– Local Gov’t Minister

LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, has assured Berbicians that every household will benefit from the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant initiative which is being rolled out throughout Guyana.

The grants were delivered to residents in the Crabwood Creek and Bush Lot/ Adventure catchment areas on the Upper Corentyne on Wednesday.

Over 52,000 households are to benefit from the $1.3B grant to cushion the effect of the COVID -19 pandemic.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the regional administration complex in New Amsterdam on Wednesday, Dharamlall said 20 distribution teams, which consist of three members each, inclusive of a specially trained police rank, commenced work last Monday at the Corriverton municipality before fanning out to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils at Molson Creek, Number 52- 74, Number 51-Good Hope, Maida/Tarlogie and Massadona/Joppa.

The distribution went smoothly with no major hiccups.

“Every household will get the COVID cash grant… the household which cannot be verified, there is a pink form. A verification will be done and if they deserve the cash, they will get it,” she said.

Further, in an instance where a building consists of two apartments or where it is easily distinguishable, then the primary householder gets the grant.

The secondary householder will have to fill out a pink form and a verification will be done prior to the issuance of the grant.

“Resources has been set aside for everyone; billions of dollars are being expended. We just want to ensure that the system is foolproof and is beyond queries… it may take a few days extra but everyone will get,” he assured.