$50,000 cash grant for persons with disabilities

Dec 04, 2025 News

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…as Pres. Ali unveils plans for 5,000 jobs, new rights revolution for PWDs

(Kaieteur News) – President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced a major national intervention: every person living with a disability in Guyana will receive a one-off $50,000 grant before the end of this month.

The initiative amounts to $1.4 billion in direct support to more than 27,000 Guyanese. The head of state made the announcement during a national observance that celebrated dignity, inclusion, and the shared responsibility of building a society where every citizen can thrive.

The national observance was organised by the Office of the President in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and held at the Railway Courtyard in Georgetown on Wednesday morning. President Ali began his remarks with a reminder that disabilities, whether congenital, acquired, temporary, or lifelong, are part of the human experience. They touch families in every community and represent not a deficit, but another dimension of human knowledge.

He said that, as a people grounded in faith, empathy and community, Guyanese must “bear one another’s burdens”, noting that true national development is measured by how well society supports those most in need. “Regardless of where you sit, in public or private life, we must make it a collective responsibility to uplift those who are mourning, struggling or underserved,” the President affirmed.

Meanwhile, President also announced an ambitious disability-inclusive initiative to create at least 5,000 jobs for persons living with disabilities (PWDs) over the next five years. According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) press release, the President underscored that sustainable employment is a powerful tool to advance dignity, independence and equal opportunity. He  reminded the gathering that disability is a universal human condition, touching families in every community. As a nation grounded in compassion, he said, Guyana must “bear one another’s burdens,” especially the most vulnerable. “Regardless of where you sit, in public or private life, we must make it a collective responsibility to uplift those who are underserved or struggling,” he affirmed.

He stressed that true development cannot be measured solely in economic growth but in how well the society supports and includes persons with disabilities. Highlighting successful disability-inclusive employment programmes in Regions Five and Six, developed through government–private sector collaboration, the President announced that these models will now be expanded nationwide. “If we replicate this model across sectors, government, private enterprise, community spaces, we can easily turn the tide,” he said. “That is why I want us…to target at least 5,000 jobs for persons living with disabilities over the next five years.”

In a sweeping new directive, President Ali announced that every new government project from parks and community centres to offices and sports facilities must dedicate a minimum of 10% of its space to serve persons with disabilities.

He said based on consultations with the disability community and advocacy groups, eight major action areas will guide the government’s work:

1. Caregiver support
2. Education and digital learning access
3. Community empowerment
4. Transportation support
5. Health services
6. Housing access
7. Government service accessibility
8. Skills training and income generation

Dr Ali also highlighted significant advances already made, including:

• The Prevention of Discrimination Act
• The Persons with Disabilities Act
• The National Policy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• A permanent disability benefit system
• Creation of the first national Learning Lab for PWD education and digital skills
• Online disability benefit applications
• A national database for children with disabilities
• Distribution of thousands of assistive and mobility aids
• The establishment of the Empower Guyana Centre, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, which provides employment and training to more than 120 PWDs

The President outlined several transformative interventions that will be rolled out, including:

• Early identification and treatment systems
• Special-needs school expansion and home-schooling support
• Increased access to mobility aids and digital devices
• New business centres for PWDs
• A national caregiver training programme
• Remote monitoring and emergency alert technologies
• Special housing support and subsidies for parents of children with disabilities
• Tax incentives for families
• Grants for caregivers who provide in-home support
• A new National Development Bank financing window offering interest-free, collateral-free loans to PWDs

“Our mission is to create an environment where persons with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of national life and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s growth,” he said. “Let us embrace this community with love, understanding and dignity, and let us continue to build a Guyana where no one is left behind.”

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• cash grant, disability, persons living with disabilities, rights revolution

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