FUNDS have been set aside for the disbursement of the $100,000 cash grant, aimed at easing the cost of living and putting direct financial support into the hands of citizens aged 18 and over.
The allocation was passed by the Committee of Supply during the consideration of budget estimates on Monday night, following heavy scrutiny from the members of the parliamentary opposition on transparency and implementation of the initiative.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, told the parliamentary committee that the grant forms part of a wider package of measures under the “Putting People First” 2026 budget, which he described as being focused on “shared prosperity” for all citizens.
The government is catering for 716,261 people, all of whom are expected to receive the $100,000 payment once the budget is approved. Eligibility is based on two criteria, being a Guyanese citizen, and being 18 years of age or older at the time of registration.
“The average Guyanese will know that we already went through an exercise where over 600,000 people are already registered, and we have, we have that… that record of the people already registered, obviously it will be updated, and then we’ll have to do an additional registration exercise to cater for some 14,000 there about Guyanese, who will likely qualify,” the Prime Minister said.
He further confirmed that over 600,000 people have already been registered from the previous exercise, and that this list will be checked, updated, and cleaned, to remove the names of the deceased and to add approximately 14,000 newly eligible citizens.
The Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Finance will begin detailed preparations for disbursement immediately after the 2026 budget is passed.
“We are feverishly working toward the passage of this budget, and to start the preparation to pay the people of Guyana including all the members of the opposition, to pay you the $100,000 that you deserve and you qualify for by simply being a citizen of Guyana 18 years and above, shared prosperity. We promised that, we’re delivering on that,” Phillips said.
Questions were also raised about the method of distribution, particularly for public servants and others who receive salaries via bank transfer.
In response, the Prime Minister said the government had already been discussing the best way to ensure payments are fast, easy, and efficient.
He reiterated that the cash grant programme is complemented by a plethora of other measures to cushion Guyanese from the cost of living.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, last year, encouraged the public to open bank accounts in preparations of electronic transfers.
He had highlighted then the government’s ongoing efforts to modernise public services. The President had noted that the entire system is being digitised to ensure efficiency and transparency in the distribution of benefits.
The government, in 2024, had announced the distribution of a $100,000 cash grant to every Guyanese aged 18 and older. This upcoming disbursement will be the second transfer under this initiative.