New app to help with ‘seamless’ distribution of $100,000 cash grant – Jagdeo

A new software application is being developed to help seamlessly distribute the one-off $100,000 cash grant for every Guyanese adult, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

“We are currently developing an app that, even as I speak today, is being tested.

“The Ministry of Finance is leading the process, several agencies are involved and it would have several compulsory fields that people would have to fill up before the cheque is processed,” the Vice President said on Thursday at a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference.

The app will require citizens to input their names, addresses, phone numbers, identification numbers (whether their passport or national ID card), and their geolocations.

Once individuals are processed through that app and verified, Jagdeo explained, the cheques will be distributed.

“We are building a system that will allow us to process the cheques seamlessly… Most of the payments will be done in cheques, except in the hinterland where we will have a carefully scrutinised process,” the Vice President said too.

The distribution across the country will involve the Auditor’s General office, so that there is proper oversight of the programme. Jagdeo said the government will not rush the distribution process but ensure that is done in a manner that ensures a fair process not marred by any corruption.

The cash grant was part of a suite of measures recently announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The distribution of the grant to all Guyanese adults should take about five months.

Jagdeo reiterated that all Guyanese adults (that is, persons aged 18 years and older) will be eligible for the $100,000.

Guyanese adults living abroad are also eligible for the cash grant but they must possess the relevant Guyanese identification documents and they must uplift the grant in Guyana themselves.

“The grant will not be paid overseas, we have no intentions of going to New York or Toronto to register people there. They will have to be in Guyana,” Jagdeo said.

No proxies will be allowed. That is, persons cannot be authorised to collect the grant on behalf of others.