Whenever the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government finds itself embroiled in corruption, scandals or national crises, it often resorts to cash grant disbursements to divert attention. The latest move, announcing a $100,000 cash grant for every newborn child, comes amid growing public backlash from the ongoing GOAL Programme debacle. Many students who completed the programme were misled into believing their certificates would be credible credentials, only to learn they were left with worthless documentation.
The two most recent scandals involve institutions from the United Kingdom (UK) and India. Students who enrolled in the programme through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) reported delays and challenges in obtaining their certificates.
In another case, Staffordshire University publicly denied any affiliation with courses offered under the GOAL initiative via the International Skill Development Corporation (ISDC). ISDC, however, lacks both a royal charter and accreditation from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the only UK government-recognised accrediting body for degree-awarding institutions.
These scandals have left hundreds, if not thousands, of Guyanese in limbo, while millions of taxpayers’ dollars could have been squandered.
In an attempt to deflect from these scandals, the government launched the Newborn Cash Grant initiative yesterday. The event took place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
According to a Government Information Agency (DPI) report, over 2,000 newborns born to Guyanese mothers will receive the $100,000 cash grant. The money will be retroactively distributed to families with babies born in January and February of 2025.
The government has estimated the cost of this initiative at $1.3 billion annually, suggesting that it has a registry of births or knows how many babies will be born each year. This assumption raises further skepticism, especially considering the government’s refusal to release the 2022 National Census data.
President Irfaan Ali, who delivered the feature address, said the initiative represents more than just financial assistance—it’s a commitment to investing in the welfare and well-being of the nation’s children. However, while the government boasts of such intentions, it has yet to address a damning UNICEF report, which revealed that 20% of children in Guyana suffer from “severe food poverty,” and an additional 40% face “moderate food poverty.”
The data indicates that many families cannot afford a sufficient and varied diet, with some children receiving only half of the required daily nutrition. This issue was raised by the Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Beverly Alert during the 2025 Budget Debate, where she questioned the government’s priorities in addressing child poverty.
Despite Guyana’s rapid growth since the exploration of oil in December 2019, which has made it the world’s fastest-growing economy and the richest per capita, this wealth is not reaching ordinary Guyanese. A recent World Bank Fact Sheet revealed that at least half of the population is living in poverty, subsisting on less than US$5.50 (GY$1,200) per day. Analysts suggest that the true figures on national poverty are likely higher, as many individuals—particularly in the hinterland regions—are excluded from data gathering efforts.
While the government continues to roll out cash grants, questions remain about its ability to tackle the systemic issues of poverty and inequality that affect a significant portion of Guyanese society.
