So, while that Digi Store in Belize City was robbed yesterday, maybe the robbers thought a lot of extra money would be passing through since Digi's offices are now perceived as being linked to the Belize COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program known as B-CAT.
At the end of February, government launched the Program in partnership with the National Bank of Belize, Digi, and the Social Investment Fund. That's the COVID relief program in which beneficiaries have been receiving approximately $150 to $600 per month depending on the household composition.
It appears that there was a mix-up that caused some Belizeans to show to the Digi Stores around the country expecting to receive help from the program. We asked the Human Development minister about that issue today at another event, and here's how she explained it:
Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia - Minister of Human Development
"I think there may have been some misunderstanding because all the people who are receiving BCCAT had to be vetted, and had to be accepted. We did have some glitches in terms of a few people being texted and told that they qualify, and then, later on, they found out that they didn't qualify. So, I acknowledge that we have had some difficulty. However, I think what happened is that we had rising expectations, and many people who applied and had not received an answer thought that they could still go if they see a line, and can catch the line. But unfortunately, you would have to have received the SMS message that you were accepted, and then you have your Social Security Card, and then you go and pick up the money."
