PM Keith Rowley: Trinidad and Tobago government distributed $29 million grants to religious bodies amid COVID-19

Trinidad and Tobago: Government of T&T distributed $29 Million in grants in an effort to provide relief amid COVID-19. Prime Minister Keith Rowley took it over to social media to announce the wide cross-section of religious organisations for the preparation of food hampers and food support to those who were left vulnerable since COVID-19 approached. 

In a Facebook post, PM Rowley said that the funding was distributed through the Office of the Prime Minister in three Tranches of “Approximately $10 million each to the total of 134 groups” across the country.

Earlier, the government of Trinidad and Tobago had agreed to provide special grants to the registered religious institutions in the country for the purpose of purchasing goods for the preparation of food hampers and distribution of food supplies to the citizens and permanent residents of the nation, the move came after the lockdowns due to coronavirus pandemic. 

According to official information, religious bodies were advised to provide a comprehensive written report for the disbursement of the funds giving details of expenses intended for the purpose. The all monthly reports are set to be submitted by the 2nd day of the following month. 

The copies of agreement can be found here.

As the portfolio of Ecclesiastical Affairs is under the office of Prime Minister, it assured that the payments would be made in the shortest possible time frame to provide help to the citizens. Along with that, the PM office also states that they will also ensure that complete transparency and accountability is observed during the distribution of goods. 

Apart from this, there are about 6,852 total cases of COVID-19, out of which 6,103 have been recovered in the country. There are a total of 122 deaths reported till now due to Coronavirus.