Persons With Disabilities body welcome $25,000 cash grant

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) has commended the Government and President Irfaan Ali for the recent announcement of a one-off $25,000 grant for recipients of public assistance and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

In a release on Tuesday, GCOPD Programme Coordinator, Ganesh Singh hailed the initiative as timely. He also highlighted the benefit of the one-month subsidy on electricity which he said will benefit PWDs who are required to pay electricity charges.

“It must be underscored that this initiative by His Excellency and his government is a significant one that will bring much needed financial relief to an impoverished marginalized community. It must be highlighted that the majority of PWDs did not benefit from the COVID-19 cash grant that was given at the end of last year. The GCOPD is pleased that this new cash relief measure is specific and targeted to the community of PWDs,” Singh stated.

The GCOPD is an umbrella body for 24 Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) across Guyana. Due to the recent efforts to ease the financial burden of PWDs, Singh said that the community is optimistic for the future of PWDs in Guyana.

“…we pledge our partnership with the government to promote and fulfil the rights of PWDs,” he said.

On Monday night, the President announced a string of relief measures for several groups. The total $2.6 billion in relief measures will see persons with disabilities and public assistance recipients benefiting from an additional $25,000 amounting to over $600 million in disposable income.

Also, over 40,000 households consuming 75 kilowatt-hours per month will benefit from some $200 million in electricity payments to Guyana Power and Light, equivalent to one month of their electricity bill. Added to this, some 65,000 pensioners are set to benefit from $25,000 each or a total of $1.6 billion the Government has introduced to support vulnerable citizens.