Jagdeo reminds no promise was made for pre-Christmas cash grant, says plans being misrepresented
Vice President and PPP General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected claims that the party promised a cash grant before Christmas, stressing that no such commitment appears in the PPP’s manifesto and that the issue is being misused for political campaigning.
Addressing reporters at his weekly press conference, Jagdeo said the party’s manifesto is the governing contract with the electorate and while it provides for cash grants, it does not specify any pre-Christmas timeline. He explained that comments previously made by senior officials suggesting an earlier payout were informal and light-hearted, but are now being treated as firm promises by critics.
Jagdeo also defended the $100,000 value of the announced grant, pointing out that the overall cost, about $63 billion, is larger than Guyana’s entire current revenue during his earlier term as President. He said this illustrates the scale of the programme and the need for careful management.
According to the Vice President, implementing a nationwide cash grant is not a quick process. He reminded that the last rollout took several months and required extensive checks due to attempts to exploit the system, including false claims from individuals who had already collected payments. He added that there are organised efforts aimed at defrauding such programmes, making strong verification essential.
Jagdeo further noted that there is currently no budgetary provision for the grant and that parliamentary approval is required before any payments can be made. He said these legal and administrative steps cannot be bypassed simply to meet a seasonal deadline.
Emphasising the government’s longer-term outlook, Jagdeo said the PPP is not governing solely for Christmas 2025 but for the full duration of its term. He reaffirmed that the cash grant will be delivered and that citizens can expect continued assistance over time, as the administration manages resources responsibly while remaining in office through the end of the decade.
