SOME 10,000 COVID-19 cash grants, totalling $250 million, were paid out in the Demerara-Mahaica Region over the course of three days, specifically, during the period December 28 to December 30, 2020.
This was highlighted by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, in response to written questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, on Thursday last.
As the 28th Sitting of the National Assembly got underway, Ferguson requested answers specific to the government’s COVID-19 Relief and Support Programme, and the disbursement of grants, primarily in Region Four. In December 2020, Parliament had approved a supplemental budget of $2.5 billion to facilitate the completion of the programme in Region Four. The aforementioned $250 million accounts for 10 per cent of the supplemental budget.
When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office in August 2020, it highlighted the need to provide support to citizens, most of whom have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and later, the protracted General and Regional Elections. As part of the programme, every household will be given $25,000.
As at February, in excess of 236,876 grants were distributed across the 10 administrative regions, valuing approximately $6 billion. In her questioning, MP Ferguson requested a list of the Region Four communities that are yet to benefit from the cash grants. To this, Minister Persaud said that all areas in the aforementioned region have been serviced, and that the completion date for phase one of the programme was Friday, March 12, 2021.
Ferguson also requested a copy of the distribution schedule for Georgetown and the wider Region Four; however, Minister Persaud said that such details cannot be provided, owing to security protocols, since the operation involves transportation and the disbursement of cash.
Ferguson requested a specimen of the programme’s pre-assessment forms being used by the COVID-19 relief teams, and that was submitted to the House. In 2020, $4.5 billion was allocated for the execution of the first phase of the COVID-19 relief programme, which began to materialise in September.
As part of the initial stages of the programme, primary households received their relief in cash. Their tenants, or other families residing at the same address or within the same house, were issued a ‘pink slip’ for the second phase of the initiative. Once the secondary households are verified, the recipients of the ‘pink slips’ are given their $25,000. That phase has already commenced.
In addition to the cash grant, the Irfaan Ali-led government also distributed some $1.73 billion to Amerindian communities as part of its one-off COVID-19 relief investment fund, which was particularly aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and revitalising hinterland economies.
