Hundreds of people showed up at the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) headquarters on Robb Street, saying they were told small business cash grants were being handed out, but Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy denied any such distribution.
According to McCoy the people were duped by agents working on behalf of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party.
“What is occurring here this morning really reflects what is happening within communities by the APNU/AFC operatives [who] have been spreading a rumour in many of the communities that monies are being shared at Freedom House, that people should come down here today to collect monies… as recent as last night, there have been people in South Georgetown who have been spreading this rumour,” he said.
McCoy further explained that there was, at the time no such occurrence at Freedom House and as such there was no need for people to be assembled there.
“The government has a small business grant programme where we help people in small business… We have been giving small sums [of money] to small businesses around the country, but there is a way in which that occurs. Not in the fashion that it is here today… there is no cash being given here at Freedom House… and I would like people to not allow themselves to be misguided… I have been saying to them all morning that they have been duped,” McCoy said.
This newspaper was present at Freedom House yesterday morning and observed that despite the minister’s statement, the people remained in lines and flooded the doors to Freedom House. Some who were there even reported that there were a select few who were being allowed to enter the building to register their names for a grant.
Moreover, others reported that it was the PPP/C’s agents who approached them and directed them to assemble at the ruling party’s headquarters to register to uplift cash grants for their small businesses. Meanwhile, some individuals stated that they heard from friends who were informed about the distribution/registration and so showed up.
One vendor from Mocha village told Stabroek News that she was approached by a woman who encouraged her to visit Freedom House at 9:00 am yesterday. The confused vendor said that the woman, whom she perceived to be a member of the PPP, informed her that she would be present at the headquarters from 8:00 am.
“Like is only a few persons knew about it but the word spread and now all these people out here,” she said.
When asked if there was any registration going on at Freedom House, McCoy denied having any knowledge of such.
“I am not aware of any registration exercise”.
From among the crowd, select individuals were observed entering and leaving the building. A reporter from this media house also observed those individuals close to the door, who refused to leave, constantly looking around and inquiring if the reporters had left yet. These same individuals were quietly addressed by officials, including McCoy, at the entrance of Freedom House. Up to midday yesterday, people were seen camping out outside the Robb Street headquarters.
