Dear Editor,
IN reference to Dr Tara Singh’s suggestion of another COVID grant, Guyanese whom I have conversed with in recent weeks and around the time of the budget presentation, feel there is an urgent need for another COVID stimulus grant to help the lower-income families.  The PPP administration gave a $25K COVID stimulus grant per household in late 2020 to help Guyanese households cope with pressing financial issues. Many had lost their jobs as a result of the COVID that led to the shuttering of businesses. There is strong support for Dr Tara Singh’s suggestion (Feb 25) that government give consideration for another stimulus grant.

When the APNU+AFC Coalition was in office, no such grant was given to the general population who suffered significant losses from natural disasters and COVID-19-related problems. As soon as the PPP/C came into office, it began thinking of providing relief funds to the population to address their financial distress. The entire population was given grants, regardless of political affiliation or race.

The stimulus grant awarded in 2020 was quickly expended. Unemployment still remains high at about 12 per cent. The cost of living has skyrocketed as a result of COVID, flooding of last May/June, and extraordinarily high shipping costs of goods. The poverty rate remains persistently high at 32 per cent and Guyanese families need immediate financial support. Guyanese families have been in distress for a long time and need further relief to address escalation of the cost of living, which will rise even higher because of the war in Ukraine and the supply-chain problem.

The President Ali administration has been very compassionate and has risen to the occasion to mitigate the financial hardships. Further, direct cash grants will benefit households immediately and directly.

A question may arise on the possible source of funding for this cash grant. The NRF account has been drawn down to fund the latest budget, and therefore money is not available from it to give COVID cash grants. Funds can, however, be taken from general revenues to fund the grant. There is provision in the 2022 budget for expenditure of this nature.

Guyanese interviewed for a snap poll are unanimously supportive of a cash grant and they hope that the government will act swiftly on this.

Yours truly,
Dr Vishnu Bisram