Cox denies neglecting TT's vulnerable

SOCIAL Development and Family Services Minister Donna Cox rejected Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's allegation that Government has done nothing to help vulnerable people in TT during the covid19 pandemic.

In her contribution to the budget debate in the House of Representatives, Cox said, "Food support to families where a member was retrenched, terminated or experienced reduced income, 49,486 families." She said 3,360 people who applied for senior citizens pension or disability assistance but whose applications were pending, received food support.

Cox disclosed 20,497 families received food support for households who received support from the school feeding programme. She said 24,999 families received market boxes of produce as part of a collaborative effort between her ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture.

In terms of people receiving emergency food hampers, Cox said 1.400 people received these. She added that 3,770 people received support in terms of rental assistance. Regarding support for people in Tobago, Cox said, "Persons received both food and income support, (the) total expenditure associated with these measures was $12,028,000."

Cox disclosed the ministry is looking to improve the efficiency in the distribution of its various grants through digitisation. She declared that at no time, despite challenges caused by the pandemic, was the ministry late in the delivery of services to those in need, through its core programmes.

Cox said a total of 174,798 families and individuals have benefited through those various programmes. She also said a total of $47,728,912 has been allocated in subventions to 22 non-governmental organisations to help them assist people most in need throughout TT.

Cox said Government's commitment to disabled people in TT is demonstrated through a sum of $567 million towards initiatives to help them, such as the provision of wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs. She added that 2,134 children benefit through these initiatives.

Legislatively, Cox said Cabinet approved the National Policy on Disabilities as a white paper and is continuing to implement its recommendations.