Finance Minister assures everyone will collect cash grant

– says citizens can register, uplift cash grants from NDC after centres are closed

Temporary centres have been established countrywide to facilitate the registration and distribution of Government’s $100,000 cash grant.
Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has explained that even after these centres are closed, persons who are yet to register or receive their cheques can do so at their respective Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), or at other similar offices.
Speaking with the media on the sideline of the flag raising ceremony on Saturday in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Minister Singh assured that every citizen aged 18 and older would benefit from the Government’s $100,000 cash grant initiative.
He said that persons can uplift their cheques, or register at centres that are currently established countrywide. However, these centres are only available for specific days, with some areas being given extensions due to the volume of persons showing up to collect their cheques.
In urging persons who did not get a chance to uplift their cheques or register during the period when the centres were operational not to panic, Dr Singh has said,
“We will make arrangements. So, if you are living in these villages, you would know. So, in many of these villages, we have extended the dates in some cases. We have announced the extension in some cases. it’s just been a local decision that was taken to stay on. So, in some cases, we will extend it, but in other cases, even beyond the extension of this, we are going to make sure that whenever you turn up, we will put in place an arrangement for you to get the cash grant. Whether in your village, eventually we will establish maybe 1 or 2 central places where you can go to. If for some reason you missed the opportunity to pick up your cash grant, we will establish a few locations, central locations, that you can get it. So, even if you are out of town or you are visiting a relative in Georgetown or in Linden or somewhere else, you don’t need to panic: that you need to jump on a boat or jump in a bus and come back home, because your cash grant will be taken away from you. That’s not going to happen,” he assured.

Persons who for varying reasons have not been able to register would still have an opportunity to collect their cash grants, Minister Singh assured, provided that they get themselves registered.
“We have also said that you can continue to register. (We have) set up permanent registration sites at every NDC. In Georgetown, we have set up permanent registration sites at the Umana Yana and at the National Gymnasium, and we are allowing people to come in to register. There may be people who were not well, or they were busy at work, or they were again out of town, or whatever. Even if you didn’t have an opportunity, come and register, and you will be processed,” he explained.
Dr Singh reiterated that the cheques are valid for six months from the date written, and there is no need for persons to rush to the commercial banks.
The Ministry of Finance has been posting the distribution schedules on its social media pages.