Less than half of $2M social assistance funding disbursed
The government budgeted roughly $2.4 million for social assistance funding through the Social Development Department (SDD) this year, after welfare assistance grants had been moved from the purview of lawmakers, the House of Assembly (HOA), and the Premier’s Office last year.
However, it was recently revealed in the HOA that less than half of this money has been disbursed to persons in need of the funds.
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley, told lawmakers that just around $800,000 had been disbursed since funding was routed through the SDD last year. He noted that just 163 applicants had approached the Department and said only 103 of those had been successful up to the end of April this year.
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn told the House that the 13 elected officials sometimes received around $125,000 and were allowed to increase that amount, if needed, to assist constituents.
Walwyn questioned how the Finance Minister, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, could reconcile the fact that less than half of the budgeted funding had been released through the SDD with just three months remaining in the year at this point.
The Commission of Inquiry (COI) found that lawmakers distributed millions of dollars over the years through the assistance grants programmes, often with little to no oversight or structure in place, before the government agreed on the COI implementation framework to reroute the social assistance funds.
However, some lawmakers have called for a return of portions of that discretionary funding to elected officials, citing the red tape involved for residents to access funding from government agencies such as the SDD.
Deputy House Speaker Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather showed lawmakers a sample form that applicants were asked to fill out before they could access funds at the SDD and described it as ‘comprehensive and tedious’.
Mather said there was a need for a review of the process since a single person could only access up to $200 while a family of three persons would be eligible for just $300 each month.
Health Minister Wheatley also agreed that there was a need for the fund to be reviewed and said lawmakers would get an opportunity to do so soon.
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ITS MOVING SLOW BECAUSE THEY CANT FIND A WAY HOW TO THIEF IT
The UK set them up to fail and they took the bait. It is CRIMINAL for a Government to hide behind recommendations and let their people suffer. The elected officials should get access to the funds with stricter oversight.
$800,000 to 103 persons sounds high.
@hmmm, I said that same thing but given the inflation rise I guess nearly $8000 to each is justifiable… but public assistance should be just that and also transparent for anyone to see where this public money is going.
Looks like with all that information at his fingertips someone God forbid is actually keeping some accounts ,names, amounts more red tape keeping a tighter lid on the cookies . Congratulations
Hon. Marlon Penn asked a valid question concerning the investment money from Social Security in the Jose Hill Homes. Did you hear the Minister’s response saying it was a misleading statement? There are some Individuals who should not be in positions where the livelihood of others are concerned. They are only in it for their self gain. A Valid question. Ask the Chairman of the Social Security Board when last there was any increase to the Social Security Benefits on a whole. Not just retirement Benefits, But this Minister sees nothing wrong with that. All District Ministers and At- Large Members can ask questions or Lobby on behalf of their District or people in general concerns But absolutely NOTHING concerning the Ninth District.
1. When will the Solar Lights in North Sound Hills be replaced since Hurricane Irma?
2. When will we have separation of Cargo and Passengers in Spanish Town, when an accident occurs?
3. When will we see a separation of Primary from High School in Spanish Town when Prime Property where the young people could have purchased to build their first homes was handed over in the name of exchange?
4. As the Leader of the Opposition asked: when will the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic be properly outfitted with equipment, Staff and Linens to meet the needs of the people on Virgin Gorda?
5. At least let us know in the HOA if all these are even a priority.. Will it take another four years to hear all these things on the Campaign Trails???
Red tape is good sometimes. In this case it is. There should be a process for assistance with criteria set so that people who need it is getting it. Social Services is the correct place. Audits can be done by independent parties to see if the funds are being disperse properly according to the criteria set. Representative have an incentive to buy votes if they had the money.
Hon Please stop creating a country/cultures of Beggers we know you are trying to securing votes
The money need to remain where it is. I do agree that the process is tedious, but it also transparent. The politicans are loose cannons. This is the way they can’t use the money to bribe the people. It’s such a shame that the monies were used to repair cars, purchase plan tickets, pay off credit card bills, pay for breast reduction, etc. This is not what tax payers dollars are for. Let them fuss, let them argue. Hon. V. Wheatley work with the Department to make the process less tedious and more accessible.
The UK behaving like the IMF with its policies. Rather than blaming individuals for their criminal behavior and arresting and charging them with real charges. They chose to enforce cruel policies that would hurt the masses. The same people who cry for justice. That’s not right at all. In every country in the world, the citizens get assistance from the Government.
And there is misspending all the time but you don’t see these cruel and deliberate policies to stifle the people. BVI politicians have done a lot of things over the years that warranted criminal action by the law and UK.
But the UK as usual turn their heads the other way and give them not even a slap on the wrist. Today some of these same politicians have Government buildings and landmarks named after them while those who walk a straight road get nothing but stifled. These policies hut the people not those committing the crimes.
He looking money to give away so it can come back to himself that why the old criminal was arrested and charged for breach of trust
Jail him I say jail he
The 103 people were by April end…and the 800,000 spent was by now September so @ 2400 a year or 200 a month that should now be 300 plus people getting help
I never thought I would agree with Myron but he is correct. I do not think the Premier liked the funds and therefore gladly agreed with the UK Coi to put it under Social Development. This is a massive mistake for several reasons. Not all issues requesting assistance are social issues. Some are health issues. Some are education/college assistance issues. Along with other important issues. People are still suffering from Irma and financial hits from covid. This was not well thought out. The funds needed to stay with HOA but implement stiff oversight. The funds needs to go back to HOA and administered there even if it needs each district to implement an oversight committee as the people of the area will know the people better and who are really in need and those trying to scam. This action seems to one to sell out the people of BVI by their leaders.
left to their own devices we would be broker than we are already
It is difficult sometimes to avoid attributing our poor logic and proclivity to do things without accountability to our black race because it seems consistent that in every country black ppl Govern, nothing works satisfactorily.
Here we have an opportunity for the State to administer according to needs with clear prescription and accountability, and what do the Politicians suggest? Tear it down, the money isn’t being spent fast enough. How about hey, we made some savings this year, probably the artificial need we have imagined for years just isn’t substantiated. How about reduce some of the senseless taxes that you have placed on your population and the expats? How about being fair for once, how about fixing the roads with the extra cash? How about giving more Scholarships, or subsidizing costs at the private schools? The students they produce come back into the BVI workforce.
SMFH..CARAJO!!
Best thing that happened in the BVI was when those funds went under the control of the Social Development Department.
We have turned out a country with many able bodied people who say that they are in need and are satisfied with begging for handouts instead of working. Of course the poli***ians loved when they could distribute the funds – I do not have to elaborate on the reason why. We can do much better than that!
Give a man or woman a fish, feed him or her for a day. Teach them to fish and feed them for a lifetime.
Its moving slow because who do not need it can no longer get their hands on it. People who are gainfully employed use to request assistance and get it for a vote.
The process is not tedious. The process weeds out person who feel entitled to free government money.
The reason yall cant get the whole 2.4 million spend off now is because now is only people who actually in need getting assistance grant since its no longer at ministers discretion. Not a thing wrong with the system. The system finally working how it should now you trying to make it sound like a problem.
7,767.00 per person
We the tax payers of this $800,000 needs to know the names of the persons who receive this SSD money averaging $7K person. I thought each person can only receive $300 per month.
asking for everybody
No matter who controls the funds, it appears as if it’s a “who knows who, who is related to whom, etc.” Always boils down to personal preference as to who gets these funds( Government Assistance) If I stand to be corrected, so be it.
The whole issue stems from them wanting to give out the public’s money without being transparent or accountable.
I also think a COI is need against SS especially since the hurricane and up to the last government administration.
Persons had a hard time or were denied even Covid assistance and no one seems to know why or what the qualifying criteria was.
You are absolutely correct.
A real brutal caste system still exist here, because the people who carries such mentalities still live among us ad are still in influential and power postions.
Indeed, that system has modified ery little over the last hundred plus years.
Ohhh, books can be written on that topic and its effects on hundreds of Virgin Islanders over the decades.
So no surprise when we see what we see today.
The problem is, noone is pointing it and its abuses out publicly, and there are no mechanisms and punishments in place to bring to bear on those in authority, who are blatantly reeking havoc on other people’s lives..
He who has lived it knows it.
Can expat get some assistance too?
I need some to pay my rent and buy school books for my kids