President announces billion$ increases in children’s grants, old age pension, public assistance

Last Updated on Sunday, 17 August 2025, 21:58 by Writer

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Sunday night announced multi-billion dollar increases in children’s grants, old age pension and public assistance.

The announcement was made at a ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) election campaign rally held in Lethem ahead of the September 1 polls to elect a President, parliamentarians and councillors for the 10 adminsitrative regions.

He said the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for Guyana’s more than 200,000 children in public and private schools would now be GY$200,000 per child with the addition of GY$100,000 cash for transportation.

Dr Ali said Public Assistance would now move from GY$25,000 to GY$40,000, pushing the total to GY$19 billion per year.

He also announced that Old Age pension would increase from GY$41,000 to GY$60,000 per month.

The President said those increases are “minimum” because once there is scope for further increases, Guyanese would benefit. “And we understand that the function of the economy, the performance of the economy, is closely correlated to the commitments we’re making. That is why I’m telling you at a minimum, because once our economy performs at a higher than expected rate, then you can expect more benefits and expanded benefits coming to you, your children and your families,” he said.

Dr Ali said those increases would be in addition to a subsidy for housing repairs and construction, small business development grant, presidential grant, funding from the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the Regional Budget. “This is outside all of that. This is outside investment we’ll make in your villages, because we want you to live a prosperous, fulfilling life here in Guyana,” he said.