Jul 10, 2026
3 min read
At the New Amsterdam Post Office, pensioners sat patiently as they waited to uplift their $20,000 annual Senior Citizens' Travel Allowance.
Senior citizens across East Berbice-Corentyne welcomed the grant, describing it as timely assistance that will help ease transportation costs, particularly for medical appointments and other essential travel.
The distribution of the first-time annual grant, which commenced on Wednesday, is expected to benefit more than 90,000 senior citizens nationwide, representing an additional $1.9 billion in direct financial support for persons aged 65 and older.
Shirley Barry of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, said the grant would help her manage daily expenses.
"Right now I'm collecting this cash grant and I feel wonderful about it because it's coming to many good uses. Some going for pain and some going for the belly.
Transportation is expensive because we've got to travel. Sometimes it's $200, $300 depending on where you're going. It should be more, but I'm still thankful for it. I'm thanking my President, Mr Ali," Barry said.
Aklima Khan of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, told Ignite News that the allowance will assist her household while making it easier to access healthcare.
"I would like to say thanks to the Government for the $20,000 cash grant. It will help to buy a few things in the house and, transportation-wise, take the old man to the doctor and back. I hope that this will continue and that we're getting better and better," she said.
Pensioner Singh of Canefield, East Canje, said the additional support would be particularly useful during medical emergencies.
"I want to say thank you to the Government because we're getting this allowance. It'll help us a lot. If we've got to go to the hospital or somewhere else, it'll be helpful," Singh said.
Joan Sampson of New Amsterdam said the grant provides much-needed relief for pensioners whose monthly pension is often exhausted on basic necessities.
"It's very, very good because sometimes you spend out the little pension money and it's done, and you really want to go somewhere but you don't have one cent to travel. Most of the time my daughter has a car and carries me around, but when she can't make it, I have to find transportation myself. This money will definitely help," she said.
The grant adds to the Government's broader investment in senior citizens' welfare. Combined with the old age pension, increased to $46,000 per month in January 2026, annual financial support for pensioners now exceeds $54 billion, according to the Government.
