Guyana: Almost 400,000 Guyanese Received Cash Grant, Says Finance Minister

Nearly 400,000 Guyanese have received a cash grant of GY$100,000, according to Finance Minister Ashni Singh. The majority of these payments have been made through bank accounts, but the government is prepared to assist those without bank accounts, as stated by Singh during a Local Content Summit.

Singh noted that the government has successfully registered and paid close to 400,000 individuals in a relatively short period. The government allocated GY$60 billion in the 2026 National Budget specifically for this universal cash grant initiative.

For the first time, the cash grant was deposited directly into recipients’ bank accounts, which were provided during the online registration process. Singh highlighted that this method has proven to be the most efficient way to distribute the funds.

In addition, Singh assured that individuals without bank accounts, those who are ill, shut-ins, or residing in remote areas would still receive their payments. In Regions 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 9 (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), teams have been deployed to register individuals and alternative methods have been utilized to deliver the cash grants.

The Ministry of Finance is collaborating with the Ministry of Human Services to ensure that disabled individuals and shut-ins also receive their grants. Singh emphasized that while having a bank account is the easiest way to receive the cash grant, those who do not wish to open an account will not be denied their funds.

Although there were initial challenges with the online registration process, Singh commended local developers at the National Data Management Authority for creating a portal that enabled direct payments to over 300,000 individuals. He acknowledged that the high volume of registrations caused some delays but noted that the system has since been refined to better accommodate users.

Source: demerarawaves.com