St. George’s, November 25, 2009 – Social Development Minister Sylvester Quarless has reiterated government’s commitment to helping the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, including close to 1,500 Grenadians whose applications for help is pending under the Public Assistance Programme.
Mr. Quarless told reporters that EC$200 in Public Assistance is being offered to 4,127 people, most of whom were already in the Programme when the National Democratic Congress administration took office in July 2008.
About a year ago, the government increased assistance from $150 to $200, with a pledge to bring it to $400 in the future. Almost $10 million is spent on Public Assistance.
Adding another 1,500 people to the Programme would require increasing the allocation to the Ministry of Social Development by more than $3 million, Hon. Quarless said. He has described it as a major challenge and a task that calls for balance.
“Balancing in the sense that we have to look at the government’s political commitments, the existing economic realities and the social demands that are upon the government,’’ Minister Quarless said.
“Under the Public Assistance Programme, the ministry has a budget of $9.9 million to deal with the 4,127 persons. As we come to the new budget cycle, I have asked the Ministry of Finance to consider increasing the budgetary allocation so that we can accommodate the other 1,498 persons that are knocking on the door to come in. For us to do that, we need another $3.1 million. It is a big task.’’
The Public Assistance Programme, Mr. Quarless explained, is not a pension scheme. He described the Programme as a measure to provide temporary assistance. Pension, on the other hand, is a long-term post-retirement initiative run by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
“A lot of people are getting confused that the Public Assistance Programme is a pension. No, it is not a pension,’’ Mr. Quarless emphasized. “Pension is given when you have contributed to the NIS and based on the number of years you have put into your workplace. With a pension, you’ll have your pension for the rest of your life. That is done by the NIS.’’
On the other hand, said the Minister Quarless, Public Assistance is given by government to the “poor and indigent, so that they wouldn’t fall through the economic crack. Public Assistance is a temporary measure given by government to those that are really in need based on an assessment done by the Ministry of Social Development. That is reviewed every year. So that if your circumstances change after a year, you’ll be removed from the list and then other persons who are vulnerable, and in need of that assistance, will be given the assistance.’’
The Minister said all social development programmes – including Public Assistance and others geared to helping the elderly, children, women and people with disability – are part of government efforts to develop a caring society.
“The ministry seeks to build a caring and integrated system of social development,’’ he said. “The emphasis is to facilitate human development and improve the quality of life for our people.’’
