HGP Nightly News – Prime Minister Mark Phillips has confirmed that a $72.5 billion allocation in the 2026 budget will fund a second disbursement of the one-off $100,000 national cash grant, with payments set to begin for over 700,000 Guyanese shortly after parliamentary approval of the fiscal plan.
The details emerged during the Committee of Supply’s examination of budget estimates on Monday. In response to questions from opposition MP Vinceroy Jordan, the Prime Minister stated that the government is planning for 716,261 beneficiaries.
“Once the budget is passed, the Ministry of Finance will begin preparations to roll out the payout,” Prime Minister Phillips stated, reiterating a prior commitment made by President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
The Prime Minister clarified the registration process, noting that the existing list of over 600,000 beneficiaries from the first phase would be updated and “cleaned” to account for changes such as deaths. He also revealed that an additional 14,000 Guyanese are expected to qualify this year, primarily citizens who have turned 18, necessitating a new registration exercise for that group.
When questioned on the rationale for the $100,000 sum, Phillips stated the figure was a government decision made in 2024 and a promised commitment to citizens, reflecting a policy of “shared prosperity.” He emphasized that all qualifying citizens aged 18 and over, including opposition members, would receive the grant.
The Prime Minister dismissed further queries about the grant’s adequacy in light of living costs, directing attention to the broader suite of measures outlined in the budget. The $72.5 billion allocation falls under the Office of the Prime Minister and represents one of the largest direct transfer programs in the historic $1.558 trillion budget.
