The announcement of a one-off GY$100,000 cash grant for every newborn in Guyana should spark critical reflection. While the gesture may sound generous on the surface, it is emblematic of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s bandage approach to governance. This is yet another short-sighted, politically motivated handout that fails to address the deeper, systemic issues affecting women, mothers, and children in our society.
What happens after this one-off grant? What concrete, sustainable measures are in place to ensure the health, nutrition, and well-being of our nation’s most vulnerable? Shouldn’t we, as citizens, be demanding something more transformative and enduring? Initiatives like providing baby food (milk, cereal), nutritional supplements for pre- and post-natal mothers, vitamins support, and a child health insurance programme would have far greater and lasting impact. These are the kinds of policies that uplift families and communities, fostering real progress rather than temporary relief.
Instead, the PPP/C’s scattershot and hodgepodge approach to governance perpetuates a cycle of dependency while leaving critical gaps in social services. This piecemeal policymaking not only does a disservice to the people but also creates more avenues for corruption and squandermania. By prioritising short-term political gains over long-term development, the government has shown itself to be both intellectually bankrupt and morally negligent.
This is not the first time the PPP/C has displayed its disregard for sustainable development. Former Minister Annette Ferguson has rightly called out the 2025 budget as an “electioneering” ploy, filled with empty promises and deceptive measures. Similarly, columnist GHK Lall has described the government’s approach as a “hatchet budget,” one that cuts deep into the hopes of ordinary Guyanese while enriching a select seçkine. These criticisms are not unfounded. The government’s inability or unwillingness to implement cohesive, visionary policies has left women, mothers, and children bearing the brunt of its incompetence.
Contrast this with the thoughtful, people-centered policies of previous administrations. Under the Forbes Burnham government, pre-and post-natal mothers were provided with essential nutritional support, including cereal, milk, oil, and cheese. Programmes like these were not mere handouts; they were investments in the health and future of the nation. The cereal, known as Cerex, even carried the memorable slogan, “opsy doopsy doops, Cerex is best… after the breast,” reflecting a commitment to maternal and child health that went beyond rhetoric.
Today, we see no such vision from the PPP/C. Instead, we witness a government disrespectful of women, mothers, and children, offering crumbs while ignoring the larger issues that perpetuate inequality and hardship. It is up to the Opposition, particularly its women leaders, to rise to the occasion. They must not only critique the PPP/C’s failures but also propose robust, sustainable alternatives. Highlighting the accomplishments of previous People’s National Congress (PNC) administrations while exposing the PPP/C’s lack of vision can provide a roadmap for Guyana’s future.
The 2025 budget, like the $100K cash grant, is a missed opportunity. Guyana’s oil wealth offers an unprecedented chance to transform the nation, but this will require serious, strategic planning, not a patchwork of political gimmicks. As the PPP/C continues to squander this potential, it is imperative that we demand better. The future of Guyana depends on it. (Guest Editorial)