Former President Granger lauds PPP/C’s COVID-19 cash grant initiative

Former President David Granger has lauded the COVID-19 cash grant initiative of the Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government.
The $4.5 billion relief programme is aimed at distributing $25,000 cash to every Guyanese household to offset the burden imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Granger recently received his grant and, in a video, posted to social media, he commended the initiative.
“I think this is a laudable initiative. A lot of people have lost their jobs as a result of this disease. There’re a lot poor people in Guyana, always. I’m sure that this will, although it’s not much, it will help to provide some relief at this time of the year,” the former Guyanese Head of State said when asked about his thoughts on the initiative.
In reiterating that many persons have lost their jobs during the pandemic, the former President said: “They’ve had a very difficult year and this is certainly gonna be welcomed.”
Like the rest of the world, Guyanese have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many businesses having to downsize, or even shut down, employees have felt the impact of this situation which has trickled down into households.
One month after taking office in August, the PPP/C Government had announced a $25,000 cash grant as relief for households across Guyana.
This was among a range of COVID-19 relief measures designed to bring immediate relief to persons bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, stimulate economic growth, put Guyanese back to work, and remove the heavy tax burdens implemented by the previous Administration. The cash grant has served as a timely economic impetus and has catalysed business activity everywhere.
President Ali, in his address to the nation at the time, spoke about ensuring the citizens are taken care of, and this is one initiative designed to do such. The President’s expectation, and his Administration’s, is that the process remains peaceful and free of abuse.
Over the past few months, special teams have been dispatched to communities in various regions to distribute the money.
Disbursements commenced in the hinterland regions, that is, Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The initiative then went to Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
In an update on the cash grants last week, Government said the distribution exercise is currently ongoing in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
As of two weeks ago, it was reported that some 11,968 households in Region Four have received payments totalling approximately $299 million. Government is expected to distribute some $3.4 billion to 136,000 households in the Region.
Government has reminded citizens that the payment is $25,000 per principal household and not one per family.
“We know that some households are big, and, in some cases, more than one family may be living in a household. However, where such situation exists, the distribution clerks and regional supervisors are required to note such instances so that those families can be taken into consideration in the future. The regional distribution teams are, therefore, issuing the cash grant to the primary householder, and wherever there are OTHER family members or tenants, as the case may be, those persons are being issued with a ‘pink form’, which will serve as the instrument to be used to verify those candidates for future consideration.”
Primary householders are required to have a valid form of identification in their possession to receive the grant.
Meanwhile, the names, addresses and contact information of persons who were not at home during the distribution exercise will be collected, and arrangements will be made for them to collect their grants at a later date.
It was noted that at close of business daily, distribution clerks are required to surrender unused cash along with their receipt books for security control.
“At the end of the distribution exercise, each clerk submits their receipts of payments to be audited by the regional authorities and subsequently by the internal audit department of the Ministry of Finance. In this manner there is careful scrutiny to ensure that receipts issued are reconciled with cash grants distributed. Any discrepancies are investigated, and necessary action taken.”
There have been several complaints about the payment of the cash grants from citizens. Acknowledging this recently, President Ali told reporters that the Auditor General has been asked to audit the entire cash grant distribution.
Distribution is currently underway on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara and in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.