Most vulnerable affected by Maria to receive emergency cash

Hurricane Maria spread destruction across Dominica

An Emergency Cash Transfer that will target about 25,000 most vulnerable people affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria was announced on Monday morning.

Payments under the program are expected to begin on Monday.

The initiative is being done by the government of Dominica in collaboration with the World Food Program and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

“The Emergency Cash Transfer is a program to assist the most vulnerable households and children in Dominica affected by Hurricane Maria,” Helen Royer, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs, said at a press briefing.

She explained that those receiving help under the government’s public assistance program will “automatically be included or have been included.”

“Actually, as we speak we have already deposited the monies and payments will begin today for those who are already on the public assistance program,” she stated. “Also included automatically were the foster children so the parents of foster children will also be part of this group to receive the cash transfer.”

Royer said about 25,000 people or approximately 8,300 households are expected to benefit from the program.

“This indeed is welcoming as this will augment our current social support networks and help our beneficiaries to be more resilient in this time of crisis…” she stated.

Marco Selva, Head of Mission of the World Food Program said the objective of the intitiative is to ensure that people affected by Hurricane Maria can recover.

He stated the program will be limited to three months.

“It will go from EC$240 up to $645 a month, depending on the number of the children in the household …” he remarked.

He described the program as “shock response social protection.”

“Meaning that we are utilizing and really expanding what is already existing in the country,” he stated. “The Government of Dominica has already demonstrated the ability to manage a cash transfer in a very efficient way.”

Selva said the program’s objective is to reach the people who were most affected by Maria.

Meanwhile, Aleks Lazovski, Social Protection Specialist at UNICEF, said those who meet the criteria for the program include those who are already receiving help under the government’s social program.

Additionally, households that lost their form of livelihood or main source of income as a direct result of the hurricane will be included.

“So basically the head of the household is currently unemployed as a result of the hurricane,” he stated.

According to Lazovski, to be a beneficiary under the program, the following must be met: households must include pregnant or lactating women; households with persons with disabilities, severe chronic illnesses, and elderly persons; households headed by elderly persons and single elderly persons; households headed by single mothers and single males.

In addition, women and girls at risk of exploitation, large households with high dependency ratio, households severely destroyed by the hurricane, people who live in collective centers and those who live in emergency shelter are eligible for assistance under the program.

The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs.

Emergency numbers for the program are 277-8667, 285-0989 or 614-3000.

 

 

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21 Comments

  1. Concerned Citizen
    December 5, 2017

    How much is donated in total? 25000 × $400.00 for 3 months = $ EC 30 000 000. More empty promises without solid facts.

  2. anonymous2
    December 5, 2017

    Boy is this late in coming. People could have starved to death 10 times over. They need to hand out food vouchers.

  3. Illuminator
    December 4, 2017

    I am pretty confident the funds will get to those who meet the criteria stated by Alex Lazovski – since none of the criteria include must be a labourite, UWPite, Freedomite, Non alignedite. So, not all pregnant and lactating mothers in Dominica are labourites for example, but all such mothers will benefit (Ha ha for once, here is something that cannot be politicised in Dominica -everybody who has unprotected sex could become pregnant no matter what “ite” you are and so qualify for the assistance. And strange as it may seem, everybody on the public assistance program list is not a labourite…. So all shall eat.

    • Anonymous
      December 5, 2017

      Boy, isn’t that an incentive to make babies and be single? I hope they rethink this.

  4. Tobby
    December 4, 2017

    Bill alone will take that, but better late than never. I thought was per week but per month hmm

  5. Shameless
    December 4, 2017

    UNICEF better have all checks and balances in place to watch the chief lier and conartist architects of DLP’s so called social programs designed to evade scrutiny while benefitting supports and buying votes. You see, in Skerrits’s conspiratorial narratives, jealous and angry uwpites, crazy diasporas, and criminal opposition forces are hell-bent on unseating him because they simply complain loudly about his tricks and unsavory tactics when distributing aid.

    Hence, UNICEF should take extraording precautions to ensure that BOBOL does not befall good intentions. I ask all Dominicans to watch this program like hawks to ensure those deserving are the ones who receive.

    Assertive like Mama Eugenia! :twisted: :twisted:

  6. Ave Maria
    December 4, 2017

    Organizations like the World Food Program and the (UNICEF) not following Dominica news man? The program is excellent but the government of Dominica should have NO PART to play in that! trust me the same way they distributed millions of Monfared money to their supporters in the name of SMALL BUSINESS, expect them to find a crooked and corrupt way to distribute to their friends. Even people like government ministers and Mano will get their fat check, maybe on somebody else name.

  7. Good thing
    December 4, 2017

    This will assist the people ,as an immediate help. Hopefully those who really need it will receive it.
    I am hoping that the needs are assessed properly ,so that it is fair and unbiased.
    The folks in the kalinago territory ,should be given priority. As there is no economy.but from the ways things are shaping up , they will be sidelined again . Last for everything .
    It’s a good gesture ,but please do a good homework to ensure the needy gets it .

  8. Shaka Zulu
    December 4, 2017

    Two goats and 10 hens can provide eggs and milk for a year. Back in old days country folks all had animals in back yard. A few rabbits to provide meat. They breed fast. The sea always have fish. Nothing wrong with some frech eggs and milk.

    • anonymous2
      December 5, 2017

      The sea does not have so many fish anymore, haven’t you been fishing in the last couple of years in DA? People here, especially the younger generation, don’t want to farm. They just want to buy stuff at the store. Gone are the ways of old and the young were not brought up with the same values and work ethic.

  9. Real truth
    December 4, 2017

    Giving folks cash like this will not help Domincas social recovery challenges. Most human beings on the planet are poor stewards of cash…….Th right way would be to equip the social assistance agencies to asses each family as stated, then provide the necessary food/goods etc…..this way we can limit the elderly getting rip off. Etc.. Cash in hand sounds good policitally, but, most folks are going to spend that money on fast food, Fried chicken, etc… Some Governments never learn!

    • dayandnight vision
      December 4, 2017

      Real truth Why do we have to politicize EVERYTHING??????? If it was done the way you are suggesting you would still criticize.

      • Anonymous
        December 5, 2017

        You should direct that question at Skerrit. He is the master of politicising. As sure as eggs are eggs he will use this programme too to portray himself as the saviour of the nation with hid divide and rule tactics.

      • Possie
        December 5, 2017

        I agree 100 percent

    • Dominican queen
      December 4, 2017

      What exactly do you propose that the vulnerable do in a time of crisis such as this. Are they to batter for food. This idea will stimulate the economy. I think it is commendable and comes at a time when the economy needs an injection of funds. The mu cj needed foreign exchange we would have lost due to the absence of a 2017 – 2018 tourism sector. I am hoping that the funds get to the right persons

      • Emile Dominique
        December 4, 2017

        Dominica Queen…”.This idea will stimulate the economy” That is correct.

      • Anonymous
        December 5, 2017

        Obviously, most of this money will end up in the hands of the local merchants.

  10. Is me and I alone
    December 4, 2017

    That’s very good and I welcome the move though I feel everyone should receive something, since everyone was impacted by Maria. My only concern is that the corrupt government of Dominica is once again involved and if they could not be trusted with the distribution of sardines and corn beef, Skerrit says he not eating, why should I trust them with Money they all eating and accumulating even from wanted criminals like Monfared

    • Emile Dominique
      December 4, 2017

      Is Monfared a member of the UN or UNICEF, or is he their friend. Whatever happens some poor people will get some relief. Those Grinch in the opposition forces just cannot understand that many people and organizations will be helping Dominica.

      • Anonymous
        December 5, 2017

        Only wankers get free relief

  11. Paul Rossnof
    December 4, 2017

    I hope Mr. Lazovski is keeping a very close eye on the distribution of these funds. In other words in the past everytime this government is involved in the distribution of aid it usually goes to supporters of the DLP/Skerrit only.

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