By Naomi Parris

RESIDENTS of the Potaro-Siparuni region are the latest beneficiaries of the Government of Guyana’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant initiative.
Some 127 households in Micobie, Lower Potaro River, and 210 households in Kurukabaru, a remote village located in Pakaraima Mountain, received their cash grants over the weekend.
The Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, who also has parliamentary responsibility for Region Eight, was a part of the team conducting the distribution exercise in the areas.
The minister, in her address to the residents who gathered to uplift their cash grants, said that the initiative, which was announced by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali last month, is aimed at providing much-needed assistance to ease the woes and financial constraints many have been facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Sukhai clarified that while many are of the opinion that the grant is not sufficient, persons must understand that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is merely two months old and was still able to provide both financial and other assistance to residents.

“The cash grant is one per household because as you know we have the entire country to look after. We know that some families are big and in some cases, more than one family is living in a household; however, where this situation exists we will make note of it so that it can be taken into consideration in the future,” Minister Sukhai said.

She noted that the Government has been working tirelessly over the last two months to ensure the citizens, especially those residing in the hinterland regions, have access to resources that will limit their movements to other villages and neighbouring countries.

When the administration took office in August, it immediately distributed food hampers to all the families in Kurukabaru and surrounding villages, Kanapang and Itabac, and Paramakatoi.

The minister also took the opportunity to provide some tips on how the residents can protect themselves and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“The Government’s message is for all of the people to be safe. We are asking the village councils and the villagers to adhere to the protocols and guidelines. COVID-19 is real and it kills,” she said.