FINANCE Ministem Winston Jordan has stated that the government will turn its attention to stimulus packages for vulnerable Guyanese affected by COVID-19 after the country moves past hurdles such as the current electoral stalemate.

In an interview via Zoom last Friday, the minister said that, in the meantime, the government is working to establish a database of all persons whose lives have been severely affected by the ongoing outbreak.

These persons include those who have lost employment, those who have lost significant parts of their incomes, the self-employed, school vendors and iterant vendors, among others.

“A lot of those people have now become vulnerable. You have the shut-ins who really didn’t look to the government for anything because they might have had a family who might have supported them along with the regular vulnerable, including the aged and children,” Minister Jordan said.

He explained that from those names, a strategy which examines the short, medium and long term will be developed.

“Having put all of that on the table, the issue of stimulus packages will be on our minds. I would say to you that once we can get past this hurdle, the issue of a real stimulus package, looking at the economy post-COVID will occupy our attention in a more studied manner,” he noted.

The current electoral impasse has affected the reconvening of Parliament where crucial decisions are made and laws are passed for funding and more.

Even with the impasse, the government has still been able to focus on the immediate priority of fighting the outbreak.

“Very few countries in the world have seen the flattening of their curve. Unfortunately, in Guyana, we have not experienced that as yet,” Jordan said.

“Some people have suggested, based on the rapidity with which the numbers have climbed, the worse is yet to come…more and more our resources will have to be prioritised to fighting the virus frontally, so that our attention is turned to that.” (DPI)