Distribution of the $25,000 per household COVID-19 stimulus grant is currently underway on the East Bank of Demerara and former President David Granger yesterday collected for his household.
Remarking that it was a “laudable initiative” the former President said that while the sum is small, it will come in handy for many as a number of persons lost their jobs during the pandemic.
“There are a lot of people in Guyana, although it is not much, will help to provide some relief at this time of year. My only wish was that so many persons did not lose their jobs…,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI) .
As at December 19th, almost 12,000 households in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) had received the $25,000 COVID-19 relief grants, the government has said. DPI had 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 has 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 up to December 19th, while 5,327 households have received the grant on the East Bank Demerara, with $133, 175,000 already disbursed.
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 who cannot be identified as independent.
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, id driver’s licence or a valid passport.
