Small businesses praise $25,000 cash grant for public servants

─ say business will boom

Small business owners are lauding Government’s one-off $25,000 cash grant for public sector workers as a boon to the economy.

On December 31, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced the disbursement of the grant, valued over $2 billion, which would benefit more than 60,000 people.

Today, some small business owners were elated about the initiative, which they say will also put money in their pockets as the grant will be spent at their businesses.

At Bourda Market, vendor, Ms. Abeka Haynes said, “it is very good because persons would come to shop and we would get more money. It is very good for them to get the money.”

Another vendor, Mr. Mugabe Jawanza said he was happy about the economic transformation which could come.   “It is a good initiative because people coming and buy more and you seeing the brightness in the economy. You can see a little progress more in the country, even though the pandemic hambug a lot of people business, business is still boosting.”

Vendor, Ms. Allison Edwards said, “I think it would be a good thing that people would get to shop a little extra goods. It will be a boost to them.”

Mr. Roopnarine Kissoon, another longtime vendor, was also pleased about the initiative.   “For Government to find the money to pump in all direction is not easy. So, I’m glad that they could give the money to everybody who deserve the money because people want it to spend. When they get a better spending power, we have a better market,” he explained.

Other vendors were equally happy that the lives of Guyanese are being improved.

“For me it is a very good thing because there really is some families that need it, really glad for it. I am glad that it is happening and I hope everybody gets it so everybody can feel a little relief. Everybody knows January is a hard month,” vendor, Ms. Colette Rutherford said.

Ms. Debra Saunders, a clothing vendor who plies her trade opposite the Bourda Market said the money can be used to help families.

“I think that once they give it to them, they will be able to do something with it. They can able to buy things and feed their families. Instead of not giving it to the people, at least they could give it to them and they can feed their family.”

Senior Minister with responsibility for finance in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh said recently that the grant is a mechanism to stimulate economic activity.