Human Rights Activist Melissa Atwell Slams PPP Government’s Corruption and Cash Grant Program

October 10, 2024 – Human rights activist Melissa Atwell has launched a blistering attack on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, accusing them of widespread corruption and mismanagement of Guyana’s oil wealth through their cash grant programs. Her comments come in the wake of the government’s recent announcement of a GY$200,000 cash grant to every household, a move she decried as a political stunt ahead of elections rather than a genuine attempt to help those in need.

Atwell did not hold back in her critique, claiming that for the past two years, the PPP has been siphoning off the country’s oil revenues to benefit their friends, family, and loyal supporters. “This administration has been sharing cash grants to their friends and family, the side chicks, the side chicks’ families—everyone but the citizens of Guyana who desperately need it,” she said.

In her scathing criticism, Atwell pointed out that many of the recipients of these cash grants are individuals who don’t need the money, while the people truly suffering—the poor, small business owners, and families struggling to send their children to school—have been left out. “They weren’t giving it to the people who actually needed it. Greed was driving this whole thing,” she charged.

Atwell also highlighted the flawed distribution system of the grants, stating that some families were able to exploit the system, with several members from the same household collecting multiple grants. In some cases, she claimed, people were flying in from overseas to collect the cash grants. “It was greed. Some of them didn’t need the money, but they collected it anyway, knowing fully well that others needed it more,” she said.

Several local citizens are asking how the government plans to define “households” in a country where several families often live under one roof, and where a significant portion of the population resides in squatter settlements.

According to Atwell, the sudden offer of cash to every household is nothing more than an attempt to quiet critics and buy votes ahead of the next election.  “They’ve been giving cash grants to their supporters for the last two years, and now that people are calling them out, they come with this GY$200,000 for each household,” Atwell remarked. “This is nothing but a distraction. They’re trying to cover up the billions they’ve already given away to their friends and family.”

Atwell argued that the timing of the announcement, just months before an election year, is far from coincidental. She predicted that the government would soon start giving away land and other incentives to sway voters. “Next up, they’ll start giving out land and pretend they care about the people. But we all know this is just a ploy to stay in office,” she said.

A Legacy of Corruption

Atwell’s fiery critique extended beyond the cash grants, painting a damning picture of the PPP government’s overall management of Guyana’s newfound oil wealth. “Everything this government does is a scam, a corruption scheme. Every program, every initiative—it’s all about filling their own pockets,” she asserted. She claimed that the PPP’s track record over the last few years has been one of rampant corruption, with no regard for the welfare of ordinary citizens.

“This GY$200,000 is just another trick, another lie from a government that has done a piss-poor job of managing the oil money,” Atwell concluded. She urged Guyanese citizens to take whatever the government offers but to see it for what it truly is—a desperate attempt to hold onto power.

Atwell’s comments have sparked significant debate as the country grapples with questions over how its oil revenues are being distributed and managed. With elections looming, the government’s cash grants and other relief efforts will undoubtedly remain a hot topic in the coming months, as critics like Atwell continue to challenge the administration’s handling of the nation’s wealth.