The distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grants is more than 90 per cent completed and according to the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, the process went “very smoothly.”
“It was a very, very smooth process…It was very easy,” Manickchand told reporters on Friday.
However, she pointed out that there were a few instances whereby some parents could not have collected the money because of various reasons.
As a result, a final day will be announced to accommodate them.
“Everywhere and in every region there were people who couldn’t make it for various reasons. Somebody is in the hospital, somebody died, and so on and so we have one final day in every region where there is a central point where people can go to pick this up,” Manickchand said.
The rest of the grant, Manickchand said is for far-flung areas, and measures are being put in place for it to be distributed soon.
“We still have some far-flung places…We attempted to go to Eteringbang yesterday (Thursday) and that was a disaster because of the weather. So they actually got there and had to turn back,” Manickchand said.
“…Some place…we have to get a particular type of aircraft…permission (to go in) and escort in and out. So we have a few places left. We are not neglecting those, we just have to work on them,” she noted.
The distribution of the grant commenced on June 5 with $40,000 being handed out to each child registered in the school system – public or private.
A total of $8.6 billion was budgeted for the grants this year.
Manickchand described the activity as a “hallmark” of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).
“…This was something we promised while in Opposition, that we would have continued the programme which we had started and as soon as we came into office, we began to implement and fulfill that promise,” she said.
