Davidson-Celestine: Covid19 relief still ongoing in Tobago

THA Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development Tracy Davidson-Celestine has given the assurance that social relief initiatives are still being worked on.

Addressing reporters during a virtual media briefing last Tuesday, Davidson-Celestine said she met Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox who agreed to the establishment of a Tobago desk to assist with Tobago-related queries.

She said at that time, TTPost had approximately 200 cheques for Tobagonians. She noted 170 of those cheques have been distributed.

“Thirty cheques are still in hand and that is because they are now not able to find those individuals because of incorrect addresses.

“I did indicate that the cheques should be brought to the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development and we would assist in finding those persons wherever they are, so that they can receive those cheques,” she said.

The secretary said information coming to the division from the ministry indicates that 1,839 applications for food support were received and 1,634 were approved. She added, 1,540 received support while 94 are still to be paid and 205 applications were rejected.

“With regards to income support from the Ministry of Social Support... to date the ministry has received 1,833 applications from Tobago. Approved, the number stands at 1,568; 1,481 of those persons have since been paid and there is 87 on hand to be distributed and about 265 of them were rejected,” she said.

Davidson-Celestine added: “In terms of the total assistance in monetary amount given, in addition to what we have been doing here at the level of the Tobago House of Assembly, stands at approximately $7.2 million and this is additional support coming from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, of course, complementing our work here in the Tobago House of Assembly and in particular, the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development.”

Addressing the rental assistance grants programme, she said the division has received 965 applications and most have been processed.

“Out of the 965 received, we have a balance of 140 to be processed and our members of staff in the CSU Unit are working hard to ensure that we can treat with the 140 within the shortest possible timeframe.

The secretary said the division has also been providing psychological support to families throughout the respective communities.

“Of course, we must emphasise on the kind of work the officers have been doing because we know quite a lot of people out there have been experiencing some level of frustration and would need mental health support as well as counselling support. And so, the Family Development Department continues to provide that kind of service, they continue to provide that kind of care to our residents out there,” she said adding that therapeutic counselling, as well as mediation support, is also available.