80 Per Cent Of St. Elizabeth Families Receive Cash Grants

Disbursements have been made to 80 per cent of St. Elizabeth families who were selected to benefit from the first payment of cash grants provided by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Parish Manager for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Michelle Senior, made the disclosure while addressing the monthly meeting of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation on February 10.

She said that the second payment of the cash grant is expected to begin shortly.

Approximately 10,000 families impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Jamaica will benefit from the disbursement of US$1.085 million over a three-month period. Each qualified family will receive $5,000 per month over the payment period.

The funds are intended to support needy families that are not beneficiaries of the Government’s Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda, was presented with a symbolic cheque by Head of Office at WFP, Regis Chapman, last November.

Ms. Senior said that families can collect their payments at the C&WJ Co-operative Credit Union in Santa Cruz, Dotnet Café in Junction, and Williams Cash and Carry in Pedro Cross.

The world’s largest humanitarian organisation, the WFP works in more than 80 countries to deliver food assistance during emergencies and works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.