“This grant is not a privilege; it is a right” – President Ali

– as Govt rolls out $100K newborn cash grant

The Guyana Government has officially launched its $100,000 cash grant for each newborn child of a Guyanese mother, and according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, this initiative, starting this year, is not a privilege but a fundamental right.
Speaking at the official launch event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Saturday, the Head of State emphasised that the grant is more than financial assistance, noting that it is a crucial investment in Guyana’s future.
“This cash grant is more than a financial support. It is a seed planted in the soil of our nation’s future. When we invest in our children today, we invest in the scientists, teachers, artists, leaders, farmers. We invest in the future of tomorrow. A generation nurtured is a generation that will build and sustain the world we leave behind. As such, this cash grant must be seen not as a cost on the country treasury, but as a deposit into our children’s future. It is a down payment on their ability to contribute meaningfully to our society,” he stressed.

“Let us refrain, let us refrain from considering this as an expense or a burden. It is an investment in a brighter, more prosperous Guyana for generations to come. Let me also be clear on another point. This grant is not a privilege. It is a right,” the President said.
The Government has allocated $1.3 billion annually to fund the initiative, which was introduced in the 2025 National Budget. Some 2,052 births recorded between January and February 2025, making up the first batch of mothers set to benefit from the initiative.
Providing a regional breakdown, President Ali revealed that during the period, 77 babies were born in Region One, Region Two recorded 132 births and Region Three saw 200 births while Region Four, home to the Georgetown Public Hospital, recorded the highest number of births at 712. The remaining areas in Region Four accounted for an additional 30 births.
Additionally, other regional figures include 26 births in Region Five, 215 in Region Six, 28 in Region Seven, 29 in Region Eight, 147 in Region Nine, and 85 in Region Ten.
Meanwhile, private hospitals across the country recorded 371 births.
According to the Guyanese leader, an estimated 17,000 babies are expected to benefit from the $100,000 cash grant this year, and to ensure a seamless rollout, the Government has put measures in place for all new mothers to receive the grant within a week of childbirth.
“Some may ask, what about those who do not deliver in the hospital? 99 per cent of all our deliveries, less than 1 per cent of our deliveries today, are outside of a hospital. So more than 99 per cent of our deliveries are in a hospital setting. So, the regional health offices, the regional system, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance will put things in place to ensure that all, all the children will receive, the mothers will receive this within the first week of birth, and more specifically, they will aim to give you before you leave the hospital,” he explained.
In addition to the $100,000 cash grant for newborns, First Lady Arya Ali ensured that some 600 mothers were provided with diapers and baby wipes —providing a small but significant support to help ease the early days of motherhood.
Along with the First Lady’s gift, another key aspect of the launch was the provision of birth certificates for the newborns.
This initiative, in partnership with the General Register Office (GRO), is part of the Government’s effort to streamline administrative processes and make essential services more accessible to parents across Guyana.