Up to Friday, almost 12,000 households in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) had received the government’s $25,000 COVID-19 relief grants.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that grants had so far been distributed to 11,968 households in the region, representing a disbursal of approximately $299 million.
The government aims to disburse $3.4 billion to 136,000 households in the region.
Acting Region Four Regional Executive Officer Deryck Persaud said that with 6,641 households receiving the cash grant on the East Coast Demerara, an estimated $166,025,000 has been disbursed on the coast, while 5,327 households have received the grant on the East Bank Demerara, with $133, 175,000 already disbursed.
Cane Grove, Hope, Victoria, Unity and Supply (Mahaica) are some of the East Coast communities where the grant was distributed, while communities along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and the Demerara River have also been covered.
The government has said grants would be issued to “primary households,” while forms would be issued to be filled out by other families residing at the same addresses but which cannot be identified as independent in order for them to be provided for.
The DPI report noted that names, addresses and contact information of persons who were not at home during the distribution have been collected, and arrangements will be made for them to collect their grants at a later date. It added that primary household owners have been advised to have a valid form of identification in their possession to receive the grant, including a valid Guyana identification card, a valid driver’s licence or a valid passport.