The Tribune

THE appointment of a senior government official to oversee the process leading to the implementation of the Social Safety Net Programme is a clear sign of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens, Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin said.

Mrs Griffin said Marva Minns, deputy director of the Department of Social Services, has been designated the interim co-ordinator of the programme.

Her appointment, Mrs Griffin said, will facilitate the efficient and effective co-ordination of the programme.

“This project will have a significant impact on the department as it seeks to reduce poverty and improve human capital accumulation through the implementation of a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme,” Mrs Griffin said.

“The appointment of Mrs Minns really signals the real launch of the Project. Marva Minns is a veteran social worker; she knows the ropes, and she brings a whole lot to that position. It shows our commitment to ensure that this programme moves forward,” she said.

The government last year borrowed $7.5 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the purpose of implementing its Social Safety Net Programme. Mrs Griffin said all of the protocols necessary for the launch of the programme are expected to be in place within the next two years.

“We are on the verge of a real breakthrough in our social safety net system which we believe will bring social services into the 21st century and see a country where all citizens are economically empowered to provide for themselves and their families and have equal opportunity to access services that will enhance the basic quality of life for all,” Mrs Griffin said.

“We are moving full steam ahead because we believe that this programme will really have a major impact on the way we deliver social services in this country,” she said.

Mrs Griffin said a National Steering Committee comprising of the permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Social Services; Education, Science and Technology; Health and Local Government, and a representative from the Ministry of Finance serving as the chairperson, has been proposed to steer the process.

She explained that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme targets the poor, providing cash grants and requiring households to comply with health and education conditions, primarily to the benefit of children in the household.

The main features of the CCT are:

• A single cash grant to replace various assistance programmes

• A proxy means test (PMT) administered by way of a Management Information System (MIS) to determine the eligibility of each applicant

• Contributions to long term growth and development through a better educated and healthier population

The project involves representatives from as many as five government agencies/corporations/ministries.

“It’s a multi-disciplinary programme because we have, along with Social Services, the ministries of Health, Education, Science and Technology.

“The Ministry of Finance is very heavily involved and to a lesser degree we expect to have the Department of Local Government involved and through the Ministry of Finance. The Department of Statistics is right now in their final stages and is about to begin conducting the survey that will allow us to formulate a pilot project ahead of implementation,” Mrs Griffin said.