Gov't having trouble validating some households seeking Beryl relief

By Lorraine Mendez    

 

The Social Security Ministry is expressing concern that it has been unable to validate a number of the households assessed for support under the government's Hurricane Beryl relief programme.

 

Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. says since the hurricane on July 3, more than 13,500 assessments have been completed.

 

But he says the authorities have been unable to verify just under 5,000 households, using the taxpayer registration number (TRN).

 

"We have not been able to validate the TRN for one reason or the other, either the name is spelled incorrectly - your name might be Sasha, and you tell us it is Sasha, you spell it 'SASHA', but your TRN has it as 'SASCHA' - or the TRN number that you gave us was incorrect," he suggested. 

 

Mr. Charles said, in engagements with residents, many did not have their TRN card, either because their house was destroyed or they just could not locate it at the time. 

 

Minister Charles, who was speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning, said a process of re-verification is underway.

 

He added that cheques have been printed and submitted for disbursement to just over 7,000 households that have been verified. 

 

Meanwhile, the Social Security Minister said assessments are still being conducted, with St. Elizabeth accounting for the highest number of households identified for support. 

 

"The largest number of checks printed come from St. Elizabeth, more than 1,245 at a value of more than $116.4 million and that's ongoing. And that's followed by Clarendon with more than 1,055 checks printed at a value of an estimate of $98.3 million, call it $100 million, and St. Mary follows in third place, followed by Manchester and then Portland, and on and on." 

 

The government has set aside $1 billion to provide cash grants to help people affected by Hurricane Beryl.

 

Grants of $50,000, $150,000 and $400,000 are being issued based on the severity of damage to homes.

 

Another US$1.4 million in Beryl relief funds is being provided under the UN's World Food Programme to deliver cash grants to the most vulnerable, while UNICEF is providing nearly $43 million in targeted support.