Prime Minister leads hamper distribution in Kingston, Georgetown

Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, his wife, Mrs. Mignon Phillips and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, this morning, distributed 100 hampers to vulnerable residents of Kingston, Georgetown. The hampers were donated to the Government for distribution, by the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYOG).

The Prime Minister said the hampers contain food supplies that will allow a family of four to prepare balanced meals for at least one month.

“As we prepare the Budget, we recognise we have vulnerable families in Guyana because of COVID-19 and because of poverty in general, and it is our plan to address not only the vulnerable communities… but to address poverty on the whole in a comprehensive manner in Guyana,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips presents a hamper to this Kingston resident, during a distribution exercise held this morning. The Prime Minister’s wife, Mrs. Mignon Phillips, is also pictured first, right

Minister of Public Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kwame McCoy (left) gestures as he interacts with a recipient of a hamper, during a distribution exercise held in Kingston, Georgetown today. Councillor of the City of Georgetown, Mr. Bishram Kuppen is also pictured first, right

Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips presents a hamper to this Kingston resident, during the distribution exercise

Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips presents a hamper to this Kingston resident, during the distribution exercise

The Prime Minister said the distribution will be done nationwide and will continue until year-end to compliment other planned relief measures. He also said the Government will be working to swiftly resuscitate the One Laptop per Family project to facilitate distance learning during the pandemic as well as ensuring the airing of educational programmes on television.

Councillors of the City of Georgetown, Mr. Bishram Kuppen and Mr. Dwayne Adams, and Regional Democratic Councillor of Demerara-Mahaica, Mr. Desmond Morian also attended the distribution exercise.

Mr. Kuppen, recalling the outreach led by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali, on Sunday, August 30, 2020, said he is pleased to seethe Central Government leading the relief interventions for vulnerable persons. “We have 15 constituencies in Georgetown, and most of the vulnerable communities, the neighbourhoods, they are suffering right now.  We’ve received many calls… so the Government outreach is quite welcomed and this is something I’m very happy for as a City Councillor,” he said.   Kingston resident, Ms. Akeisha Anthony, in an invited comment, said as a single parent of two children she greatly appreciates the assistance by the Government.  “I am thankful because since this whole thing, you know, money ain’t really coming like before,” she said.