Former Minister Concerned about Food Card Suspension
The Minister of Social and Development and Family Services has advised this Honourable House that 13,000 persons had their food cards suspended as they failed to respond to the Ministry’s various requests to come in to their offices.
The Minister further stated that all efforts were made to contact the 13,0000 persons which included field visits.
I am deeply concerned that the Minister has indicated that field visits were conducted in light of the fact that these very field officers who are responsible for these visits have not had their contracts renewed. As such, it would have been impossible to conduct such a large scaled exercise in the absence of officers.
Furthermore, I am unsure whether or not the Minister is aware that many of the persons who may have been captured in this net of 13,000 may be incapacitated and would require a home visit as opposed to visiting the office; and a lack of same would have resulted in their only source of income being removed.
The enforcement of measures to prevent abuse and inefficiencies are critical, which no right thinking person would object to, hence the reason the PP government sought to implement the biometric card; which in fact removed some 4000+ persons who were abusing the system.
The difference under the PP government is while the system was being transferred to create efficiency and remove corruption, the implementation process enforced an automatic removal without suspending legitimate card holders.
The system implemented by this PNM Government has instead placed an unnecessary burden on the poor and the vulnerable placing many in an embarrassing situation while it is being alleged that these persons were contacted.
I would like to therefore pose the following questions to the Minister :-
Can the Honourable Minister state whether or not the Ministry has the requisite field officers to conduct this continuous exercise?
Can the Honourable Minister provide copies of letters that would have been sent out to the recipient of these 13,000 food card holders?
Can the Honourable Minister state how many persons have a disability and are incapacitated who would have been affected by this decision?
Can the Honourable Minister state what system is in place to assist persons who may be in critical need of assistance in the absence of temporary food cards at the regional offices?
Christine Newallo-Hosein
Member of Parliament
Cumuto/Manzanilla
Tel:689-3911