Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Saturday afternoon assured residents of Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara, that every household that was missed during the first phase of the COVID-19 relief cash distribution, will be eligible for the grant and will receive it during the second round of delivery which has started in the interior.
While in the area he encouraged residents to utilize the vaccination facility established in the community and listened to their concerns.
Responding to a resident who said that her household received neither the grant nor the ‘pink slip’ (given to secondary households or persons renting) during the initial distribution, the Prime Minister encouraged her to engage the team once they have returned to the community.
He reassured the residents that the Government has promised and is committed to ensuring that each household receive the $25,000 COVID-19 relief cash grant.
PM Phillips said, “pink slip or not, the team 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 said every household, it will happen, they will get back to you”.
During the session residents raised concerns about security and community infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and streetlights.
After listening to them at a community church, the Prime Minister took a walk around the village.
He committed to solving challenges where possible, but also encouraged them to work together in community groups.
“We expect some discussion at the leadership level in the community… You have an existing Co-operative Society and I will talk with Minister Joseph Hamilton and have him come and work with you, we are here to have a discussion with you and help you, because this Co-operative spirit is important… I’m telling you that you can have a Co-operative Society and a Community Development Council (CDC) and both groups can work together”.
The outreach was organized by the Prime Minister’s representative for Region Four, Bishop Patrick Findlay.