|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Georgetown, Guyana — The registration process for the Government of Guyana’s $100,000 Cash Grant Initiative has entered a new phase, with updated guidelines released by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The program, initially announced by President Irfaan Ali on October 10, 2024, as a $200,000 cash grant to be distributed “instantaneously” to all Guyanese households, has seen several revisions over the past month.
The Ministry’s guidelines outline a step-by-step registration process for Guyanese citizens 18 years or older. Applicants must visit designated registration centers with valid identification, such as a National Identification Card or Passport. Photos of registrants and their identification documents will be taken to ensure the integrity of the registration process. According to the Ministry, this step confirms the registrant’s presence and prevents fraud by linking the individual to the grant disbursement.
The initiative has faced setbacks and questions about its execution. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking to the media on October 30, addressed the delays in launching a digital app initially planned for public registration. “We are not going to launch it until it’s tested,” Jagdeo said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the app’s security and functionality before its rollout. He added that the app would allow citizens at home and abroad to register for the grant and assured the public that a press conference would follow its formal launch.
The opposition has been critical of the program’s implementation, calling it disorganized and inconsistent. In a statement issued on November 20, 2024, the opposition questioned the government’s motives, particularly why registrants are required to provide information about their voting locations and scan the QR code on their ID cards. The opposition labeled these requirements “very unusual” and indicative of poor planning on the government’s part.
Despite these criticisms, the government has moved forward with the current manual registration process. The Ministry of Finance reiterated that the cash grant aims to provide much-needed relief to Guyanese households but did not address concerns raised about transparency and fairness.
