During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that over 365,500 citizens aged 18 and older have registered for the Government of Guyana’s $100,000 cash grant initiative. The initiative aims to provide financial support to eligible citizens, and distribution is already underway in some regions.
The Vice President revealed that over 16,000 individuals have registered in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and more than 90% of cheques have been distributed. Similarly, Region One (Barima-Waini) has registered a comparable number of residents, with distribution currently ongoing. In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), over 6,500 people have registered, while Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) has recorded over 12,000 registrations. Distribution has begun in Region Eight, while cheques for Region Seven are in the processing stage.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and the Bank of Guyana are collaborating with the Finance Ministry to assist Indigenous communities in cashing their cheques.
Progress in Region Four and Public Servant Registration
Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has seen significant progress, with 221,000 registrations recorded. Of these, 156,000 have been verified. Vice President Dr. Jagdeo emphasized the importance of the verification process, stating:
“The distribution of the grant should hopefully commence over the next few days and hopefully be completed before the end of the year… once they are registered, the team still has to go and check the database to see there is no duplication.”
Additionally, approximately 50,000 public servants and members of the Disciplined Services have been registered, and cheque distribution is set to begin immediately. Dr Jagdeo noted that this distribution phase is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Pensioners and Ongoing Registration
The initiative also includes pensioners, with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry assisting in the distribution of cash grants. So far, 44,000 pensioners have been registered, and 27,000 cheques have been printed.
Registration for the cash grant remains ongoing to ensure all eligible individuals are included. The Vice President explained:
“This will happen in all of the regions even after we complete the main registration because not everyone will be able to get registered during the period in which we visit that region or community, so there will be a mop-up activity.”
Process and Requirements
The $100,000 cash grant initiative, announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali in October, requires registrants to present a valid National Identification Card or passport. Photocopies are not accepted. During registration, applicants’ photos are taken alongside their ID or passport to confirm eligibility and prevent fraud.
The initiative is backed by over $30.5 billion from supplementary funds approved by the Government. Technical teams use pre-programmed tablets to gather data, verify registrants, and process cheques following registration. A distribution schedule is then published, with cheques disbursed at the locations where registration occurred.
This one-off cash grant initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to providing financial relief to every Guyanese citizen aged 18 and older.
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Guyana by delivering on the promise of the $100,000 cash grant initiative. This impactful measure has been met with widespread approval and gratitude as citizens begin to experience the tangible benefits of the Government’s efforts. The initiative is a testament to the leadership and vision of Vice President Jagdeo and President Dr. Irfaan Ali, ensuring that the nation’s resources, particularly from the oil and gas sector, are effectively utilized to improve the lives of all Guyanese.