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by
Peter balroop
SOCIAL Development Minister Amery Browne says his ministry
is in the process of reviewing all allowances paid to needy
citizens in an effort to enable them to meet the rising
cost of living.
Browne made the disclosure while responding to a motion
on the adjournment of the Lower House at Friday’s sitting
by UNC Alliance chief whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
Browne charged that Maharaj had gotten wind of the impending
increases and was playing a game, seeking to show the populace
that the Opposition had pressed the Government on the issue.
Maharaj had raised
the issues of:
n Funeral grant of $3,450 being insufficient to meet applicants
needs, forcing them to go and beg to make up the difference,
unless the funeral home was sympathetic to their plight;
n Rehabilitation grant of $3,500 for persons who lost homes
and belongings to fire or flooding. Maharaj said just two
beds cost that amount.
n Housing grant of $5,000 to senior citizens to repair homes
could barely buy a few sheets of galvanise and bricks.
n Medical equipment grant of $3,500 could hardly purchase
a wheelchair.
n House rent grant of $800 for a period of three months
left applicants struggling.
n Clothing allowance of $200 would see applicants having
to go shoeless.
Browne said between 2001 and 2007 public assistance grants
went up from $108 million to $155 million. Senior citizens
grants during the period increased from $548 million to
$1.1 billion, a 98 per cent increase, he said. While disability
grants went up from $50 million to $174 million in the six
years.
Emergency relief grants increased by a whopping 1,140 per
cent from $557,000 to $6.9 million which was unparalelled
in the history of T&T, the minister enthused.
“The
PNM has no rival in the region. We care for the rich and
the poor, people of all races,”
Browne declared.
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