The APNU+AFC Coalition has accused the Government of initiating a prejudical and discriminatory distribution process for the $25, 000 COVID-19 relief cash grants, which has been rolled out in several regions.
Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon, on Monday, disclosed that his office is in reciept of information that he remains deeply concerned about. This include complaints that the distribution is being done mainly in areas and villages which are deemed to be supportive of the PPP regime while the workers are bypassing supporters of the APNU+AFC Coalition and that persons deemed to be supportive of APNU+AFC have extra demands placed on them to receive the relief. These include proof of ownership of the building where they live.
Harmon alleged that the workers are exclusively PPP activists and NDC Councillors across the country, who are being paid large sums of money and who are distributing the relief, based on political instructions. “It is a matter of concern that the source of the monies being used to pay these distribution coordinators and distribution agents, as it reduces the sums budgeted for distribution to households. We have received credible reports that they are being paid as much as $200,000 per person,” he alleged. ” Our MP’s and community organizations are investigating these occurrences and will highlight these corrupt practices for further action.”
The Government of Guyana issued a statement in the newspapers that there is no pre-registration requirement and registration clerks under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance will visit each household, ascertain the credentials of each householder and the grant will be distributed on the same basis. In cases where there are multiple households in a home, only the principle householder will recieve in the grant in the first instance and the provisions will be made for the other householders to provide their information on a pink form, which will qualify them for the grant at a later time.
Harmon further expressed concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic that seems to be spiralling out of control. To date, 114 persons have died from contracting the virus. Harmon accused the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and his advisors of beng without a clear plan of how to stop the spread of the pandemic. He noted that the Minister of Health has scaled back on public education and information, they have been reporting less information to the public with regard to confirmed cases and deaths and they have curtailed and muzzled public health officials from speaking with the media. He also bashed the decision to re-pen the airport with a proper arrangement for testing and quarantine persons traversing the airports.
