Prime Minister assures- ‘Pink slip’ or not; cash grant crew will revisit communities

Guyana: Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, this previous afternoon assured citizens of Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara that each house that was missed during the first round of the coronavirus relief cash distribution continues eligible for the grant and will receive it during the second phase of confinement which has started.

He was in the region to encourage citizens to utilise the vaccination facility established in the community and listen to their concerns.

In responding to a citizen who stated that her household received neither the grant nor the ‘pink slip’ (given to secondary families or persons renting) during the initial distribution, the Prime Minister encouraged her to reach out to the team once they returned to the community.

He reassured the citizens that the administration has promised and is committed to ensuring that each household receives the $25,000 COVID-19 relief cash grant.

“Pink slip or not, the group is coming back into every community, we have started in the interior-regions already, and we are going to work our way to the Coast, the money is there… we stated every household, it will happen, they will get back to you”.

Citizen during the session raised additional concerns about security and community infrastructures, such as roads, bridges and streetlights. After listening to them at a community-church, the prime minister also took a walk around the village.

He committed to solving difficulties where possible but also encouraged them to work together in community groups.

“We anticipate some discussion at the leadership level in the community… You have an existing Cooperative Society. He will talk with Minister Joseph Hamilton and have him come and service with you; we are here to discuss with you and help you because this Cooperative spirit is significant… yes I was telling you that you can have a Cooperative Society and a Community Development Council (CDC), and both groups can work collectively”.

A resident of Paradise, Mr Randolph McPherson, said that he was pleased by the meeting’s outcome and was confident that the Prime Minister would honour his commitments.

“I’m delighted that the Prime Minister came to discuss many of our problems, and I am delighted with what he said, and I know that many of the issues raised will be solved”.

The outreach to the community was held by the Prime Minister’s representative for Region Four, Bishop Patrick Findlay.

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