More than 150,000 households received COVID-19 cash grant

More than 153,000 households across Guyana have so far benefited from the Government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant initiative, the National Assembly heard on Monday.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud revealed this figure while making a presentation on the supplementary request for $2.5 billion to continue the initiative. The National Assembly passed the Government’s proposed $17.4 billion Supplementary Budget to offset expenses between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Dr Persaud said distribution in nine regions was almost completed and distribution is ongoing in Region Four with communities along the East Coast of Demerara, East Bank of Demerara and in Greater Georgetown currently benefiting.
“This allocation is to facilitate the current process in Region Four, which will not include the pink slips because we are still in the process of doing the first phase in Region Four…It was the primary household that was included in the first phase. Even if it’s a home and they have three other households, they should receive the ‘pink’ slips and they will be captured in the second phase,” Dr Persaud is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).
To date, 8124 households in Region One (Barima-Waini) have received their cash grants; 13,675 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 44,097 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 20, 856 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 35,009 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 7052 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 3064 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); 7503 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 30,996 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Additionally, some 16,075 pink slips/query forms have been filled out.
The Minister said physical verification was ongoing in Region Four, while the second phase, which involves the pink slips, is ongoing in the other regions. Staff are also visiting homes that may have been missed during the first phase of distribution. Persaud further explained that owing to the absence of accurate data, the Government had to rely on the Regional Democratic Councils and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to do physical verification of these households.
“At the regional level, a list of households is compiled and certified by the Regional Executive Officer (REO). Based on this list, the REO submits a request for support from the Government. So, it’s not done ad hoc, the request, once verified, and funds are subsequently transferred to the REO, the REO is tasked with ensuring a transparent accounting system is in place to document and record the distribution grants.”
She added that the grant was serving its purpose, alleviating much hardship in households that are struggling. Even former President David Granger lauded the initiative, she noted. The Minister told the National Assembly that an audit of the process would be conducted.
In the first instance, $4.5 billion was allocated for the initiative under the Ministry’s Old Age Pension and Public Assistance Programme. With the approval of the $2.5 billion in additional funds, the Government would be paying out $7 billion to households countrywide.