Audit Office working closely with Govt in distributing COVID-19 cash grant

The Audit Office of Guyana has been working closely with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, as it seeks to ensure the countrywide COVID-19 cash grant distribution is conducted in a transparent manner.

This was according to Auditor General Deodat Sharma, who told the media that the Finance Ministry had consultations, with the AG Office on the necessary protocols that must be followed.
Since then, officers within the Audit Office have been dispatched to various regions where the payments are being made to monitor the exercise.
“Before the payment was made out, the Ministry of Finance did consult us on how they are going to transfer the cash, so we have been working with that. I indicated to them what I want at the end of each payment session and whatever financial statement they will have to produce. At least, we will have a close relationship on this particular aspect,” the Auditor General shared.

He noted that anyone who was facing issues with receiving the grant could contact the Office to enable an immediate investigation.
“We are working with them. We are looking at procedures and witnessing some of the areas where these payments are made. I must say that if anybody has any issue that they’ve not been getting their $25,000, feel free to contact the Audit Office and we can further investigate in the present day,” he noted.
Shortly before he cemented this position, the parliamentary Opposition had called for a ‘value for money’ audit to be done in relation to the relief distribution.
Opposition Member of Parliament, David Patterson had cited that they would request the involvement of the Audit Office.
On September 7, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali had announced that every household would receive the cash grant to cushion the effects of the pandemic. Distribution began on September 29. Some $4.5 billion was set aside for the relief programme.
Residents from Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were the first to benefit given the hinterland’s vulnerable economic state. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which is the last to benefit, will see approximately $3.4 billion earmarked for distribution.
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira has noted that while the Government’s initiative was bringing relief to the most vulnerable, it was also strengthening the economy.
“Every time a person gets money, they will spend it. Instead of giving the business community the money, we give the people the money. The people decide how to spend it and that money circulates in the economy, it allows the spending power of the people to be improved, business people to open up and buy more and rehire workers sent off because of COVID,” she told residents of Mahaica Creek.
Between March and August of this year, more than 5000 people lost their jobs owing to the slowing of the economy. While many countries around the world have provided support to their citizens, Guyana is among the few, especially within the Caribbean Region, to offer financial assistance.
Last month, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the cash grant distribution was moving smoothly, with residents in most of the far-flung regions already receiving their monies.