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– Unveils PNCR/APNU “Good Governance Dividend” Plan
Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton has sharply criticized the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s handling of the recently announced $200,000 cash grant per household, which was later revised to $100,000 per adult. Norton stated that the government’s cash transfer scheme, announced by President Irfaan Ali on October 10, 2024, was a response to “political pressure” from the Opposition and exposed the PPP’s “lack of planning and preparation.”
Norton argued that the PPP’s announcement is a reactionary measure that reflects the party’s “political insecurity and desperation,” while accusing the government of having “deceptive excuses about inflation and the Dutch Disease.” He also claimed that the ruling party is more interested in benefiting its “friends, families, and favourites” than genuinely addressing the struggles of ordinary Guyanese. According to Norton, the government’s recent shift to provide $100,000 per adult rather than per household was influenced by the Opposition’s pressure and the failure of the PPP to define what constitutes a household, an issue that had previously caused confusion during the COVID-19 cash grant program.
Norton also highlighted the government’s delay in delivering funds from oil windfalls, particularly the $300 million received from the high oil prices following the Russia-Ukraine war, saying, “The government still owes the people the $US300 million… a payout which we have been calling for since 2022.”
Emphasizing the PNCR/APNU’s structured economic strategy, Norton outlined the party’s commitment to policies that guarantee a higher quality of life for all Guyanese. He stressed that their decision-making is not driven by “electoral politics, political gimmicks, or unplanned, knee-jerk reactions,” but by careful consideration of sound economic policies. Norton detailed a range of proposals, including raising the tax-free threshold to GY$400,000 per month, significant increases in salaries and pensions, and subsidies for essential services like electricity, water, and cooking gas.
Norton also announced the Opposition’s plan to introduce a recurring “Good Governance Dividend” if elected to power. This initiative, he said, would deliver annual lump sum cash transfers to Guyanese citizens, with at least $100,000 per citizen each year. The funds for this dividend would come from reducing corruption, tighter public financial management, and better oversight of oil company expenditures. Norton added, “This is not a knee-jerk or sporadic measure; this is a calculated financial exercise to ensure Guyanese can benefit as much as possible from oil revenues.”
He predicted that these measures could generate over GY$60 billion annually, which would be distributed to citizens in a predictable manner to help them improve their standard of living and access loans, mortgages, and other investments. Norton concluded that the PNCR/APNU’s comprehensive plan would provide substantial and sustainable economic benefits to ordinary Guyanese, far exceeding the PPP’s one-off cash grant approach.
