Dear Editor,
The cash grant process in Region 9 was chaotic and shambolic to say the least. One can’t help but wonder if “gentle, peace loving” Region #9 was chosen as the “guinea pig” to identify all the chinks in the armour of the process before rolling it out in on the coast. Because some of the issues faced by residents of the Rupununi would have caused chaos and protests if it had happened on the coast.
Almost all areas of distribution had residents who registered during the registration process but yet could not find their names on the list that was used during the distribution stage. Of course, those disenfranchised had no evidence to prove that they registered since no document was given at the time of registration to prove that they had completed that requirement. So sadly and meekly, as the hinterland folks are wont to be, they went back home suffering their disappointment in silence. I can bet my last dollar that if the same happens on the coast there will be a massive outcry, even public protest. And that wasn’t the only problem. Some couples with the same surname only had one spouse approved while the other was told that they didn’t register and hence could not uplift their grant. Some persons registered in one area and were then told that their names appeared at another location. So they had to go helter-skelter to the new location.
The Vice President is on record as stating that those that did not register would have a chance to do so after the first stage is completed. He, however, made no reference to those who did register but still couldn’t collect their grant. There should/ must be a shorter process to address the many aggrieved who were disenfranchised through no fault of theirs.
And what measures are in place to ensure accountability? The whisper among many is that their names were deliberately removed so others in the system can illegally gain what was supposed to be theirs. This is most likely completely incorrect but no one can blame the aggrieved persons from thinking that way. Especially since no explanation is being given as to how their names could have mysteriously disappeared off the list. For accountability and transparency, is there any data showing how many persons were registered at the various locations? And how does that reconcile with the number of persons who received their grants? And why weren’t slips given at the registration process (like what GECOM would do with registration for ID cards) so persons could have shown evidence of their registration if so needed?
Somewhere in the process something went wrong to have so many registered persons becoming disenfranchised. The onus is on the authorities to identify and resolve this problem before it reaches to the more vocal and demanding sections of the populace of the country where any possible disenfranchisement may cause serious problems. And while they sort out the error in the system they really need to do something to appease the many in Region #9 who were unfairly disenfranchised during this first stage of the cash grant distribution.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address Provided)
