General – Guyana
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced that every Guyanese citizen aged 18 and over will receive a GY$100,000 (about US$500) cash grant, to be included in the government’s 2026 budget proposals expected next month.
The announcement was made during a national address outlining the administration’s five-year development agenda, covering investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and social services.
The payout had been widely anticipated following campaign promises made ahead of the September General and Regional Elections, as Guyana’s booming oil revenues continue to fuel public expectations of direct financial benefits.
Oil production, which began offshore in late 2019, is led by a consortium comprising ExxonMobil, Hess (now owned by Chevron), and China’s CNOOC. The sector has driven rapid economic growth and generated significant revenues for the state.
While the government has previously rolled out targeted cash grants, officials maintain that oil revenues will remain focused primarily on long-term development, with direct financial support forming part of a broader strategy to share the benefits of the oil boom.
