Oct 01, 2025
Letters

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Dear Editor,

If the views expressed by Minister Bharrat, as stated in Kaieteur News, on the cash grant represents a reversal in the position of the current administration, it would mark the end of trusting relationship between the people of Guyana and the PPPC.

Let’s consider the concerns expressed and the options available. The government has in place a school grant that encourages parents and students to embrace educational opportunities. This will prevent the neglect of education. The government also has in place several business grants that will continue to encourage entrepreneurs to set up businesses during this current oil boom. These two examples should alleviate the concerns expressed by the Minister.

We must also keep in mind that our current system is plagued by corruption. This makes the use of cash grants preferable to direct government spending. Simply put, place the money from the oil and gas sector directly in the hands of the citizens and rely on taxation of their chosen expenditures to collect the revenue needed to support the government’s development plans. This approach will allow for increased income within the population without them having to wait for trickledown economics to take effect. The concerns expressed by the populace of high levels of corruption and nepotism has made trickledown economics less effective in Guyana.

For these reasons, CRG supports the use of continual cash grants for our citizens and the sustained distribution of the current grants in place for school children, farmers, and businesses. The government should also place more emphasis on the growth of the Natural Resource Fund via prudent investments in both fixed income instruments and global stock markets. This will ensure that after the oil has finished the country will continue to maintain its high level of earnings.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jamil Changlee

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