By Michael Younge

LAST week, there was concern in the public domain about government’s roll out of its $25,000 COVID relief cash grant initiative. There were fears that the eligibility criteria were not doing justice to the initiative and ‘many’ persons were left out from benefitting from the much-needed aid. More interestingly, it was also alleged that some who benefited didn’t need the aid and therefore should not be eligible. And finally, the normal political banter that the cash grant is being really used as a political initiative and plan by the government to dole out monies to its supporters primarily; hence, allegations of discrimination and marginalisation in the grant. It would seem as though these fears and questions about the grant can be cleared up with simple facts if the person who is pointing the accusatory finger really wants to know. The cash-grant initiative was introduced as part of government’s response to the socio-economic crisis of the COVID-19 epidemic last year by President Dr Irfaan Ali. It is a one-off initiative that is part and parcel of a number of policy measures aimed at opening up the economy; revitalising and keeping businesses going; tackling the unemployment caused by the adverse effects of the pandemic, and dealing with the socio-economic challenges that are rearing their ugly heads. Therefore, this must be seen as a grant from government that is helping all who qualifies for it to “cope” for the time being in the current environment.

So far, 153, 000 families have benefited from the initiative at December 30, 2020. And that amount is not inclusive of those families still waiting to be served in the second round this year, and those who have been given the “pink slip.” This is pegged at $7B dollars as there is more work to be done under the project which is headed by the Ministries of Human Services and Local Government and Regional Development. This is remarkable when one considers the time frame and topography of Guyana. So, the argument that all eligible households would not get the grant is unfounded and a politically sensitive innuendo, designed to cast aspersions on the project. Everyone, regardless of which side of the political divide, race, creed, religion and sexual orientation, will get the grant once they qualify for it. And those bickering about the criteria to be qualified are not being serious about helping Guyanese families that are in need. While it is understandable that a few persons who are considered in the upper classes of society will get the grant, a large portion of the middle classes and the poorer classes are getting the grant. Evidence is seen every day of people rejoicing because the aid came just in time when they are in need of a “small-change” or “extra” money to cover their bills and restart their lives which have been challenging since the advent of the epidemic.

Also, this is a small help and can only, at this time, do for the families in need because of the financial situation that Guyana found itself in at September 2020 with mounting debt, financial discrepancies and scandals. It never was intended for each person to benefit so the challenges persons are facing in the distribution of the grant are noted.
Government must do all that is legally possible to safeguard the people’s monies from hands that are sticky and “fast.” But already, the system has checks and balances in place along with daily audits to guard against the money being used for anything outside of the normal. This should muzzle the politically bankrupt arguement that the money is being used for political gerrymandering. And the audit by the auditor general should cement this position and expose all cracks in the process, so that action aimed at recouping misused funds can be taken.
From all standpoints, the grant is doing exactly what the President considered and is therefore a lesson of what can be done when government thinks with its heart, head and resources. It is classic because it not only marries the people’s current need for funds, but it also exposes just how policy formulation and policy execution can work to drive a certain outcome in a society such as Guyana.