AFC acknowledges Prof Thomas as initiator of cash grant push in Guyana, calls for 200K to each citizen

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has noted President Irfaan Ali’s announcement in Parliament on cash transfer and return of free education. Ali on Thursday, October 10, 2024, said each household will receive $200,000 as a cash transfer and from January 2025 students attending the University of Guyana would no longer have to pay. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1994 took away the right to free education from nursery to university.

Friday the AFC accepted the principle of direct transfers as originally proposed by Professor Clive Thomas. This acceptance is significant given recent communicated message on social media, after Ali’s announcement, that it was the party’s pushed for cash transfer that influenced PPP government’s decision.

In 2018, Professor Clive Thomas, of the Working People Alliance (WPA), called for US$5000 to be paid out yearly to each household from the oil and gas revenue. Thomas’ proposal was adopted by his party, that made a spirited nationwide pitch for its support, which was accepted and promoted by sections of civil society, trade unions, political parties and individuals.

The AFC said Thomas’ proposal “supported by opposition parties, is a crucial step toward ensuring citizens benefit from the country’s wealth,” ignoring the role other sections in society played in pressuring both the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) and the PPP governments to embrace and implement Thomas’ proposal.

At the same time the AFC is expressing concern that the current lack of a clear statutory and regulatory framework poses a risk of confusion and social disruption in the disbursement. Party leader, Nigel Hughes said issues such as the proper definition of ‘households’ and mechanisms for addressing complaints must be addressed to ensure fairness and accountability in the implementation of this initiative. He also warned that “every household is an inequitable distribution as the larger the household, the less each member will receive,” making known that each citizen should be given the $200,000.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Thursday said non-nationals will not benefit only Guyanese households but has failed to announce how “household” will be determined.

The initial cash grant, paid during the pandemic, which was also a cash transfer, still sees many persons holding pink slips, and many who never received any money. In Guyana the concept of household is complex. In some homes/houses two or three families co-exist in the extended family unit, and many persons share a home but carry independent expenses. Until distinctions like these are acknowledged as part of the household many Guyanese will once again be denied.

Free education

The AFC said it welcomes the return to free education, which the party sees as a major victory for the people of Guyana. The party, however, said this brings challenges that need to be carefully managed. “The reintroduction of free education will require increased funding and resources to ensure the University of Guyana can maintain high standards.”

According to the AFC, strategic planning is essential to avoid the pitfalls of the past and to ensure that the cash transfer and re-introduction of free education truly benefit all Guyanese. To this end the party has called for a structured and transparent approach to ensure success and sustainability.

The Forbes Burnham People’s National Congress (PNC) government introduced free education from nursery to university to Guyana. This was made a right and free, outlined in  Article 27 in the Constitution of Guyana: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as to non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”