Applications for flood relief cash grants reopen in Region 6

On the heels of many issues surrounding the distribution of flood relief cash grants in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), a decision has been taken to reopen the application process so that affected persons can have the opportunity to get their concerns addressed.
Region Six Chairman David Armogan addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday last explained that people throughout the region have complained about the method and mechanisms used in selecting those who are eligible for the flood relief cash grants.

As such he noted that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had taken a decision to reopen this verification process for one month enabling persons who were affected by the floods and were not registered in the database to receive the relief grants, a chance to do so.
“Persons can come and report because many people have claimed that they lost things and their names were not recorded on any list.”
He explained that three locations have been made available for persons to make their applications. These are the regional Democratic Council’s office in New Amsterdam, the Albion Sports Complex and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Number 63 Village, Corentyne.
“This does not mean that once you make a report payments will be automatic; it has to be rechecked and verified,” Armogan added.
He noted that the three offices will become operable as from Monday.
“Also we had issues where people who did not lose as much as they claimed to lose and benefited in a way that they should not have. Have those reports and you want to bring them in, you can do so for those offices and those matters will be investigated and action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation according to the Vice President,” Armogan told the RDC.
Regional Chairman pointed out that when the vice president was in the region on Monday many persons expressed concern over the fairness in the system allocated funds to people who would have suffered as a result of the flood.
The Chairman is appealing the person to come forward information which they may have pertaining to farmers and others he would have wrongfully benefited from the cash belief grants.
On Monday Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a one-day outreach in Region Six said he was disappointed dishonest actions of some.
He noted that of the $10B being distributed as flood relief Countrywide, the majority is being distributed to residents in Berbice.
“We have had a lot of confusion about this. It is over 60,000 people that would benefit. APNU, when you had floods would not give persons anything. We made the allocations and now we are getting some problems because some people, who should not have gotten it, have taken some of the money, but we intend to track that down and maybe some others who should get it, they were not on the list.”
Jagdeo pointed out that the initiative posed any challenges for the administration with a target of 60,000 persons to benefit.
“It is very difficult when you have 60,000 people and you have to rely on them to tell you if they lost anything or not. You know what happens in that situation…”
In late July, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that over $7.8 billion would be made available to assist persons severely affected by the recent floods he had announce that more than $3.5 billion will be transferred to homestead farmers, kitchen garden farmers and households that exclude either of the two farms. (G4)