Guyanese families who lost relatives in the September 11 tragedy in the United States may be eligible for immediate payments of US$50,000.

Persons could also claim for injury, economic and non-economic losses.

A press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated that the United States Department of Justice had published an Interim Final Rule regarding the administration of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

The fund sets out procedures by which those injured and representatives of persons killed in the terrorist attacks on the United States could apply for compensation.

Eligible claimants could also receive payments of US$25,000 in certain cases involving injury.

The release said individual victims who suffered physical harm as a result of the attacks or the representatives of the deceased victims would be eligible to apply for compensation for loss of earnings, business, employment opportunities, and physical and emotional pain, suffering and physical impairment.

The Civil Division of the Department of Justice, which has responsibility for administering the new compensation programme, has posted detailed information about the Interim Rule at the Department of Justice's website http://www.nsdoj.gov/

Family members of the victims of the attacks are asked to take note of the procedures outlined in the Interim Rule.

The interim regulation remains in place until further notice.

The Department of Justice is also soliciting views from interested parties on how the new compensation programme should be structured.

Interested parties have until January 21 to submit comments to: Kenneth L. Zurick, Director of Office Management Programmes, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, PERIO, Room 3140, Main Building, 950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC, 20530, USA.

Comments could also be sent to victimcomp.Comments@usdoj.Gov or faxed to 301-519-5956.

The release said the information was provided by the United States government in the interest of Guyanese citizens whose families have been affected by the September 11 tragedy.