Latest update March 12th, 2026 9:56 PM
$72B approved for $100K cash grant
…716,261 persons to benefit
(Kaieteur News) – The Committee of Supply on Monday night approved $72.5 billion for the distribution of the $100,000 one-off cash grant this year.
Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips who faced several questions relating to the cash grant during the consideration of budget estimates, told the National Assembly that approximately 716,261 Guyanese citizens will benefit in 2026.
Questioning the PM about the grant, APNU’s Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordon asked when the disbursement is expected to begin.
In his response, the prime minister said “Mr. Chair, we are at this phase where we have a budget. As we pass this budget, the ministry of finance will start the preparation for the disbursement of this money, and the people of Guyana will be duly informed as to how soon we will start the pay-out. Our president, His Excellency, has already communicated to the Guyanese people that this money will be paid after the budget 2026 is passed.”
Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier, Mark Phillips. (far right)
The PM was questioned whether Guyanese would have to register again for this second tranche of cash grant.
Phillips stated that this will be further explained by the Ministry of Finance, but he noted that they have the record of the over 600,000 people who already registered when the initiative was started in 2024, which will be updated.
“And then we’ll have to do an additional regulation registration exercise to cater for the some 14,000 thereabout Guyanese who will likely to qualify. So, we’ll have to do a check of the list, update it, and also do some registration. Because, as you know, many Guyanese will know, around 14,000 by our estimation, will be joining the 18 years and above list.
Obviously, there will be deaths that you have to take off the list, so there will be a cleaning up exercise of the list,” he explained.
Still on the grant, the opposition MP questioned what analysis or studies were done to determine the adequacy of the $100,000 and whether it is sufficient for all Guyanese.
“Mr. Chair, the honourable prime minister, mentioned that they would have made a promise that they would give the $100,000, but taking into consideration the high cost of living currently in the country, and also the poverty rate, I asked the honourable Prime Minister what measures or what analysis was done to bring them to the point that $100,000 is still sufficient for Guyanese in 2026,” Jordan asked.
In his response, the PM stated that the sufficiency is equal to the $100,000 plus all the other measures stated in the national budget.
“Mr Chair. I’m disappointed with that question, because the honourable minister of finance stood here for over five and a half, I think, six and a half hours, and he elaborated on all the measures, all the measures in the putting people first budget of 2026 that will bring relief to all the people of Guyana, whether you’re old, whether you’re young, whether you’re disabled, whether you’re unemployed, under employed, fully employed in the private sector, the public sector, whether you’re a gold miner,” he elaborated.
Further, the PM was asked whether has considered paying public servants and other persons who receive salaries using the banking system so the money could be easily transferred. The Prime Minister said discussions have been ongoing about is the easiest and the fastest way to ensure persons receive their money and at the appropriate time.
“When the decisions are made, the entire nation, all the people of Guyana will be informed,” he added.
The PM noted that once persons are Guyanese and are 18 years and above, they will be eligible to get the cash grant.
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