Coalition promises money for food, housing, transport in re-election bid

As the country prepares to ship out the first million barrels of oil it is entitled to from its deal with ExxxonMobil and partners, the Coalition on Friday morning announced a string of conditional cash transfer to citizens, including support for food, housing and transportation.

President David Granger had initially poured cold water on the idea of direct cash transfers from oil revenues when it was pushed by his Coalition partners AFC and moreso the WPA, saying he wanted more details.

But on Friday, Granger launched the Coalition’s manifesto laying out the several ways by which citizens could get money from the oil revenues.

The manifesto states that cash transfers would be based on a feasibility study, and could include:

• Nutritional Support
• Housing Support
• Public Transport and a Single-Parent Support Programme
• Vouchers for day-care and elder-care services and adult remedial classes and training
• Increased stipends for students attending Technical Institutes, Nursing Schools, School of Home Economics, Guyana School of Agriculture
• Cash transfers through the Public Education Assistance Service (PEAS)
• Cash transfers for the purchase of essential items

The manifesto was presented at the Coalition’s Lamaha Street, Georgetown office.

“It is not a campaign manifesto… [it is] a contract with the people…” President Granger noted.

He noted that the projects outlined in the document will be funded from petroleum revenues and other extractive sectors. Mr. Granger said the manifesto is a plan for the next five years, adding that it is “something that is sincere, something that is simple, something that straight forward.”

Apart from profit and royalties from the sale of oil by ExxonMobil and its partners, Guyana is expected to sell five million barrels of oil this year.

“Put us back in government and these things we will do,” Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan stated.

Friday marks exactly five years since the APNU and the AFC signed the Cummingsburg accord to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The Coalition, which has renewed the Accord to contest the upcoming elections together, boasted of a large following at its campaign rallies over the past few months, saying it was confident of a win at the upcoming polls.

The Government which made 21 broad promises ahead of the 2015 elections said it is proud of its achievements thus far and looks forward to doing more for the people.