There have been numerous suggestions from various sections of society about what the government should do with its first paycheck from the oil and gas sector come 2020.
There have been recommendations for cash transfers to poor homes. There were also calls for free tertiary education. While the government is yet to make a formal decision on the former, it has indicated more interest in securing the latter. Just recently, President David Granger announced his government’s intention to use a portion of the oil money to secure free education for all. But the man holding the purse strings, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, said that a number of issues have to be fleshed out first.
During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Standard, Minister Jordan said, “I prefer not to go into details on this matter until it is discussed at Cabinet. I prefer to speak to the feasibility of it after that because this is a matter that has to be fleshed out…If you recall, when this arrangement of free education was implemented under the PNC, there were some strings attached. Like you had to spend a year at national service.”
The economist added, “…Now until I can see the fleshing out of it, (that is when I would be in a position to say more) but the ultimate objective of the government will be free education. But let me stress again that it has to be fleshed out.”
Further to this, Jordan reminded that the President had placed no timeline on when this would be accomplished while noting that it could be a gradual process, such as starting with STEM Programmes first.
Additionally, given what has to be saved from the oil money as well as what has to be put aside for other matters, Jordan said one has to wait and see what is left to go towards that goal and at what pace. He reiterated nonetheless, that the aim of the government is free education.
