Over 400,000 citizens registered for 100K cash grant to date – Finance Min

…urges citizens to remain orderly at cash grant sites

As the Government continues the rollout of the $100,000 one-off cash grant initiative, Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Ashni Singh disclosed that 400,000 citizens over the age of 18 have registered.
“I am delighted to say that to date we have registered in excess of 412,000 Guyanese persons. Now that’s not by any stretch of the imagination a small number. You can imagine reaching 412,000 persons.”
Dr Singh added, “And for the greater part, I would say that the registration exercise has gone smoothly. Now I want to emphasise that we have not done general registration, that is for the public at large, in the coastal regions as yet, in Regions Two, Three, and some parts of Four, Five, Six and 10. We haven’t done general registration, we’ve done the targeted registration, like I said public servants and pensioners.”

On this note, the Minister highlighted that the distribution exercise is also moving apace with over 300,000 cheques being printed, 95,000 of which have already been distributed.
“Now, having registered 412,000 persons, you would know also that we went to Parliament, we sought appropriations in the Parliament to meet the cost of about half of this exercise, to meet the cost of about 300,000. We have now to date cut 302,000 cheques. And I want to emphasise here again that, that is itself a very significant number and we’ve already distributed over 95,000 of those cheques. And we’re in the process of distributing right now as we speak.”
As it relates to persons who missed the registration exercise Minister Singh assured these citizens that they will be given another chance to register for the grant.
“There is absolutely no need for panic or worry that you might not get registered. I’m saying definitively that there is no need to fear that I missed the registration day on a particular day so I will miss my chance to register…The registration places are going to be open at least for the dates that we’ve advertised and even after those dates, we will still set up locations to mop up those who did not get to register so don’t worry.”
Additionally, the Minister urged citizens to conduct themselves in an orderly manner at the cash grant distribution sites.
“There’s no need for confusion, there’s no need for long lines. If you turn up and you’re prepared to wait in the line, that’s fine, that’s your prerogative. You join the line, you wait, you uplift your cheque. I would encourage people not necessarily to wait in long lines because you can come back later, you can come back the next day.”
The Government’s $100,000 Cash Grant Initiative was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali in October and every Guyanese citizen 18 years old and over will receive the payout.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had indicated that the initial distribution process of the $100,000 one-off cash grant is expected to see about 300,000 Guyanese receiving their cash grants before the end of 2024, while the remainder of persons should receive theirs this year.
To date, senior citizens along with Ministry staff, teachers, members of the Disciplined Service and some communities in the hinterland have received their grants.