Social media has become a window into the sick minds of many people we historically respected, a space where opinions are freely shared and where insensitivities and cruelties abound. Here in Guyana, the discussions surrounding the $100,000 cash grant have revealed a disturbing level of privilege and insensitivity. For those who dismiss this grant as mere “extra money” or criticize individuals complaining about the elderly standing in line for hours in the hot sun, fainting and soiling themselves as they await the financial lifeline to help ease their daily suffering, it’s time to confront the reality of life for half the population in this country.
Let us be clear, for many people in Guyana; pensioners, single mothers, grandmothers raising children, and women struggling to make ends meet—this $100,000 is not a bonus. It is not “play money.” It is survival money. This cash grant will go toward flour, rice, oil, sugar, chicken, fish, beans, and other essentials that keep families fed, children educated, and the suffering hopeful. For these citizens, who reportedly live on as little as $5 a day, this grant is a lifeline. It is the difference between hunger and sustenance, despair and hope.
Yet, a privileged few seem oblivious to this reality. Instead, they scoff at the lines, diminish the significance of the money, and post obtuse, almost delusional statements on social media. These comments echo the infamous “Let them eat cake” attitude—a phrase wrongly attributed to Marie Antoinette, but a powerful metaphor nonetheless for the dangerous disconnect between those who have enough and those who are fighting to survive.
This privilege is blinding. It allows people to overlook the reality that over 40% of Guyanese live in poverty, where $100,000 could stretch to cover weeks of basic needs. It allows them to mock the women and families who rely on this money without ever stopping to consider what it would feel like to send a child to school hungry, to work tirelessly for pennies, or to juggle bills with no end in sight.
If we are to be a society that claims to deva about equity and progress, we cannot dismiss the needs of the most vulnerable among us. Those who criticize the cash grant recipients or downplay its importance are both ignorant and cruel. Their comments insult the dignity of hardworking mothers and families, and their privileged posturing is as tone-deaf as it is harmful.
What these individuals fail to grasp is that complaints about the long lines and emotional pleas about the cash grant disbursement process are not a sign of whining, laziness or greed. They are a testament to the harsh reality of life for many in Guyana. Standing in line for hours for $100,000 is a necessity for someone with no other options. It is a harsh reminder that our economy and social systems have failed the poor, forcing them to rely on this grant to make ends meet.
Most of this insensitivity and privilege stems from government propagandists who, unable to rationalize the often cruel cash disbursement process, resort to blaming the victims. Unfortunately, they overlook the crucial point that preplanning an effective and efficient system could have garnered the government significant goodwill, especially in this election season. Instead, they must defend and deploy agents to justify the inefficiencies of the process. Rather than dismissing the struggles of others, those in privileged positions should advocate for solutions that address the root causes of poverty. They should work toward a future where no one has to stand in line for hours just to feed their children or prepare them for school.
To those privileged enough to call this grant “extra money,” I say, step into the shoes of those who live without your comfort. See the faces of the mothers and fathers struggling to survive. And before you mock them on social media, ask yourself, If your circumstances were different, how would you feel about being told to “eat cake” when all you really need is bread?