Prime Minister and economic gurus unveil plans for economic recovery, unemployment relief

Published by BBN Staff at July 2, 2020

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Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2020. 10:28 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: The plan for support of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) has been supported by the Ministries of Trade and Industry and others, according to Prime Minister Dean Barrow.

Chair of the national economic recovery program, Dr. Carla Barnett, has confirmed meanwhile that a second phase of the Unemployment Relief Program (URP) now goes into effect.

Some 44 thousand applications were approved of 81 thousand received, and 3 thousand who were unable to be paid through bank accounts are in the process of receiving their debit cards.

30 percent of approved URP applicants were laid off from the tourism sector due to COVID-19, another 8 percent in transportation and 15 percent from other services and the Government has met its target of $34 million paid out over the last three months, with outstanding payments to be made by July 15.

Phase Two of the URP, Dr Barnett said, will not include long-term unemployed, who will be directed to the Ministry of Human Development to be considered for appropriate assistance.

Persons who applied in Phase One may reapply for Phase Two, Dr. Barnett said, but the program will generally discourage those who have gotten their jobs back. Those not approved from Phase One may also reapply and be sure to provide proper employment information, whether self-employed or recently lost their jobs.

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