GEORGETOWN – Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has assured citizens that no one will be denied their cash grant because they lack a bank account, pledging that the government’s distribution process will remain fully inclusive even as the country moves toward a more digital financial system.
Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo reaffirmed that every eligible Guyanese will receive their share of the grant, regardless of whether they are part of the formal banking system. “Nobody will be denied their cash grant because they don’t have a bank account,” he said.
“But it’s good to open one. It makes things easier.” The Vice President, who also serves as the PPP’s General Secretary, said the government is working to expand FinTech and mobile banking services to reach communities where traditional banks remain out of reach. He explained that plans are underway to establish central terminals in sub-districts, allowing residents to conduct transactions without needing a full-scale branch.
Jagdeo acknowledged that the government had previously faced logistical challenges when disbursing cheques in remote regions. “When we gave cheques in Region One, a lot of people couldn’t even cash them,” he recalled. “People became dissatisfied because we gave the cheques, but they couldn’t get their money.
We had to find alternative ways to make that happen.”He stressed that those experiences shaped the administration’s renewed push for digital inclusion, ensuring that technology serves people rather than excluding them. “No citizen will be left out,” he said, “especially those in the hinterland or rural areas.”
The reassurance follows President Dr Irfaan Ali’s announcement on Wednesday that the government will soon unveil a comprehensive package of measures aimed at empowering all categories of Guyanese, including the elderly, persons living with disabilities, women, children, farmers, and small business owners.
The President said the upcoming initiatives will go beyond one-time financial relief, combining cash transfers with broader programmes to strengthen economic resilience and social empowerment across the country.
He also highlighted the government’s ongoing drive to digitise public services, ensuring transparency and efficiency in benefit distribution. As part of that effort, citizens are being encouraged to open bank accounts to facilitate future electronic transfers, but both Jagdeo and Ali were clear: no one will be left behind in the process.
For the administration, the message is simple, whether through traditional methods or digital channels, every Guyanese will get their fair share.
