Over 50,000 public servants receive $100K cash grant before Christmas

The distribution of the $100,00 one-off cash grant got underway on Monday which saw public servants including those at the Ministries of Health, Housing and Water, Finance, Education, Agriculture and the Office of the Prime Minister receiving theirs.
Guyana Times understands that over 50,000 public servants and members of the Disciplined Services were already registered and the distribution commenced. Additionally, hundreds of sugar workers from across the country collected their grants.
However, at one of the distribution sites in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, spoke about the importance of this Government initiative, noting that it is putting much-needed disposable income into the hands of Guyanese just days before Christmas.
Mustapha reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to improving the well-being and financial stability of citizens. “Today (Tuesday) you are receiving a cash grant of $100,000 from the Government. You have received your retroactive payments a few days back”.

“So, I want to thank you for your support over the years. Let us continue to work together. Let us continue to build this country. There are exciting times ahead for us. Our future is bright. So, continue to support the Government. Let us realise the objective that we have set ourselves, the objective that the President wants us to achieve of one Guyana,” Mustapha stated.
However, recipients have since expressed gratitude to the Government, with many indicating that the funds would provide much-needed financial relief during the holiday season.
Rasheed Hussain, an employee at Rose Hall Sugar Estate shared that he plans to divide the money among his family.
“I feel very nice about this little fine cash they give we for the new year. I’m thankful and I thank the Government and everybody… I plan to share it with my children them for the new year,” Hussain said.
Another employee of the same estate, Martin Joseph shared “it come in nice for the holiday and give we a start for the new year. I won’t be troubled for now but in the new year I have things to do. I have some construction to do on the house”.
On Monday, scores of teachers lined up at the St Stanislaus College along Brickdam Georgetown to collect the grant, with beneficiaries expressing gratitude for the financial relief, which they explained would cover essential expenses and spread holiday joy to their families.

Only recently, the Government had been granted approval for more than $84 billion in supplementary funds for several projects including the highly-anticipated $100,000 one-off cash grant initiative. Of this amount, $30.5 billion is for the commencement of the $100,000 cash grant initiative.
The Government’s $100,000 cash grant initiative was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali in October and every Guyanese citizen 18 years and older will receive the payout.
During his weekly press conference on December 20, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealed that over 365,500 citizens have already registered for the Government of Guyana’s $100,000 cash grant initiative.
Providing a breakdown, the Vice President revealed that in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), over 16,000 people have registered, with more than 90 per cent of cheques having already been distributed.
Similarly, Region One (Barima-Waini) has registered a comparable number of residents, with distribution currently underway. Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) has seen the registration of over 6,500 individuals, while the figure for Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) exceeded 12,000.
Distribution has begun in Region Eight, and the cheques for Region Seven are being processed. The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and the Bank of Guyana are collaborating with the Finance Ministry to help the Indigenous people cash their cheques. Travel guide
However, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has seen a total of 221,000 registrations, of which 156,000 have been verified. The verification process, the Vice President shared, is crucial for ensuring there are no duplications within the database.
The pensioners’ cash grants are being issued in collaboration with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, which is responsible for the distribution of old-age pensions. So far, the Vice President said 44,000 pensioners were registered, with some 27,000 cheques already printed.
Registration and distribution of the $100,000 cash grant will commence in the other regions soon.
Approximately $30 billion will be placed into the hands of Guyanese during the first phase of distribution. The cash grant is being distributed to persons 18 years and older countrywide.
A second phase of registration will be undertaken for persons who were unable to register during the first phase. The initiative forms part of the Administration’s broader strategy to generate long-term wealth for citizens. Additional measures are expected to be outlined in Budget 2025. (G1)