Dear Editor,
Hon Minister for Money Matters, Dr. Ashni Singh has proudly announced that Stage III of the Cash Grant programme is now live. He has reason to be proud. Generally speaking. A word of thanks is extended.
The first two stages with registration and direct deposits into bank accounts had their hitches, but went mainly smoothly. Hiccups in the house and efforts at self-registration with barcodes and such were managed well at government offices that handled Cash Grant matters. Staff that were professional and patient, courteous and helpful. My own experience on the three to four occasions I had to visit and interact. For the record, not to collect three or four times. Only to remedy a difficulty. Oh, in passing, still haven’t collected to date (to return to that in a minute). People I nudged towards those offices to get their cash grant moving were treated similarly. Most, if not all of them, have collected their $100,000. In hand, then out of hand. Like a live, slippery, fish. Chalk that one down to prices, past due bills, and the intensifying pains for the poor of living in Guyana. Had to ring that bell. One more time.
It is a good development that arrangements are in place for those without a bank facility. Timely and thoughtful. Hopefully, their registration and collection of cheque go off with too much of a hassle, or any undue delays. I think that will be the case, since the people looking after the government’s business, and taking care of the people, know what they are doing, and know how to do it well. Now for the issue that is hanging.
There are a good handful of Guyanese who still haven’t received their cash grants. More than a good handful. I think that explains why, after such an extended time of registering and processing, the number of recipients is over 400,000 and not over 500,000, and closer to 600,000. The 400,000 plus is a good number, all things considered. Those who haven’t received their cash grants have done all that was asked of them. Register. Provide all details. Follow-up. Correct what had to be corrected. But still they wait. It has been a long wait for the people I know in that boat. They are more than a few. To deal with them, clear their backlog, I respectfully recommend to the honourable minister that some consideration be given to them.
What has to be done? Where to go to get moving? What to expect, once there? How to correct, and be done with the outliers, if that is what applies? The number hanging in a kind of no man’s cash grant land needs to be addressed, removed from pending issues, with that book closed. Just thought I would share this situation with Dr. Singh, add to his inbox loaded with pending matters. Help him to mark well done, move on. Best wishes, Minister. One more thing, when is the next cash grant? Guyanese have urgent uses for it.