Aubrey Norton, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and Chairman of the APNU, has welcomed the government’s announcement regarding the distribution of a $100,000 cash grant but emphasized that citizens deserve more than temporary solutions to the ongoing issues of cost of living and poverty.
The Ministry of Finance stated that public servants would be the first group to receive the cash grant, commencing next week. During a press conference on Friday, Norton expressed concern that while the cash grant is a step forward, it alone cannot alleviate poverty or enhance the quality of life for citizens.
“While the cash grant is welcomed, it cannot take people out of poverty. The APNU calls on the government to reallocate resources to help the poor and vulnerable, as cash grants will not generate generational wealth, contrary to what President Irfaan Ali has suggested,” Norton argued. He urged the government to prioritize genuine support for the populace.
Norton criticized the one-time payment as inadequate to address the structural problems facing the nation, noting that citizens are seeking sustainable relief amid rising living costs. He called for substantial increases in public servants’ salaries, stating, “The APNU demands that the government give all public servants at least a 25% increase in wages and salaries.”
He stressed that the benefits of the country’s economic growth must translate into better living standards and greater opportunities for all Guyanese. “Economic growth must mean better living standards, higher wages, affordable homes, and a just society based on equity,” he asserted.
Additionally, Norton pointed out that the nation’s oil wealth should benefit every citizen and called for the government to reassess its economic policies. He concluded by highlighting that the current circumstances of many Guyanese do not reflect the promising prospects associated with the country’s oil production.
