PERSONNEL FROM the Ministry of National Mobilisation were at the Revenue Office in Bequia yesterday, June 27 to begin the process of registering people to receive assistance under the Covid-19 payment programme.

Under this programme, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), more than 700 families in the green zone will get support. Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on radio that the numbers might get to 1000 families. Payment support registration has also been taking place on the mainland for families in the volcanic red, orange and yellow zones under the Volcano Eruption Emergency Programme.These payments are being facilitated through the provision of ATM cards issued by the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG).

According to a release from the Agency for Public Information (API), more than 3000 ATM cards had so far been distributed to heads of household under this Programme.

It is funded by the World Bank, through negotiations by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the tune of EC$12 million.

The Prime Minister said as of July 1, 2022, families will start receiving payments through to December 2022. Around 4000 families are expected to benefit from the income support, receiving from $300-$600 dollars, depending on the size of the family.

Gonsalves, said on radio on Monday, June 27 that, “Others will be put on but not the full four thousand…but persons whose names would be added on… who do not meet the July 1 deadline… their names would go on in July, and they would get two payments on August the 1st, so they wouldn’t miss their aggregate of six payments.”

Card have been distributed in Georgetown, Coulls Hill, Troumaca, Spring Village and other communities affected by the eruptions of La Soufriere.