…2052 births recorded from January 2025 to date
The Guyana Government has officially launched the $100,000 cash grant for each child born to a Guyanese mother, and according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, this initiative, which caters for every Guyanese newborn starting this year, is not a privilege but a fundamental right.
Speaking at the launch event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Saturday, the Head of State emphasised that the grant is more than financial assistance. He said it is a crucial investment in Guyana’s future.
“This cash grant is more than a financial support. It is a seed planted in the soil of our nation’s future. When we invest in our children today, we invest in the scientists, teachers, artists, leaders [and] farmers. We invest in the future of tomorrow. A generation nurtured is a generation that will build and sustain the world we leave behind. As such, this cash grant must be seen not as a cost on the country’s treasury but as a deposit into our children’s future. It is a down payment on their ability to contribute meaningfully to our society.”
“Let us refrain from considering this as an expense or a burden. It is an investment in a brighter, more prosperous Guyana for generations to come. Let me also be clear on another point. This grant is not a privilege. It is a right,” President Ali declared.
The Government of Guyana has allocated $1.3 billion annually to deliver a $100,000 one-off cash grant to each child born to a Guyanese mother. This measure was introduced in the 2025 National Budget.
Some 2,052 births have been recorded between January and February 2025, making up the first batch of mothers set to benefit from the initiative.
According to the Guyanese Leader, an estimate of 17,000 babies expected to benefit from the $100,000 cash grant this year and to ensure a seamless rollout, the government has put measures in place for all new mothers to receive the grant within a week of childbirth.
“Some may ask, what about those who do not deliver in the hospital? [Well] 99% of all our deliveries, less than 1% of our deliveries today, are outside of a hospital. So more than 99% of our deliveries are in a hospital setting.”
“So, the regional health offices, the regional system, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance will put things in place to ensure that all, all the children will receive, the mothers will receive this within the first week of birth, and more specifically, they will aim to give you before you leave the hospital,” he noted.
In addition to the rollout of $100,000 cash grant for newborns, First Lady Arya Ali has ensured that some 600 mothers were provided with diapers and baby wipes — a small but significant support to help ease the early days of motherhood.
Along with the First Lady’s gift, another key aspect of the launch was the provision of birth certificates for the newborns. This initiative, in partnership with the General Register Office, is part of the government’s effort to streamline administrative processes and make essential services more accessible to parents across Guyana.
