The Anguilla Social Security Board is again being called upon to provide further assistance to unemployed/underemployed persons in Anguilla now that the original three-month provision expired on June 30. This first tranche of financial assistance was arranged by the former Anguilla United Front Government in conjunction with the Social Security Board.
With the change in Government, following the June 29 general elections, the newly-elected Anguilla Progressive Movement is instituting a similar arrangement. According to Premier Dr. Ellis Webster, a meeting to that effect has already been held with the Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, to continue the temporary payouts for the next two to three months.
This is good news to persons who are still in a financial predicament as the tourism-driven economy is yet to be reopened – and hundreds of hospitality workers, in particular, remain out of work. Responding to a question from The Anguillian newspaper, Mr. Hodge indicated that additional regulations to bring the second tranche of financial contributions into fruition would have to be made, but the money was available.
The arrangement for the first Social Security assistance read in part: “The Social Security Board and the Government of Anguilla have collaborated to provide a temporary Unemployment/Underemployment Benefit (UAB) for persons whose employment has been affected as a result of the global Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).
“Both entities recognise that these are extremely difficult times for all Anguillians and have teamed up to offer support at this time of great need. The labour force has been adversely impacted during this COVID-19 crisis and the need for financial relief has been anticipated.
“The assistance will be available to persons who have been contributing to the Social Security system for some time, but who now find themselves unemployed or underemployed (i.e. earning less than EC$1,000 a month).”
Under the arrangement, there were three payments for a maximum of three months. For employed persons, there was a maximum of EC$1,000 and monthly thereafter, if the persons were still unemployed, a further payment of EC$1,000.
On the other hand, it was approved for underemployed persons to receive the difference between their current earnings and their pre-COVID-19 monthly earnings up to a maximum of EC$800 during which they remained underemployed up to a period of three months.
As stated above, it is expected that the new arrangements by the current Government of Anguilla and the Social Security Board will follow a similar pattern.
Social Security was created by Revolutionary Leader and Father of the Nation, the late James Ronald Webster, at the turn of the 1980s as a means of providing for the social development of the people of Anguilla.
Mr. Timothy Hodge has been the Director of Social Security since 1986, working in close cooperation with a Board of Directors. Under his leadership, the statutory body has seen tremendous growth and now has some 400 million dollars in its Fund. It has been a Godsend to Anguilla and the people of the island in many areas of need over the years. The Corona-19 pandemic is just the latest on the list.
