President Irfaan Ali last night announced an additional $2.6b in relief for society’s most vulnerable which includes a $25,000 one-off grant to all old age pensioners, public assistance recipients and persons living with disabilities along with one month’s free electricity to more than 40,000 households.
In his address to the nation last night, Ali said that every pensioner will receive a $25,000 one-off grant which is equivalent to an additional month of old age pension.
Almost 65,000 persons are expected to benefit from this grant which will place an additional $1.6B of disposable income in the hands of the elderly.
Ali also said that all public assistance recipients and persons living with disabilities will receive a $25,000 one-off grant.
About 25,000 persons are expected to benefit from this grant which will exceed $600M.
Additionally, he said an electricity credit will be paid to the Guyana Power & Light for each household consuming not more than 75 kilowatt hours per month.
“….Targeting the most vulnerable again, those persons, those households in our society would receive the equivalent of one-month’s free electricity in these new measures that I’m announcing, this will benefit directly more than 40,000 households across the country,” Ali announced.
The credit, he said will inject more than $200M of disposable income to more than 40,000 households across the country.
Since the Government assumed office in August last year, a series of measures were announced to provide support to citizens.
Just last week, Ali ordered that freight charges be reduced to pre-pandemic levels in order to lower taxes on imports.
Prior to that, he had announced billions in cash grants for households and farmers who were devastated by the recent countrywide flooding.
During his address last night, Ali reiterated his Government’s commitment to support all Guyanese and pledged continuous interventions.
“My Government remains committed to supporting all Guyanese…… I say to you that we remain committed and in the coming months we will continue to work in finding ways in which we will continuously make your life easier. Ways in which we will continue to make you more prosperous, ways in which we will deliver to you a life that is fulfilling and satisfying,” he said.
