– tells supporters APNU would not be a gov’t of handouts and grants

WITHOUT clearly explaining how an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) government would “open up access” to funds that “belong” to Guyanese, Attorney-at-Law and party candidate Ronald Daniels has said APNU does not have money to give out and would not operate as a government of handouts.

The statement, made during its Linden campaign rally on Sunday, appears to contradict the party’s own promises of disbursing cash to Guyanese including the headline pledge of a $1 million per household grant unveiled at APNU’s election campaign launch in Georgetown, one month ago.

“The Aubrey Norton government is not going to give monies to you. We don’t have monies to give to you. The only thing we are going to do is to open up access to monies that belong to you,” Daniels said to the crowd of supporters, adding that APNU would not be a government of “handouts and grants.”

The party had declared that 58 per cent of the 2025 budget, under an APNU government, would go toward direct cash transfers.

The proposal was first championed by coalition partner Dr. David Hinds, who argued for an “investment in people” through a direct transfer of $1 million to every Guyanese citizen.

“We believe that by 2025, each Guyanese should be entitled to one million dollars. Not $100,000 — that’s frek. We’re talking about a real investment in people,” Hinds said at the launch.

Just last year, Norton was quoted in the press stating that if a coalition including his People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) won the 2025 elections, Guyanese would receive “predictable” cash grants on fixed schedules — grants that could also serve as proof of income for bank transactions.

Earlier this year, Norton also criticised the government’s $100,000 cash grant initiative but promised that an APNU administration would provide transfers aimed at ensuring all Guyanese receive a liveable income while increasing their ability to plan, purchase, save, and invest.