Guyana’s oil wealth funds family-centered aid

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has implemented a number of measures aimed at helping families with children.
With new revenue from Guyana’s oil boom, the government is focusing on using some of this wealth to directly support these families and improve their quality of life.
Income Tax Deduction: Starting in 2025, mom or dad will be able to claim an extra $10,000 tax deduction each month for each child. This means they’ll pay less income tax, leaving them with more money to spend on other things. Over one year, this translates into assistance of $120,000 per child to approximately 205,000 families in Guyana.

Because We Care Cash Grant and Uniform Voucher Spending: Each school-age child in these families is eligible for a $40,000 cash grant, plus an additional $5,000 in assistance for school uniforms each year. This money helps parents prepare their children for school by covering expenses such as uniforms and textbooks. In total, with the income tax deduction, families save $165,000 per school-age child each year. If a family has two children, this amount goes up to $330,000; and $495,000 for three children.
Free Tuition: Beginning January 2025, the government will eliminate tuition fees at the University of Guyana and state-run technical and vocational institutions. Tuition for typical college programs is $127,000 per semester, with others costing even more. By removing this burden, the government aims to make higher education more accessible, reflecting its commitment to investing in Guyana’s future through its citizens.

National School Nutrition Program: The government provides school meals, including breakfast, juices, biscuits, and hot meals, to approximately 102,000 students. While this does not cover all students, it is a huge help for many families in need, easing the cost of food they would otherwise have to cover.
Working Parents’ Child Care Subsidy: This program provides working parents with a subsidy of $50,000 per child and covers child care expenses for three months. Around 700 children are expected to benefit from it in 2024, helping parents balance work and family.
Eye Test and Glasses Program: Anyone under 18 (as well as 65 and over) can get an eye test with a $2,000 voucher. If they need glasses, there is another coupon worth $15,000 to help with the cost of glasses.
All these measures point to the government’s focus on supporting working families trying to provide for their children.

While the government has made clear that it is focused on using oil revenue for capital projects such as transportation infrastructure and energy expansion, it has also chosen to prioritize families when it comes to recurring expenses such as those listed above.
This demonstrates the government’s commitment to using the country’s growing oil wealth to enable families to better cover the cost of living in Guyana. The government continues to look for new ways to make people’s lives better.