A total of 10,000 COVID-19 cash grants were distributed in Region Four areas from December 28th to December 30th, last year.
The amount represents 10% of the additional $2.5 billion that was approved by the National Assembly to bolster the government’s COVID-19 relief effort programme in Region Four.
These revelations were made in written answers provided by Minister of Human Services and Social Security Vindhya Persaud during last Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly in response to questions asked by APNU+AFC MP Annette Ferguson surrounding the distribution.
Ferguson had asked to be provided with the names of areas in the region that are yet to be provided with the COVID-19 disbursement.
In her written response, Persaud said to date, all of the areas in the region have been serviced with the completion date for phase one of the programme given as March 12.
A specimen of the pre-assessment form being used by the COVID-19 Relief team for distribution was also requested by Ferguson and it was provided.
Ferguson also requested to be provided with a copy of the schedule for the COVID-19 disbursements in Central Georgetown, Demerara-Mahaica region but this was denied by Persaud who noted that the schedule cannot be provided due to security reasons since it involves the transportation and disbursement of cash. Last September, President Irfaan Ali announced the $25,000 per household cash grant to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on households.
Distribution began on September 29 in the hinterland.
The first phase of the programme has since been completed and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall had announced in March that the distribution is due to resume soon under the second phase of the initiative.
“The first phase was finished and we are in the process now of beginning the second phase. Many of the region’s pink forms have already been evaluated and audited. They will begin in earnest distribution [in] the second phase, to fulfil those gaps that the pink forms had to record,” Dharamlall was quoted as telling the Depart-ment of Public Information (DPI) in an interview.
