Co-operate with COVID-19 grant distribution teams – Dharamlall

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall is imploring citizens to co-operate with the teams distributing Government’s COVID-19 grants to ensure a peaceful process.
The Minister related an incident that occurred in Hopetown, Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), where a distribution clerk was physically abused by a recipient of the $25,000 cash grant last month.

That incident has since ended up before the court.
It was reported that a supervisor of the COVID-19 cash grant initiative, Molly Balram, was assaulted by a woman at Hopetown, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The incident occurred in the presence of four police officers and four other members of the cash grant relief team. Balram was reportedly hit about her body by the woman, who was refusing to sign a document which was required before the $25,000 was distributed.
Balram explained that as a supervisor, she was asked to go to

the location after the team reported that they were encountering problems with the recipient.
The recipient was contending that the household has two families; one occupying the upper flat while another was occupying the bottom flat.
Based on the guidelines which are set out by the Government, both households are required to sign a “pink form” indicating that the property is being occupied by more than one family. This information will then have to be verified before the cash grant is distributed.
However, the woman was reportedly refusing to sign the document and demanded that she be given the $25,000. During the process, she assaulted the supervisor.
However, Dharamlall noted “We would like to ensure the process remains peaceful and free of abuse. Every deserving household will receive and it is our expectation that the distribution will be done as quickly as possible.”
Billions of dollars would be injected into the economy by end of the exercise.
Minister Dharamlall said the Government has seen a tremendous response at the household and regional economy levels.
The Government is in its final stages of distribution in Regions Three and Five, with the exercise already completed in seven other regions.
Distribution of the cash grants is set to begin next week in Region Four.