Social Services prepaid card a tremendous success, Griffin says

Sun, Feb 22nd 2015, 11:56 PM

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin has reported that by the end of the month more than 1,300 people will be using the government's new reloadable prepaid card launched in November. The card is the first phase of the conditional cash transfer (CCT), a major plank in the Christie administration's social safety net reform agenda. The card is a new payment method for the delivery of assistance to beneficiaries. Contributing to debate on a resolution to accept the mid-year budget communication in the House of Assembly, Griffin gave a report on developments in the Ministry of Social Services over the first six months of fiscal year 2014/2015.

"As a part of the first phase of the CCT this card was launched in November 2014 at the Wulff Road Centre and it has proven to be a tremendous success. In January 2015 the card was introduced at the Fox Hill Centre. By the end of this month, 699 food assistance recipients at the Wulff Road Centre and 733 at the Fox Hill Centre will be utilizing the prepaid card," the minister said.

She told members of Parliament that the card will be introduced next at the Robinson Road Centre, to be followed by the Nassau Street Centre.

"Groundwork has also commenced in Grand Bahama for the introduction of the card and the process will continue on a gradual basis throughout The Bahamas," Griffin said.

The minister also reported on just over $4 million in expenditure over the first half of FY2014/2015. The government spent $2.2 million on permanent food assistance (PFA) & temporary food assistance (TFA) for 5,181 persons between June and December 2014. The money was paid to food stores. The government also assisted 769 persons with Bahamas Electricity Corporation payments to the tune of $425,041.89; 150 persons with Water & Sewerage at just over $68,000; rental assistance for 632 people costing $682,560.00; temporary accommodations for 64 persons at $58,530.00; burial assistance for 97 persons at $72,383.00, and medical assistance for 87 persons costing $174,550.00.

The government also initiated a spending programme of more than half a million dollars on renovations at Willie Mae Pratt Centre. Renovations at a cost of $573,784.00 are underway including repairs to the roof of the visiting room/kitchen building, replacement and repairs of existing awning windows, construction of new timber base and wall cabinets in the kitchen, repairs and painting of covered walkway, repairs to dormitories at the old site which include cosmetology room, painting, isolation room, doctor's office, library and sewing room, upgrades to all three cottages - removal and replacement of bathroom fixtures with industrialized materials, and construction of new security booth with visitors' waiting area.

"Approval has also been obtained through the tenders for the purchase of institutional beds like those installed at the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys," Griffin reported. "I am also pleased to report the re-instatement of a dedicated Psychologist on contract at the WPC since August 2014. This has indeed made a world of difference at that Center."

Disability Affairs
Also during what Griffin called an "extremely exciting and productive" six months for the Ministry, she reiterated the passage of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2014, in July 2014. Parts of the Act came into force with effect from November 3, 2014. She said the government recognized, however, that implementation and enforcement of this legislation must be given paramount attention if it is to meet its intended purpose.

"(A) 15-member commission, comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, was appointed with effect from December 15, 2014, for a period of three years," Griffin explained.

"I can confirm that the commission, under the chairmanship of Mr. Charles DaCosta Bethel, has commenced regular meetings and has compiled an initial list of priority issues and to date, three sub-committees have been formed to consider some specific aspects of the legislation so that consultations with the various governmental agencies for the further enactment of certain critical provisions of the legislation can be implemented. The commission is also planning to meet with the organizations for persons with disabilities in short order."

She also reported that "accelerated focus" was being given to a proposed facility for post school-age children with developmental disabilities.

"A project manager and consultant were brought on board in September, and a new architectural team was put in place in December. The team has produced a conceptual site plan that shows the general arrangement of the components for the facility. This plan is based on the design brief prepared by the task force which is made up of members from several organizations for people with disabilities. I anticipate receiving the preliminary architectural drawings for this facility by the end of March, with groundbreaking for the facility set for April 2015," the minister explained.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads