$100k cash grant: Over 6,800 registrations completed via online portal in first 24 hours 

Within 24 hours of the online registration portal going live, more than 6,800 Guyanese have completed their registration for the $100,000 cash grant, while another 12,800 plus persons are at various stages of completing the registration process.

This was revealed by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during a live update on Friday evening. The Finance Ministry officially launched the online registration platform on Thursday, allowing Guyanese citizens 18 years and older to sign up for this latest tranche of cash disbursement under the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

“Since we launched that portal a mere 24 hours ago, we have seen successful completion of self-registration by 6834 persons. In addition to the successful completion of those 6834 persons, we’ve also seen the registration of another 12,889 accounts, which are at various stages of completion,” Dr Singh stated.

The registration portal can be accessed at https://cashgrant.gov.gy.

This digital platform allows beneficiaries to receive the cash grant directly into their bank accounts, which is being touted as the easiest, fastest, and most efficient method.

As part of the registration process, eligible Guyanese, that is, citizens aged 18 years and older as of February 28, 2026, will have to establish an account on the portal with their basic personal information (name, address, and telephone number) and provide a valid national identification (ID) card or Guyana passport.

Applicants will also have to undergo a facial recognition test or a liveness test, as well as provide their bank account information.

While there has been some criticism about this method of distributing the cash grant, the Finance Minister said during his update that there has been a tremendous response, with scores of persons taking advantage of this self-registration tool.

“We have seen a high degree of interest. In fact, in the initial hours [of the portal going live], the volume of traffic has been tremendous,” he noted while admitting, however, that there have been some technical issues with the custom-developed digital platform.

“In some instances, the volume of traffic has affected the speed with which the system has been responding. We anticipate that this will stabilise over time, and the system will certainly operate more quickly and more efficiently during low peak periods of usage.”

Dr Singh further encouraged persons to utilise the self-registration portal and to be patient if they encounter issues with their registration process.

In fact, to assist persons having difficulties with their registration, a national help desk has been set up and can be accessed at telephone numbers 501-5085 and 503-2977 during working hours. Additionally, special teams have been set up and dispatched to hinterland communities to assist citizens there with their registration.

“There is absolutely no need or reason for worry whatsoever. The system will remain open for you to be able to attempt a second try at self-registration or a third one even. Hopefully, that would not be necessary. And in the event, for whatever reason, you are unable to self-register, we have established a help desk and some hotline numbers, which, if you call and register the challenges that you might be encountering, we will work with you to overcome those challenges.”

While this online registration portal was designed specifically to target persons who want the money to be deposited directly into their bank accounts, the Finance Minister had previously given assurances that no one will be denied their cash grant if they do not have a bank account.

“In the event you don’t have a bank account and you would still like to receive your cash grant, alternative arrangements will be made for you. But those alternative arrangements will necessitate you, at the appropriate time, having to leave the comfort of your own home. So, the surest and easiest way to be able to receive this cash grant is, of course, via the electronic banking system… But fear not, if you don’t have a bank account or you choose not to use your bank account for this purpose, you’re still going to get your cash grant,” Dr Singh reiterated on Friday.

This latest cash grant initiative was rolled out last week, with nearly 50,000 Central Government employees being the first category of beneficiaries to receive their $100,000.

That first cohort of 48,858 employees, comprising public servants, teachers, and members of the disciplined services, received their cash grants via their bank accounts, amounting to some $5 billion.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the rollout of this 2026 cash grant, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Central Bank, collaborated with financial institutions to simplify the process of opening bank accounts as well as to facilitate the opening of these accounts online.

Among the commercial banks that have since been facilitating the online opening of bank accounts are Demerara Bank Limited (DBL); Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI); Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited; and Scotiabank Guyana Incorporated.

During the previous national cash grant initiative in late 2024 into 2025, more than $60 billion of disposable income was transferred into the pockets of over 600,000 Guyanese. Another $60 billion is expected to be transferred in this second round of distribution.

These two cash distribution exercises come on the heels of the first National Cash Grant of $25,000 per household that was paid when the PPP/C resumed office in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.