The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) today called for an investigation into the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant amid a spate of controversies, and for the removal of certain criteria, that it says, only serves to “humiliate” citizens, and gather data for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) ahead of the upcoming elections.

The distribution of the $100,000 cash grant to Guyanese 18 years and older has been marred by chaotic scenes at distribution sites, and allegations of corruption, with at least two persons publicly alleging that that their cheques were issued to other persons. Other reports suggest that some individuals have been issued the one-off grant twice.

General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sherwin Benjamin today told reporters at a press conference that the allegations warrant an investigation.

“Permit me to here and now, call for a complete investigation into the entire arrangement of the cash grant,” Benjamin said.

Executive Member of the People’s National Congress Reform and Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said while the Opposition is not opposed to the distribution of the cash grant, it believes a better system should have been put in place for the disbursement of the funds.

He said the process raises serious questions about transparency.

“How can you have a process where you are taking the people’s photograph, you are pulling up all of their information via their ID card, when it comes to distributing you have to make reference to very things, but you have situations and cases where cheques belonging to others are collected by someone else. It begs the question as to whether there is really transparency and accountability of the system of this cash grant,” Mahipaul said.

On Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the Ministry of Finance has been instructed to simplify the process. He explained that some persons, whose cheques have not yet been processed or printed, have been showing up at distribution sites, resulting in some confusion.

He said the system must be simplified.

But Opposition Member of Parliament, Coretta McDonald said the Vice President’s instruction has come a little too late.

McDonald said it is clear that from the inception, the Government had no proper plan in place, resulting in confusion at the registration and distribution sites. 

“What does simplifying means? That should have been thought out in the first instance. And if that was thought out in the first instance, then we would not have had senior citizens standing in long lines, pregnant women standing in long lines, fighting, people fainting, we would not have had that. And so that should have been the first thought,” she told reporters.

McDonald also took umbrage to Government’s instruction that recipients must also be photographed upon uplifting their cheques.

She said the taking of photographs with persons holding up their cheques is humiliating.

“Now, citizens on receipt of their cheques are being compelled to hold their cheques in front of them to be photographed. There is absolutely no justification to further humiliate and belittle citizens in this way. It’s only purpose is for the PPP to use the photos for its own propaganda schemes during the campaign for the coming General and Regional Elections. How much more does the PPP want citizens to stoop? “she said.

The PNCR Executive is calling for an immediate end to the practice, which she has described as “disgraceful.”

According to stats provided by the Government on Thursday, 545,000 cheques have been processed while approximately 200,000 Guyanese have received their grants already. A much larger number has registered.

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Finance Ministry instructed to simplify cash grant distribution process; Over 545,000 cheques already printed $30 Billion more approved for $100,000 cash grant distribution PNCR calls on Government to use existing database to pay out cash grant PNCR wants other methods of cash grant disbursement over fears of commercial banks being overwhelmed