Guyana, February 7, 2025 – The distribution schedules of the $100,000 one-off cash grant for regions two, three, four, five, six, and ten will be published within a week.

Finance Secretary, Sukrishnalall Pasha has told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the ministry is currently preparing these schedules, and simultaneously working on completing the verification process for persons who have already registered.

This effort has seen tremendous results, especially against the backdrop of the relatively small team undertaking this initiative.

In fact, within one month, the ministry has been able to verify over 240,000 persons.

“We registered about 271,000 since the beginning of the year, and verified 242,000. Last year, about 390,000 persons were registered and verified. We also substantially completed distribution in regions one, seven, eight and nine,” Pasha said, emphasising the magnitude of this achievement.

Pasha’s disclosure comes on the heels of General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s assurance that all Guyanese will receive the cash grant, and that the government is bent on ensuring that the process is as smooth and efficient as possible.

Now that the government’s $1.138 trillion budget has been passed, Dr Jagdeo said the necessary funds are available to resume distribution of the grant.

“[Before], even if the cheques were cut, you could not deliver them or get them cashed because the resources were not available,” he explained to reporters at the weekly Freedom House press conference.

He underscored that this is a monumental project, recognising the hard work of the staff at the Ministry of Finance.

“It takes time. It has to be done diligently and people will get their money. We’re not going to be rushed to do it,” he added.

Last week, the Committee of Supply approved the over $40 billion allocation to support the distribution, of which $30 billion will be disseminated to the 300,000 additional citizens aged 18 and older.

Approximately 121,000 Guyanese have already received their grants.

Montego Bay, Jamaica, February 7, 2025 – Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has emphasised the importance of community tourism, noting that the sector is for everyone and not just for big investors or hotel chains.

“It is for the people, for the communities, for the micro, small, and medium- sized business owners, for the craft vendors, the storytellers, the tour guides, and the farmers who supply fresh produce. Tourism belongs to everyone,” he stressed.

The Minister said that it is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Tourism, through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), has been investing in community-based tourism, because “we believe” that the heartbeat of Jamaican tourism is in “our communities”.

“When visitors come to Jamaica, yes, they enjoy the beaches, the food, the luxury resorts, but what really stays with them are the experiences, the memories they make through and with our people.  It’s the stories, the warmth, the authenticity of our communities,” Mr. Bartlett added.

The Minister, who was speaking at the official ribbon-cutting and awards ceremony at the Sturge Town Primary School on February 5, celebrating excellence in community tourism, said it is only fitting that Sturge Town, a community that has long embodied the “true spirit of resilience and unity” is being recognised and showcased.

He said that the community, in St. Ann, is a true testament to the importance of community-based tourism and stands on the cusp of being a cultural heritage model for other areas.

The Minister pointed out that even greater things are to come for the small rural community, citing its proximity to several major hotel developments taking place and the tremendous trickle-down benefits that are in store.

“As we gather to celebrate this significant occasion, it is essential that we reflect on our journey and, more importantly, chart a future where our tourism industry is more inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all,” Mr. Bartlett said.

“When we talk about thriving in 2025, we are talking about communities like Sturge Town, where heritage, culture and natural beauty collide to create something special, something uniquely Jamaican,” he added.

The Minister said that Sturge Town is a perfect example of what community-based tourism can look like, noting that since 2022, TPDCo has been working alongside residents and business interests to develop sustainable tourism opportunities, “not just for today, but for generations to come”.

“We have invested $3.5 million in projects that uplift this community, rehabilitating the Wall of Fame and Free Village Monument, documenting oral histories, providing Team Jamaica and Tour Guide Skills Training, and ensuring that this community has the tools, the knowledge, and the platform to showcase its heritage,” the Minister added.

“Sturge Town is one of Jamaica’s first free villages, founded in the wake of Emancipation. It stands as a monument to the strength of our ancestors and to the vision of men like Joseph Sturge who advocated for the end of the apprenticeship system, helping to establish this former free village along with English Baptist minister and missionary John Clarke. Most importantly, it also stands as a monument to the unbreakable spirit of the Jamaican people,” he said.

Contact: Garwin Davis

Release: JIS

Photo Captions:

Header: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, speaks at the official ribbon-cutting and awards ceremony at the Sturge Town Primary School in St. Ann,  on February 5, celebrating excellence in community tourism.

Insert: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses residents, stakeholders and other business interests at the official ribbon-cutting and awards ceremony at the Sturge Town Primary School in St. Ann, on February 5, celebrating excellence in community tourism.

Photos (Garwin Davis)

Kingston, Jamaica, February 7, 2025 – Three schools in rural Jamaica have expressed gratitude to the Japanese Embassy, following the signing of grant agreements on Wednesday (February 5) to purchase much-needed school buses.

The funds, totalling $28.8 million, will facilitate the acquisition of two 29-seater Toyota Coaster buses and one 15-seater bus for the institutions under the Government of Japan’s Grassroots Human Security Project.

The beneficiaries are Rest Primary and Infant School, and Bustamante High School in Clarendon, and Port Antonio Primary School in Portland.

Principal of Rest Primary, Dr. Sandra Smith, shared that the institution has been yearning for a school bus for over 10 years.

She said the idea of having a bus was proposed by the Physical Education teacher who desired transport to take students to meets as well as school and field trips with ease.

“Being located in the sugar belt, which is no longer a vibrant industry in the area, our students are often faced with difficulty coming to school because, most times, parents say they don’t have the fare for the bus. Transportation is not frequent… in the area. [So] acquiring this bus, it is a godsend,” Dr. Smith said.

She is hopeful that the bus will improve student attendance and punctuality.

“There are not enough words to express our gratitude to you our valued stakeholders. But the care that will be taken of this bus will speak volumes,” Dr. Smith stated.

Board Chair of Port Antonio Primary School, Paulette Brimm-Smith, said the partnership will have a lasting and tangible impact on the students’ lives.

“The generous gift of a school bus from the Embassy of Japan is more than a contribution. It is an investment in the daily experiences of our children. It will ease the journey to education, create new opportunities for participation and remove barriers that too often limit potential,” Mrs. Brimm-Smith said, pointing out that the support is an example of how access can translate into achievement.

For her part, Vice Chair of Bustamante High School, Delinda Chablal, said the institution is extremely grateful for the assistance.

“Having a school bus is priceless. It will assist us in enriching our students’ experiences by facilitating excursions and field trips, which will not only motivate them to learn about their world but… also help them in developing their interests, which can lead to future careers,” Mrs. Chablal said.

She added that the bus and the opportunities it will provide, will contribute to the students’ holistic development and, by extension, the community’s long-term future.

CONTACT: JUDANA MURPHY

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe (second left), and Executive Director of the National Education Trust (NET), Latoya Harris-Ghartey (third right), share a photo opportunity with Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi (right), and the Principals of schools that will be receiving buses under Government of Japan’s Grassroots Human Security Project. The Principals are (from left) Bustamante High School, Wayne Evans; Port Antonio Primary School, Kennecha Davis-Williams; and Rest Primary and Infant School, Dr. Sandra Smith. The occasion was a grant signing ceremony on Wednesday (February 5) at the Education Ministry in Kingston.

Photographer: Michael Sloley