– includes annual payout to citizens
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have announced plans to implement a recurring cash transfer programme called the “Good Governance Dividend” if elected to govern. This initiative aims to deliver substantial financial relief to ordinary Guyanese, particularly in the light of rising inflation and living costs.
The announcement, made yesterday during their weekly press conference, followed what the opposition described as a “knee-jerk reaction” from the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which recently unveiled a cash grant amid increasing pressure. The PNCR/APNU accused the PPP of neglecting the economic struggles faced by citizens and claimed that the government’s recent actions reveal a lack of genuine planning and a tendency to favour political allies.
The PNCR/APNU said its plan included a significant restructuring of the nation’s financial management practices, and would funnel savings from reduced corruption and better public spending directly to the populace. It was estimated that a minimum of $100,000 could be distributed annually to citizens. Potential funding sources would include reduction of corruption by cutting inflated contract awards, tighter financial management from following international financial guidance to save 20-40% of public expenditure, auditing oil company expenditure and ensuring transparency and recovering unauthorised spending, improving the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and closing loopholes to prevent financial losses, prudent investments and maximising returns from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) amid rising oil profits.
The coalition said that the proposed Good Governance Dividend would not be a temporary measure but rather a systematic approach to financial governance aimed at uplifting the standard of living for all Guyanese. In addition to direct cash transfers, there would be a comprehensive economic plan designed to eradicate poverty, stabilise living costs, and foster middle-class growth through tax reforms, wage increases, and support for vulnerable populations.
The timing of this announcement, according to the PNCR/APNU coincides with mounting criticism of the PPP’s handling of the economy, particularly in the light of the significant windfall from oil revenues since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The PNCR/APNU highlighted that the government was yet to distribute approximately $300 million owed to citizens from these revenues, further underscoring the argument for a more equitable financial strategy.
