-urges all citizens to open bank accounts
President Irfaan Ali yesterday said that before the end of the year he will announce a slew of measures which would include cash transfers to persons and that it would be tied to a digital payout system, as he urged citizens to ensure they all open bank accounts to facilitate this process.
“I’m going to announce, before the end of the year, a series of measures, not only looking at cash grants but looking at the total empowerment of every Guyanese; whether you are someone living with disability, children, the elderly, women, small businesses, farmers… you name it,” the President yesterday said in an interview which was broadcast live on his Facebook page.
“I am going to announce a comprehensive slew of measures that would include, of course, cash transfers to families before the end of the year and it would take us not only to the next year but it would take us in our cycle of government in the next five years,” he added.
The President disclosed that already, government has held discussions with local commercial banks on simplifying opening of accounts for locals and this has been happening, as he pointed to online systems that one bank announced for its account application process.
And currently, government is “using this period to put the mechanism in place and to finalize the system of delivery.”
“The system, we are digitizing everything and everything will be done in system way so I am urging every Guyanese to open their bank accounts… there is no excuse. We want every Guyanese to own their own bank account so that this digital transfer would be easy and efficient and, of course, transparent,” the President said.
During an election campaign meeting held in Eccles on August 26, the President had said that if Guyanese “behave themselves” they would get monies from government for Christmas.
“I heard PM [Mark Phillips] told them next year is the next grant. If you behave yourself, you get it this year,” Ali had stated to loud cheers.
“We will have a beautiful Christmas… Look at the smile on my face and know you will have an enjoyable holiday season,” he had added.
Last month, when asked by the Stabroek News about the promise, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo responded that government would stay true to its elections campaign promise of giving citizens another cash grant before Christ-mas, as he emphasised that it would not renege on pacts made with the people of this country.
The Vice President said that under President Ali’s presidency, there will be several cash grants and this was tied a broader poverty alleviation and holistic developmental plan for the country.
“This is a five-year term we have, there will be several cash grants in the five years. Don’t worry about it. This is not a three-month term we have.”
Jagdeo had also rubbished rumours that there will be a cash grant given to households saying that it is the same per-person model which will be used again for future grants.
“It’s a blatant lie! We never made any such decision,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, he also explained that government, “Does not only focus on transfers as a country development model. Cash transfer is not a model. Cash transfer is one element of the model. We made in clear that we want to invest in every Guya-nese…,” he said as he listed a number of measures aimed to assist persons.
Among these are the daycare subsidy, uniform and transportation subsidy, school cash grant, free education from nursery to university, health vouchers, and aid.
“If you can invest in people through education, then you can ensure long term sustainability. The oil resources will disappear but good education can only create more value in the future. It is up to people now to make use of these opportunities,” he said.
He believes that more should be done by the opposition to push the nation towards making use of education uplifting opportunities, as once equipped with skillsets it would stay with those persons for their lifetime. Jagdeo also noted that with a healthy nation with a good education, and skilled personnel, this country can be global model country.
“The second part of the model is healthy people. There are massive investments in healthcare across the country. The third element is jobs. Getting good and high paying jobs for people and allowing people to keep more money in their pockets. That means having a positive investment climate for investments. Making sure the taxation system evolves in a way that rewards hard work,” he added as he listed elements government envisions would develop the country and “change people’s lives for the better.”
Government last year launched a $100,000 cash grant initiative for citizens over the age of 18.
