More than 700,000 Guyanese are expected to benefit from the government’s second $100,000 cash grant, with $72.5 billion set aside under the Office of the Prime Minister in the 2026 national budget to fund the nationwide payout.
The disclosure was made on Monday during the consideration of the 2026 budget estimates in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly, where Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips confirmed that the allocation is specifically earmarked for the one-off cash programme.
Phillips told the House that for planning purposes, the government is catering for 716,261 persons. He said payments will begin shortly after the budget is approved, in keeping with the commitment announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
“We will be working towards paying this money as early as possible to the people of Guyana after the passage of this budget,” the Prime Minister said.
Responding to questions from Opposition MP Vinceroy Jordan, Phillips explained that citizens who registered during last year’s cash grant exercise will not be required to register again. He said more than 600,000 Guyanese were already captured in the first tranche and that the government has retained those records.
According to the Prime Minister, the existing list will be updated and cleaned to reflect changes, including deaths, while a new list will be created.
At the same time, ration exercise will be conducted to include an additional 14,000 Guyanese who have since turned 18 and become eligible for the grant.
Phillips noted that all Guyanese aged 18 and older, including opposition supporters, will qualify once they meet the citizenship requirements.
The Prime Minister also addressed concerns about whether the grant is sufficient given the rising cost of living, pointing to several measures outlined by the Minister of Finance in the 2026 budget to ease financial pressure on households nationwide.
Consideration of the budget estimates continues in the National Assembly as agencies defend their allocations ahead of the final approval of the 2026 national budget.
