Tobago landlords begin getting rent grants

Tobago landlords were expected to start receiving payments from the covid19 rental assistance grant on Tuesday.

In a press release on Monday, the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development said approved applications were being processed and the landlords of those applicants will start receiving payments on June 9.

It said: “Both the landlord and applicant will be informed of the payment. The public is further informed that the verification process for the covid19 rental assistance grant, is ongoing.”

The release added that in the interim, the division continues to provide emergency food support to vulnerable people in communities throughout Tobago, while also facilitating applications for income support grants and public assistance grants, which are provided by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.

“The division is aware that many members of the public require urgent social service support. However, there is an assessment process for clients to receive any type of support from the division. The division urges members of the public to please exercise patience as the division’s team works assiduously to assist all our fellow Tobagonians in need.”

Assistant Secretary, Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development Nadine Stewart-Phillips last week said rental assistance would be forthcoming soon as background checks on claims were being done. Stewart-Phillips said there were 485 applications for rental assistance and 200 were processed,

Recently, the Prime Minister disputed claims that Tobagonians have not been receiving grants from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.

In an interview on Tobago Channel 5 on Tuesday, Dr Rowley said, to date, 2,765 Tobagonians have received grants from the ministry in the categories of income support, rental assistance, and food support.

Rowley said the claim that nobody in Tobago had received grants troubled him. He said people who have been paying NIS will be processed faster, as he acknowledged the painstaking progress of the process, but said checks and balances are important.