The Anguilla Social Security Board has provided a grant of EC$500,000 to assist less fortunate persons on the island. The announcement was made by Deputy Chairman, Atkins Rogers, at a press conference on Tuesday, October 16.
He said the Board acted following comments on radio talk shows and a letter from Mr. Sutcliffe Hodge.
“This Board has received many suggestions especially in terms of increasing the old age pension, funeral grants, unemployment benefits, national health insurance, and assistance to the less fortunate. Today, we are talking about the less fortunate,” he said.
“We were advised of children who were attending school in some cases without meals; and some not attending school because of nothing to eat; and parents having very little for themselves in homes where electricity and water, two basic necessities, are not available.”
Mr. Rogers said the Board instructed the Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, to undertake an in-depth investigation into the matter. Following that, the Board set aside half a million dollars towards the cause and secured the endorsement of Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, who has responsibility for Social Security. A special committee was set up to decide the terms of reference with respect to the assistance programme, and the funds are to be administered by the Department of Social Development.
Director of that department, Sanford Richardson, noted that his office was already providing $400 per month on a regular basis to over 150 needy persons. In addition, food vouchers were being provided to a number of others under an arrangement with four supermarkets. He was grateful to Social Security, at this time of economic difficulty, for providing the additional funds to assist other persons who met the criteria of need for assistance.
Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor, was pleased that the less fortunate school children would benefit from the grant; and noted that in some cases her department was providing breakfast and lunch for an increasing number of them.
Pastor Philip Gumbs, a member of the special committee, speaking on behalf of the clergy, thanked the Social Security Board “for responding to the crisis which was not seen on the shores of Anguilla for a long time.” He further stated that while the church had a key role to play in society, the crisis demanded the intervention of the wider community.
