Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo reassured citizens on Thursday that the $100,000 cash grant is not a one-time initiative but will continue periodically.
“People were asking us, is this a one-off thing and the answer is no, there will be more in the future but it will be announced when the decision is made,” Dr. Jagdeo said at a press conference on Thursday.
He added: “The periodic grants from time to time will depend to some extent on a number of variables as we have checked now.”
The Vice President also assured that opportunities for registration would remain open for those who missed earlier chances.
“There will be lots of opportunities to register.
“If a person is out of the country or as someone mentioned the last time a fisherman, or a miner or someone just sick, they need to be able to at their convenience just go someplace and get registered,” he explained.
Jagdeo acknowledged challenges faced during the registration and distribution process, like recently in New Amsterdam, where a miscommunication led to chaos.
“I am sorry about what took place in New Amsterdam. It should have never happened,” Jagdeo stated.
In a statement, the Guyana Police Force revealed Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud was present at the New Amsterdam location and in her attempt to calm the crown, the gate was broken by persons pushing to enter the area.
The police had to intervene to restore order, and the process was halted, with people advised to return home.
Jagdeo further criticized how some officials are dealing with the distribution of cheques.
“Some of the technical people we put to administer this too, I think they begrudged the people getting their money. They hand them the cheques in a fashion like they are not happy with the people getting the money or they have to work so hard. Some of them are working harder than they ever worked in their whole lives now, handing out these cheques,” Jagdeo said.
He revealed that the government plans to improve its systems, including opening offices in every Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) and two in Georgetown for ongoing registration.
