Block them!

Mar 23, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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(Kaieteur News) – Something extraordinary is taking place in Guyana. It is a sudden and powerful movement, and it is happening right before our eyes.

Across the country, systems that were once used mainly by residents are now being flooded with applications from abroad. Overseas-based Guyanese are rushing to ensure they are registered for local ID cards. They are applying for Guyanese passports. Those over the age of 65 are signing up for old-age pensions. At the same time, thousands are going online to fill out forms to secure house lots. This is not a trickle. It is a surge.

What makes this moment even more striking is that it is not only the migrants themselves. Their children—many of whom were born overseas and hold foreign citizenship—are also entering the system. Because their parents are Guyanese, they are eligible for Guyanese citizenship. And they are claiming it in growing numbers.

Why now? The answer is simple. Guyana has changed. The country is now an oil-producing nation. Wealth is growing. Opportunities are expanding. Land values are rising. Government benefits, such as cash grants, pensions, and access to house lots, have become more attractive than ever before. And so, people who left decades ago and their children who have never lived here are now seeking to secure a share of these benefits.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with being proud of one’s roots. There is nothing wrong with reconnecting with one’s homeland. But what we are seeing goes far beyond sentiment or identity. It is driven by economics. It is driven by opportunity. And, in many cases, it is driven by greed. The numbers tell a troubling story. During the last cash grant distribution, some 600,000 persons registered. That figure is far higher than the total adult population of Guyana. It raises serious questions. How is it possible? The answer is clear. The list has been swollen—by overseas-based Guyanese, and possibly by duplicate registrations.

If this trend continues, the consequences will be real and immediate. Consider the cash grant. A fixed sum of G$70 billion has been set aside for this exercise. If the number of registrants doubles, the amount each person receives must fall. What might have been a meaningful grant could shrink to a much smaller sum. A benefit designed to ease the burden on citizens could lose its impact. Instead of $100,000, persons could end up only receiving $50,000.

The same concern applies to house lots. For years, thousands of Guyanese, especially young families and low-income earners, have been waiting patiently for land. They have applied, waited, and hoped. Now, they may find themselves competing with applicants who live abroad, who earn in stronger currencies, and who may not even intend to live in Guyana. Many of those overseas just want the land to flip.  What happens to the dream of home ownership for those who have stayed, struggled, and contributed locally?

And what of the pension system? If large numbers of overseas-based Guyanese begin to register for old-age pensions, the strain on public resources will grow. While the present rules now only permit persons who live in Guyana, the number of persons registered for old-age pensions is believed to surpass the adult population aged 65 and over.

Overseas-based Guyanese have found ways to beat the system. They use their foreign passports to travel in and out of Guyana but they apply for the pension with their local passports. When the authorities check the records, the local passport office shows no evidence of the person leaving Guyana on the local; passport and thus, these persons are registered for old age pensions when they do not live in Guyana.

The pension funds were meant to support the elderly who reside here, who depend on local systems, and who have spent their lives contributing to the country. But this scheme is being abused by overseas based Guyanese. The government is now preparing to launch an app to register persons for the cash grant. This is an important step. But it must be done carefully. If the app is accessible worldwide, it could open the floodgates even further. It could make an already difficult situation worse. Persons living overseas will register easily now; they don’t have to come to Guyana to collect the cash grant.

There is a simple solution. The system should prioritize residents. Access to the app should be limited to those physically present in Guyana, or at the very least, those who can prove continuous residence. Strong verification measures must be put in place to prevent duplication and abuse.  The app should be so developed that it can only be accessed in Guyana. What we are witnessing is extraordinary. But it is also a warning. Without clear policies and firm action, this rush could create deep inequalities and lasting resentment. If we are not careful, the very benefits meant to uplift the population could be diluted, stretched, and undermined.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• Block them!, Guyanese citizenship, Guyanese passports, local ID cards, Peeping Tom

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