Government Announces New Benefit Programme for two Vulnerable Groups in Society

~~Adz:Right~~ ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Government of Prime Minister the Hon. Baldwin Spencer has announced another benefit programme to assist two vulnerable groups in the society.

During the presentation of the 2009 Speech from the Throne on Monday, Governor-General Dame Louise Lake-Tack announced that the government, in conjunction with PDC Caribe Antigua and Barbuda, will be introducing an initiative called the People’s Benefit Programme which will offer tangible a ssistance in the form of a monthly benefit to the disabled and the economically disadvantaged.

Dame Louise outlined that the project involves the issuance of a special debit card to programme beneficiaries which will be used to purchase food and personal household items at the Central Marketing Corporation and the Fisheries Complex during the initial stages of t6he programme. The project is expected to be expanded later to supermarkets owned by citizens throughout Antigua & Barbuda.  

“The project is targeted at some 2,000 individuals of which, approximately 500 will fall in the disabled category, with the remainder comprising disadvantaged households. The Peoples Benefit Card will be issued in conjunction with a local indigenous bank, the ABI Bank and will require the placement of point of sale debit card swipe machines to process payments at the respective merchants. The merchants would be guaranteed same day processing of payment as with any commercial debit or credit card,” Dame Louise announced. 

Each month every recipient’s card will be topped up to the value of EC$200 dollars with the unused portion of the monthly benefit expiring at the end of each month.

Commenting on the project, Prime Minister Spencer said that this programme follows the Senior Citizens Utility Subsidy Programame which provides financial assistance to senior citizens on the payment of their utility bills.  “Once again we are able to use the funds assosicated with the Petro Caribe Initiative to come to the assistance of the most vulnerable in our society.  My government is once again demonstrating that we are serious about putting people first.  Our programmes are designed to ensure that every citizen including our disabled and elderly live comfortable lives,” said the Prime Minister.

“With over 2000 persons benefiting from this new programme, my government is ensuring that we positively impact the disposable income and quality of life of the disabled and the economically disadvantaged,” he noted.

At a monthly subsidy of EC$200 per person the project is estimated to cost the Government some EC$4.8M annually.  

Government has already appointed a nine member committee made up of stakeholders from several civic and non-governmental organizations to oversee the programme.  This committee will have final approval of all applications to the programme. (Ends)