Two months after the government started the second phase of its $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant, with holders of the pink slips or query forms receiving their funds, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh has confirmed that the process is still ongoing.
The assurance comes amid concerns that the second phase has wrapped up with scores of eligible persons still without the grant. An estimated 40,565 families were expected to benefit in the second phase with some $1.1 billion to be expended.
According to Dr. Singh, the distribution of the grant in this second phase is in its advanced stage with several regions already completed. He could not provide the exact figure for the number of persons already served and the monies expended.
The News Room understands that an audit was also ongoing to confirm those figures. Distribution has already been completed in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine with well over $150 million expended across those regions in the second phase.
Distribution continues in areas across Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten and is being executed by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. It is managed by a committee from the Finance Ministry.
In 2020, $4.5 billion was allocated for the first phase of the grant, which started in September. During that distribution exercise, primary households received the grant, while tenants or other families residing at the same address were issued a ‘pink slip’ for follow-up during the second phase.
In December, the National Assembly approved an additional $2.5 billion to continue the cash grant relief efforts.
Persons with queries about their COVID pink slip grant can contact the Ministry on telephone number 223-7040 / 223-7039.
