Govt examining concerns over COVID-19 cash grant distribution – President

…2-tier system to be used for transparency

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday stated that Government will be examining the concerns of the public as it relates to the distribution of the COVID-19 cash grant, as the Office of the Auditor General continues to ensure the monies are properly disbursed.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Head of State said the Auditor General has already been requested to conduct an audit of the $25,000 per household cash grant and more so, to ascertain if any household did not receive the COVID-19 funds.
“This benefit is for every single qualifying household. In some regions where the households got and there was a tenant, for example, the pink form was filled,” the President shared.
The President disclosed that he requested that the Finance Ministry, Human Services Ministry and the Auditor General examine the concerns that have been raised on social media and by Opposition personnel with regards to persons not receiving the cash grants.
He further explained that a two-tier system has been implemented to ensure enhanced transparency; the Auditor General will go back house to house, to ensure that the houses match the payments that were made. After this, there will be another check of the pink slips to ensure that those are actual households.
“In that process, too, if there was any household that was missed, they can definitely contact the team,” he said.
The Head of State explained to the media that a number will also be published for members of the public to alert the relevant authorities if households were missed in the distribution process.

Last week, Auditor General Deodat Sharma told the media that the Finance Ministry had consultations with his 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. 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,” Sharma was quoted as saying.
On September 7, President 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. (G12)