Budget 2026: Because We Care now $60K; $20K transport per child, $5K for uniform vouchers

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, in presenting the 2026 Budget themed “Putting People First” to the National Assembly, announced that Government will continue its consultative approach to easing cost-of-living pressures, setting aside $9 billion to address the needs of all Guyanese.
Dr. Singh highlighted the Because We Care (BWC) Student Grant, noting that since its restoration in 2020, the grant has been incrementally increased from $10,000 in 2014 to $50,000 in 2025. For 2026, the Minister announced a further increase to $60,000 per student, benefiting 206,000 children in public and private schools. This represents an additional $2 billion being transferred to households with school-age children, bringing the total BWC transfers to $12.4 billion. In addition, the Government will introduce an Annual Transportation Support Grant of $20,000 per child, providing an extra $4.1 billion in disposable income for parents. Combined with the uniform voucher allowance of $5,000, the total support per child will amount to $85,000, totaling $17.5 billion for the year. Dr Singh emphasized that these measures reflect Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting families and ensuring that public interventions remain responsive to the needs of Guyanese citizens.