PM Announces Special Allowance for Path Beneficiaries

As part of the government’s hurricane relief effort 90,000 households, which come under the Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) will immediately benefit from a special one-off allowance valued at $2000 per household.
This was announced by the Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller during a broadcast to the nation on (Aug. 22) on the country’s recovery effort after the passage of Hurricane Dean.
“This will benefit approximately 230,000 individuals. The payments are currently being prepared and should be in the hands of the beneficiaries by this weekend. The total cost of this is $180 million,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
She also announced that for the 80,000 National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners, including those who are disabled, “we will be providing a special allowance of $5000 each immediately, to assist them through this difficult period. This will amount to some $400 million.”
The Prime Minister noted further that, “we are currently in the process of finalizing a voucher system through which citizens in need, who do not fall under any of the above categories, will be able to purchase food supplies through the existing retail trade.” Details of this initiative will be announced today, she indicated.
“In order to ensure full transparency and accountability in the distribution of these vouchers, we intend to request the ministers fraternal in each parish to be in charge of the distribution of these vouchers in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM),” Mrs. Simpson Miller informed.