-registration now open to all adults – McCoy
By Khamisi Slowe
The Ministry of Finance last night said that the $100,000 cash grant will be distributed today in Region Nine.
Meanwhile, registration which began yesterday for pensioners and public servants has gotten off to such a smooth start that the government has now green lit the process for all adults.
A Ministry statement said: “With thousands of persons already registering to receive Government’s $100,000 cash grant, the Government has announc-ed further that the actual distribution of the cash grant in the form of a cheque will commence (today) in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). The distribution process will commence at 10 am at the Tabatinga Sports Complex for residents of Lethem and St. Ignatius and will continue until December 6 for that area. For other villages in the Region, Government has announc-ed as well that these will be listed along with their distribution schedule soonest. Registration for the cash grant … commenced (yesterday) in several Regions. However, Region Nine will be the first Region that will receive the grant as Government plans to complete the process as quickly as possible”.
Government’s $100,000 Cash Grant Initiative was announced by President Irfaan Ali in October and every Guyanese citizen 18 years old and over will receive the payout, the statement noted.
After weeks of uncertainty regarding where and who can register, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy clarified to the Stabroek News during an interview that all persons over 18 can now register.
“We wanted to ensure that pensioners and public servants were prioritized first,” McCoy stated. “However, recognising the smooth flow through which the process is going, we immediately opened the process for everyone to register.” McCoy emphasised that the cash grant programme aims for comprehensive engagement. “The programme is open to all individuals aged 18 and older, regardless of their employment status,” he explained. “We aim to register as many citizens as possible, targeting at least half of the population by the end of the year.”
Over at the National Insurance Scheme on Brickdam, Public Rela-tions Officer (ag) Nikisha Khan told Stabroek News during a phone interview that the registration at NIS runs from the 2nd to the 6th of the month. “Pensioners should bring their ID card or passport for registration,” Khan advised. “Our volunteers are here to collect their information and photos, which will enable them to uplift their cheques efficiently.” However, some citizens expressed frustration as they had to wait in long lines. One resident shared, “While I appreciate the initiative, it feels overwhelming at times. With lines so long, I worry about whether I’ll get registered in time.”
Stabroek News visited several other registration sites and found that many individuals said that they had lined-up as early as 5 am. The initial confusion about the registration process prompted some frustrations, but according to the NIS public relations officer, staff arrived by 7:30 am to help organize persons. Most people were able to complete their registration within 3 to 5 minutes. One senior citizen remarked, “It could have been chaotic, but I think the staff handled it well once they arrived.”
Officials from the Ministry of Finance reported that the designated tablets used for information collection were functioning properly.
“We are committed to ensuring that this process is as seamless as possible,” a ministry representative said. “We encourage everyone to stay updated through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Facebook page for any changes in registration schedules or procedures.”
Some pensioners shared their hopes for how they plan to use the funds. “I don’t expect much from it, but I’ll more than likely will use it for groceries,” one elderly woman shared.
The initiative has seen conflicting signals from the government on when the process will be completed.
The government recently went to Parliament for $30.5b in supplementary expenditure. This is expected to cater for half of those eligible. The remainder will likely be taken care of next year.
