COVID-19 cash grant distribution begins in Region 4

More than 250,000 persons living in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) will benefit from $25,000 before the Christmas season ends, as distribution of the Government’s COVID-19 cash grant kicked off in the Region on Tuesday.
With recent concerns surfacing in other regions that residents were not at home when the cash grants were distributed in their area, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Chairman Daniel Seeram assured that arrangements have been made for such persons to receive their cash grant at a later date.
The monies are expected to provide financial support to Guyanese, especially those who have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Region Four Chairman: “We are going to start at the far-stretching areas of the Region, and work our way in towards Georgetown.”
He said persons living in Georgetown will be dealt with directly by Central Government.
Just recently, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had stated that the exercise would be completed before the end of the Christmas season.
The distribution exercise kicked off at 09:00h on Tuesday, which was some two hours after it was slated to commence. However, the Regional Chairman explained that besides that hiccup, the procedure has been good so far.
“We had some admin issues, and with the vehicles and so, but that has been sorted out. The money is ok, the securities are in place. Persons were trained by Central Government, and those persons have been sent out into the fields to do the distributions,” Seeram said.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced a series of relief measures, including a $25,000 per household cash transfer to cushion the effects of COVID-19 ahead of the emergency budget. The distribution exercise began in Regions One and Nine on September 26, based on the President’s reports.
Region Four, which is the last to benefit, well see approximately $3.4 billion earmarked for distribution.
In relation to the concerns raised by citizens about them not being at home when the distribution occurred in their communities, Seeram reiterated: “If you are not at home, the persons will go into the areas and find out who lives there, and get whatever contact number they can have. They will contact them, and at a later date and time, they will be given the relief money.”
Prior to the distribution in Region Four, the Government had distributed the cash grants in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).