By Delicia Janneire | November 6, 2024
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has rejected calls from the opposition to legislate the recently announced $100,000 cash grant for Guyanese citizens aged 18 and older.
The government’s decision to distribute this one-time grant was announced in October by President Irfaan Ali.
During his appearance on the “Issues in the News” program on November 5, 2024, Nandlall explained that the cash grant was not part of an annual commitment, making it unnecessary to enshrine it in legislation.
He further stated that such a step would be counterproductive, as it would limit the government’s ability to respond flexibly to future financial conditions.
The Attorney General also highlighted the government’s history of distributing various types of cash grants without a legal framework.
These include grants for farmers and fisherfolk, as well as subsidies for school children, pensioners, and other public services such as water and electricity bills.
Nandlall emphasized that similar disbursements had been made over the years without the need for legislative backing, questioning why the opposition now insisted on legislating the current cash grant.
The grant, intended to benefit citizens across the country, is currently being processed through an app that is in its testing phase.
The government has clarified that the $100,000 payout is not to be confused with the end-of-year retroactive salary increase for public sector workers.
As of now, the government stands firm in its position, stating that it will not create unnecessary laws that could hamper effective and timely responses to future needs.