Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has maintained that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government never committed to paying a cash grant in time for Christmas, a position that has sparked widespread public frustration. At his weekly press conference, Jagdeo appeared to downplay the issue, despite President Irfaan Ali’s August 26 campaign stop in Eccles, where he declared from the rostrum, “We will have a beautiful Christmas,” widely interpreted as a promise of a holiday cash grant.
On October 2, responding to public criticism following Public Works Minister Vickram Bharrat’s dismissal of the cash grant as a “failed model,” Jagdeo offered a different view. When questioned by a journalist about the one-off Christmas cash grant, the Vice President assured, “Whatever the president said on the campaign trail will be done,” signaling a firm commitment to follow through on the promise. Also, during the campaign, billboards across Guyana prominently advertised the promised $200,000 cash grant, creating clear public expectations of a pre-Christmas payout.
Observers argue that Jagdeo’s claim that no timeline was specified is mere semantics. To many, including ordinary Guyanese, the President’s remarks clearly implied disbursement during the Christmas season. While members of the Disciplined Services received tax-free Christmas bonuses, other workers and adults aged 18 and older received nothing. With basic food prices surging and eggs — essential for Christmas cakes and pastries — selling for $1,500 to $2,000 per tray, many say the promise of a “beautiful Christmas” remains unfulfilled.
When questioned by Stabroek News in November about the cash grant, President Ali did not state that it would not be paid, nor did he suggest the public had misinterpreted him. Instead, he noted that the government was exploring other measures, adding, “Our government has always delivered.”
Meanwhile, Leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed, has renewed calls for the $200,000 cash grant, accusing the PPP of deceit. “The PPP lied to us again. The nation is angry,” Mohamed said, highlighting growing dissatisfaction among citizens.
President Ali has since announced a $100,000 cash payout scheduled for 2026. However, for many Guyanese, this announcement fails to address the sense of betrayal created by the broken campaign promise and the visible reminders on billboards that promised a more substantial, timely payout. Public frustration continues to mount as citizens demand accountability and clarity from the government.
