Of the 51,098 applications made for the Salary Relief Grant for those within the NIS system, 18,899 people have already received their cheques.

Providing a brief update on Wednesday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said 548 of those cheques were distributed to Tobagonians, with 1,052 applications for Tobago outstanding. 

The payments made to date is $26.3 million, according to the Finance Minister. 

His update comes one day after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley refuted claims that government had not paid out any of the grants to applicants from Tobago. 

The $1500 grant payment, which will be made to successful applicants for a three month period, will cost the State an overall amount of $400 million, according to government’s earlier announcements.