The year 2021 was littered with unprecedented economic hardships as economies were still grappling with the severe repercussions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was further buttressed by disastrous flooding, in Guyana.

However, since assuming office in August, 2020, the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has taken several measures to cushion the harsh effects of unprecedented events which ravaged the livelihoods of many Guyanese.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed many families on the breadline when borders were closed and economies came to a halt. Recognising this, the Government of Guyana distributed the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant.

$4.5 billion was allocated for the first phase of the grant, which started in September, 2020. During the distribution exercise, primary households received the grant, while tenants or other families residing at the same address, were issued a ‘pink slip’ for follow-up during the second phase.

In December, 2020, the National Assembly approved an additional $2.5 billion to continue the cash grant relief efforts. In addition to this measure, the government also distributed $1.73 billion to Amerindian communities as part of its one-off COVID-19 relief investment fund aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and revitalising hinterland economies.

Even though schools did not fully re-open their doors, in July, 2021 the Government through the Ministry of Education distributed the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, another measure to assist families to battle economic hardships.

Each school child, whether enrolled in the public or private school system, received the grant which was valued at $15,000 plus the School uniform and Supplies Grant valued at $4,000, a total of $19,000 overall. The initiative totalled more than $3.3 billion.

This aimed “to provide assistance to families so that they can provide the necessary resources to their children, so that they cannot only remain in school, but to also excel in their studies,” the Ministry had announced.

After the country was hit with severe flooding earlier in the year, in August, 2021, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that approximately 52,000 households across 300 communities which had been affected by the unprecedented level of floodwaters will receive cash grants. The initiative, totalling some $7.6 billion, was aimed at restoring livelihoods and helping farmers return to their lands.

As part of the flood relief cash grant distribution exercise, farmers within the context of a homestead (farm, ranch, estate) received $100,000 each; those with kitchen gardens receiving $50,000 each, and households excluding homestead and kitchen gardens receiving 50,000 each.

The rains also had a significant impact on the rice sector, with approximately 50,000 acres and 2,000 farmers being directly affected. As a result, $80,000 in cash per acre was given to those farmers; for rice sown and lost in the autumn crop, those farmers received $65,000 per acre; and for land that was completely prepared but was not sown, $45,000 in cash per acre was given to those farmers.

Meanwhile, in excess of 2,000 livestock farmers had also been affected, and so, an aggregate of $600 million in direct transfers was made available to subsistence farmers, small farmers, medium farmers, and large-scale farmers.

Further, on August 16, 2021, President Ali announced three additional measures which will provide cash incentives totalling $2.6 billion, specifically targeting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those who rely on public assistance.

As part of that grant pensioners and disabled persons were given a one-off $25,000 cash grant and $200 million was provided in electricity credits to households that met a certain criterion.

Over 7,000 sugar workers who were severed under the former A Parternership For National Unity + Alliance For Change administration in 2017 and were placed on the breadline benefitted from the new adminstration’s intervention.

In October, 2021, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo while addressing sugar workers in Berbice announced a $250,000 one-off cash grant for the severed workers; distribution of the grant commenced on December 11, 2021.

The one-off cash grant, totalling approximately $1.8 billion, forms part of the government’s commitment to rebuilding and restructuring the sugar industry, and providing direct relief to the people of Guyana.

In November, 2021, the government announced a seven per cent across-the-board salary hike and a seven per cent retroactive bonus from January, 2021 to be paid to public servants, including teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, constitutional officeholders, and government pensioners and will benefit over 20,000 persons.

In addition to the pay hike, $400 million has been set aside for a special 2021 payout to frontline workers in the health sector, who, the the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, reminded, continues to face extenuating circumstances in the daily discharge of their duties, as the country and the world continue to battle the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our focus is on strengthening your disposable income. Our focus is giving back more to you, giving to your families, enhancing your welfare, improving your livelihood, making homeownership easier, building a strong, healthy, highly educated society,” President Ali had said of his government while addressing the nation on November 26, 2021.

These and other measures, such as reversing over 100 draconian tax measures when they assumed office, proves the Government's commitment to cushioning the unprecedented economic hardships faced by thousands of citizens and to ensure citizens have more disposable income at hand.