Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Monday said Budget 2026 places families, particularly mothers and children, at the heart of Government’s development agenda, with direct cash support, expanded healthcare and continued investment in education and housing.
Presenting the $1.558 trillion national budget, Singh said the estimates are guided by a clear objective: “putting people first,” with special attention to easing household pressures and improving quality of life.
Among the measures highlighted is the $100,000 cash grant for every newborn, a programme introduced to give parents immediate support at the start of a child’s life.
“For new parents, a $100,000 grant for newborn babies was introduced,” Singh told the National Assembly, noting that the initiative forms part of a broader suite of income-support measures aimed at strengthening families.
Mothers with school-age children are also expected to benefit from continued education-related assistance. The Because We Care cash grant has been increased to $50,000 per child, in addition to the $5,000 uniform voucher, helping to offset back-to-school expenses.
“For our children, the Because We Care cash grant was increased to $50,000 per child, in addition to the $5,000 per child uniform voucher,” the Finance Minister said.
Healthcare was another major focus of the presentation, with Singh pointing to expanded investments in hospitals, medical services and social programmes designed to reduce the financial burden on families.
He noted that transfer payments increased significantly in 2025, “mainly on account of the increases in the Because We Care cash grant, old age pension, public assistance, and the introduction of the Universal Health Voucher programme.”
Beyond direct cash support, Singh said Government’s wider investments in housing, water, sanitation and community infrastructure are intended to improve the daily lived experience of families across the country.
“This year’s Budget again places our citizens at the centre of national development,” Singh said, emphasising that the measures are designed not only to sustain growth, “but to ensure that growth translates into improved livelihoods, better access to services, and enhanced quality of life across our ten administrative regions.”
According to the Finance Minister, Budget 2026 reinforces Government’s commitment to supporting mothers and families not just through one-off initiatives, but through sustained investments that strengthen household income, access to services and long-term opportunities for children.
“By creating opportunity, incentivising effort, and rewarding hard work,” Singh said, “every single Guyanese person… will have within their reach the opportunity to safeguard their own wellbeing and that of their family for the long run.”
