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APNU protest erupts over Christmas cash grant
(Kaieteur News) – A small protest led by the opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) jolted the Square of the Revolution on Monday, as enraged citizens demanded that the government deliver the long-promised cash grant.
APNU parliamentary leader Dr. Terrence Campbell and MP Ganesh Mahipaul headed the march, joined by attorney Dexter Todd, MP Saiku Andrews, ALP leader Simona Broomes, and V-PAC head Dorwain Bess. The crowd, angry, loud, and fed-up held placards describing the daily financial torment they face. One read: “Eggs are five for $700. Irfaan, we want to eat good tuh.” Another laid out the math of survival: “Salary: $105,000. Rent: $65,000. Transport: $20,000. Children to feed. We want our cash grant.
Protestors outside Office of the President.
ALP member Simona Broomes with APNU members Terrence Campbell and Dexter Todd.
Others decried the situation as “lawlessness” and expressed frustration over not receiving the promised financial support. During the protest, Dr. Campbell spoke with reporters and highlighted the suffering of many Guyanese. He cited a recent report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which revealed that 58% of the population lives in poverty. “There are people who are suffering in this country. The APNU is not only concerned about the cash grant but also a broader package to help the suffering masses,” Campbell said.
He added that the demand for cash transfers is only one part of the broader support that the government needs to provide. “We must take our people out of poverty. What we are calling for is a minimum of $100,000 for every adult over the age of 18. We are not limiting it to $150,000. This is the least the government should be paying out—and they should do it before Christmas, when prices for basic commodities will go up.”
Broomes, speaking at the protest, expressed solidarity with the citizens’ frustrations. “I am out here today standing up for all Guyanese, including myself. The time has come for all of us to stand. We call on all Guyanese to join this movement. The citizens are not feeling the benefit of this wealth, and we believe that every year, there must be a defined policy on how wealth is transferred to citizens,” Broomes said. She further criticized the government’s approach, saying, “The language of the government is deliberate to impoverish and keep people in a mindset of enslavement. The president said, ‘If you behave yourself, we will give you.’ We must no longer accept that any government treats us as if we are their children or puppets. The wealth of this country is a national resource and should go beyond political interests.”
The APNU coalition pointed out that with an estimated 604,000 citizens qualifying for the promised cash grant by this month, the government could distribute at least $150,000 per person, totaling an expenditure of $90.6 billion. The coalition believes this amount is a manageable percentage of the government’s projected revenues, making the proposal feasible.
Dr. Campbell also criticised President Irfaan Ali’s recent comments regarding the cash grant. “President Irfaan Ali recently told Guyanese, ‘If you behave yourself, you get it this year,’” Campbell said. “This language is disrespectful, improper, politically coercive, and entirely unacceptable as national social policy.”
The coalition is demanding that the government distribute the cash grants before the Christmas season, when the cost-of-living is expected to increase. They argue that the government’s failure to deliver on this promise is a direct reflection of the neglect faced by ordinary citizens struggling with high living costs.
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