PRIME Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, has said that $1.8 billion has been budgeted to provide hampers to households across the country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a further $900,000 to deliver hampers to affected hinterland communities.

An estimated 93,000 households, including 38,000 in the hinterland, are expected to benefit from this initiative which is to be rolled out over the next three months.
The Prime Minister explained that an assessment was done to determine the number of people or households requiring government assistance.
“Based on the work done by all the agencies including the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), 45 per cent of the population is deemed as having the need to be given some sort of assistance and support during COVID-19. Based on that percentage we arrived at this target figure,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Phillips said persons on the coast can apply online to prequalify for a hamper or any other form of government assistance.
“The Economic and Social Sub-Committee of the COVID-19 Task Force, which is working through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and CDC will manage the whole process to ensure all households benefits as the criteria approves,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

An additional benefit of this exercise is that   the process of preparing hampers for the hinterland will provide jobs and generate income in some hinterland areas.
PM Phillips noted that this initiative is separate from the $4.5 billion relief (the $25,000 cash grant) measures which President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced earlier this month.