GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Guyana government says an estimated 200,000 people are expected to benefit from a GUY$11 billion (One Guyana dollar = 0.004 cents) loan relief program.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President responsible for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, announced the Irfaan Ali government’s plans to commence phase one of the loan write-off program for University of Guyana (UG) students.
He reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to its promise of providing all Guyanese free tertiary education by 2025. To be eligible for this transformative program, individuals must have graduated in relation to the program funded by the “Government of Guyana’s Student Loan Agency.”
It said that after graduation, people must have been employed or self-employed in Guyana for at least three years, as evidenced by a minimum of 156 contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Singh recalled that after 2015, the APNU+AFC Government had proposed the introduction of travel bonds intended to bar students with outstanding loans from traveling.
“[This] vision seeks to create a society where all Guyanese, irrespective of where they live, their ethnic or religious background, their political affiliation or gender or other orientation, have the opportunity to lead productive and happy lives.
“It aims to achieve this by reducing inequality and access to education, health and other social services, employment and income, and security and justice,” Singh said.
The government said it would release additional information on how persons can access phase one of the program in the coming days.
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