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Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton raised serious concerns on Friday regarding the distribution of the PPP-led government’s GYD$100,000 cash grant, labeling it a potential tool for election vote-buying in 2025. Speaking at the PNCR press conference, Norton expressed skepticism over the government’s decision to allocate the grant to Guyanese in the diaspora, despite claiming insufficient funds to increase teacher salaries within the country. According to Norton, the grant scheme lacks clear criteria and appears to prioritize PPP-aligned communities, raising suspicions about its true purpose ahead of the general and regional elections.
“Jagdeo and the PPP elites are creating another avenue for corruption,” Norton said, questioning the eligibility of diaspora Guyanese to benefit from a grant meant to address rising local living costs, while not against the distribution in principle. He accused the government of exploiting public funds to maintain political control, highlighting the alleged misalignment between President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo’s approach. “This is yet another wild scheme from Jagdeo,” Norton continued, pointing to the absence of structured criteria, which he argues enables the ruling party to misuse identification cards of overseas supporters to funnel funds for political gain.
Norton also contrasted the government’s approach to cash grants with its resistance to meet teachers’ demands for higher pay. While teachers across the country struggle with stagnant wages, the opposition leader noted that “the PPP has suddenly found money to pay thousands of Guyanese in the diaspora.” He claimed the cash grants are being handled without accountability and transparency, citing the PPP’s track record of alleged forgery and biased fund distribution.
Norton further demanded that the distribution of the cash grants include independent scrutineers to ensure transparency and accountability. He called for a system similar to that used in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) registration process, where opposition scrutineers could verify each recipient’s eligibility at the point of distribution. This oversight, Norton argued, would help curb potential misuse of funds and prevent PPP favoritism from influencing the allocation process. He contended that this measure is crucial to avoid a repeat of alleged discrimination and corruption that marred previous cash distributions, including COVID-19 relief funds.
Touching on other issues in the press conference, Shadow Minister of Local Government Ganesh Mahipaul added that PNCR supporters in Champagne, Region 5, have been facing harassment for supporting the opposition, with many reportedly coerced into silence through threats and even investigations under the Cybercrime Act. Additionally, Norton underscored his ongoing demand for a forensic audit of senior government officials, arguing that a deeper investigation is essential to expose corruption and restore public trust in the administration.
The press conference ultimately underscored the opposition’s stance on financial transparency, equitable wages, and the need for nonpartisan distribution of resources—a call that will likely echo into Guyana’s 2025 election season.
