persons will have to collect this grant in Guyana after going through a thorough registration process.

He went on to say: “The grant will not be paid overseas. We have no intention of going to New York or Toronto to register people. They will have to be here, and they are eligible as Guyanese, providing they have the necessary documents so they could receive the cash grant.”

This ensures that there is no discrimination against people based on residency, Jagdeo further emphasised.

The $100,000 cash-grant initiative will place over $60 billion into the pockets of Guyanese, exceeding the previous allocation for household grants.

President Ali, during his announcement, had said: “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.”

Jagdeo also justified the government’s decision to deviate from the initial plan, noting: “We may have more than 600,000 individuals. We were aiming for about 300,000 households at $200,000 each; that would have been $60 billion, but we may have more than 600,000 people. It may be a bit more money, but it will be an infinitely fairer system.”