PARENTS and guardians of children within the public school system of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have begun receiving their $19,000 ‘Because We Care’ cash grant.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, joined Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and other cabinet members, as they spread across the region to lead the roll out of the government’s programme.

Minister Croal visited the communities of Achiwib and Karaudarnau on Friday, where he told residents that the cash grant will directly improve the region’s education sector and help to ease the burdens of many cash-strapped parents and guardians.

Taking into consideration that parents are more cognisant of the specific needs of their children, the Housing Minister further noted that the government has designed the programme to give parents/guardians autonomy and there is no imposed limit on what can be purchased for the educational development of their children.

Bringing the COVID-19 pandemic into context, the minister also said that the grant will cushion some of the impact that has affected students over the past year. With technology being the main emerging trend in the education sector, he said parents/guardians can also now use the grants to assist with internet connection, purchasing electronic tablets and other devices.

Minister Croal outlined that the government’s cash grant programme is non-discriminatory and is intended for all children in the public school system, regardless of demographic, geographic, political, religious or other factors.

The distribution exercise is expected to continue over the next few days, at several other locations.