It’s well documented that opposition, when in power, opposed cash transfers – Jagdeo

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Thursday took the opposition to task for their attempts to claim credit for the government’s groundbreaking $100,000 cash grant initiative, laying bare the hypocrisy behind their rhetoric.

Jagdeo did not mince words, pointing specifically to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), the main opposition party in the APNU Coalition, accusing them of blatant opportunism.

The Vice President bolstered his argument by presenting a video of former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, a key figure in the former APNU/AFC government, who had once vehemently opposed the idea.

In the video, Jordan is heard stating, “…I can tell you that will never fly, never.” His words, spoken during his time in government, were part of a broader dismissal of the notion of cash grants as impractical and unrealistic.

Yet, today, the same players that had scoffed at the concept seem eager to associate itself with the policy’s success. But Jagdeo would have none of it.

“This was part of our manifesto; it was not a product of anyone else’s ideas,” Jagdeo reminded the nation, reinforcing that the cash grant initiative was not some convenient afterthought or borrowed policy from the opposition.

It was a central promise of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), laid out in their 2020 election manifesto as part of a larger commitment to improve the lives of all Guyanese.

Jagdeo took aim at the inconsistency of the opposition, noting how they now attempt to claim credit for an idea they previously derided as unworkable.

Jagdeo was unequivocal: “Back then, the same individuals who are now criticizing the government said it was not feasible. It is well-documented that the opposition had dismissed the idea as unrealistic when they were in power.”

Jagdeo pointed out that no other political party had been as specific or consistent with their promises as the PPP/C, underlining that the initiative was part of President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to fulfilling campaign promises.