General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo recently disclosed that the annual cost of imminent cash transfers to children, pensioners, and those receiving public assistance would amount to almost $100 billion if re-elected for a second term.
The planned increases, he explained, form part of the PPP’s commitment to provide more state resources to vulnerable groups so they can live a decent life.
“All of these will transfer to these categories of people, those earning public assistance, the children of our country and the pensioners about $100 billion per year. That is what it will cost, every year they will get that. So that is what these promises come up to,” Jagdeo noted.
During the PPP’s current term, old-age pension was increased from $20,500 per month in 2020 to $41,000, while public assistance grants moved from $9,000 per month to $22,000.
According to the PPP’s 2025 manifesto, in its next term old-age pension will be raised to a minimum of $60,000 per month. Pensioners will also receive an annual transportation grant of $50,000. Public assistance grants are set to increase to $40,000 per month.
Additionally, the PPP plans to increase the annual Because We Care cash grant to $100,000 per child, maintaining its inclusion of both public and private school students. Each child will also benefit from an annual transportation support grant of $100,000.
Jagdeo said these planned increases for the PPP’s next term will be a gamechanger for families, pensioners and those on public assistance.
“They’ll get more money there directly. I can go down a long list of issues that would help people in their communities and in their homes,” he stated.
He stressed that in the PPP’s next five years in government, the party will focus on ensuring that persons living in poverty and other vulnerable groups are able to access direct benefits from the state.
