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Georgetown, Guyana — Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson, of the APNU+AFC, has voiced strong concerns about the Vice President’s approach to the planned $100,000 cash grant distribution. In a letter published on November 5, Ferguson questioned why the government, led by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, appears resistant to enacting legislation that would ensure the grants are transparently managed and equitably distributed. She further criticized the decision to abandon the use of the national voter’s list in the payout process, a move she argues undermines accountability.
Ferguson described Jagdeo’s reaction to the suggestion of legislative oversight for the cash grants as “livid” and noted his “vehement opposition” to the idea. Ferguson surmised that Jagdeo’s apparent resistance stems from the fact that the proposal wasn’t initiated by his party. “My only guess,” Ferguson wrote, “is that the idea was not a ‘Jagdeo’s one, or a PPP/C one.’”
Additionally, Ferguson highlighted the government’s inconsistent approach to previous cash grant programs, which she contends have been distributed “in a discriminatory manner, without structural systems in place.” She cited past payouts, including $250,000 for some sugar workers and $150,000 for select farmers, as examples of the PPP/C allegedly favoring communities aligned with the government. Ferguson argued that legislative oversight could prevent any potential bias in future distributions and could help ensure the process reflects “good governance” principles.
Ferguson also questioned the government’s decision to replace the use of the voter’s list with an app-based system, which she described as potentially problematic for elderly and vulnerable populations. “What was amazing to me,” she stated, “there was no mention of GECOM and the Voter’s List,” and she raised concerns that the app could pose accessibility issues for older Guyanese, particularly those without internet access or smartphones. In her letter, she urged the government to consider the needs of seniors who may be technologically disadvantaged or without access to the app-based system. Ferguson suggested that the government should consider alternative, accessible methods for grant distribution, particularly for those in geriatric homes or shelters, adding, “Our elderly folks should not be forced to go through what younger Guyanese will have to endure.”
For Ferguson, the exclusion of vulnerable populations from the proposed grant distribution method raises questions about the government’s priorities. She pointed out that the government’s decision to bypass the voter’s list could sideline groups such as incarcerated individuals, many of whom are on the voter’s list and “entitled to equitable treatment under the law.” Ferguson called on reporters to press the administration for answers on how such individuals will be accommodated in the payout process.
Ferguson demands that the PPP government heed the feedback being offered, stating, “Any Government that is serious about transparency, accountability and good governance would weigh the options provided to them… We cannot and should not continue like this as a nation, where the ‘winner takes all mentality or approach’ is doing more harm than good.”
