By Navendra Seoraj

GOVERNMENT, as part of its efforts to cushion the economic effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has rolled out its $25,000 cash-grant programme in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The commencement of this programme comes one day after the passage of the $329.5 billion budget in the National Assembly.
The passage of this budget cleared the way for the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration to offer much-needed relief to Guyanese amidst the global pandemic, and to simultaneously start the process of “rejuvenating” the productive sectors.
Speaking about the commencement of the cash-grant programme, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said distribution of the grants started in Regions One and Nine.
“The full team has gone from the Centre along with the region, so distribution will commence this weekend,” said the President in an invited comment on Saturday.

Judging from the team’s plan, President Ali said it will take about six days to complete the distribution exercise in the initial regions, but distribution will start in other regions during the new week.

The President said the full programme will be activated across the country this week, and every household will benefit.
This initiative is seen as a welcome one by many persons, especially because economic activities were stymied because of the necessary control measures which were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Businesses have struggled to break even; persons have lost their jobs and even their livelihoods, but President Ali had committed to getting the economy back on track, starting with the implementation of measures and projects included in the 2020 budget.
Budget 2020 includes a $25,000 cash transfer to every household; a $15,000 cash grant and a $4,000 uniform voucher for schoolchildren; $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund; $5 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); a two-week, tax-free bonus for members of the Joint Services; and $150 million for frontline workers, among many other things.

President Ali had also said that the government, after re-prioritising and re-programming fiscal measures, has managed to add $20 billion in relief to the “pockets” of Guyanese, at a time when the nation is faced with the effects of COVID-19, and the recently-concluded protracted electoral process. The conduits of relief include revised tax measures, and sweeping incentives.

The broad objectives of those measures, which feature in government’s emergency budget, are to stimulate economic activity; get persons back to work; increase Guyana’s productive capacity; reduce the cost of doing business; improve efficiency; and facilitate growth and development of businesses.
“These measures will have an immense impact on people’s welfare and well-being… as these measures would also address directly issues of cost of living and living standards,” President Ali said.