Padarath: Shannen’s parents denied application forms

On Monday, Shannen’s parents’ application for funding from the Children’s Life Fund (CLF) was denied by the CLFA board on the ground that her condition was not life threatening and expenses had already been covered. Padarath is calling on Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh to look into the matter.

In a release, Padarath said Deyalsingh was aware of, “the suppression of applications at the Children’s Life Fund”, but was doing nothing. Padarath, who visited the CLFA with Shannen’s parents at the request of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, on March 31, said he discovered that a data entry Clerk I, was screening potential applicants since 2016.

Several parents he met at the CLFA which is located in the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, complained about having the same experience of no forms. Padarath said he brought this to Deyalsingh’s attention during discussions at the Parliament Tower, but the situation has not been rectified.

On the day he met with Shannen’s parents at the CLFA, Padarath said, they arrived before him and attempted to get an application form but was refused one for the third time.

They were told that they do not fit the criteria. When he arrived, Padarath added, he told staff they were not responsible for determining whether an application would be successful or not and they should not be screening and suppressing applications at the unit.

After he intervened, he said, Shannen’s parents were given a form. The CLFA accepted the application a few days later with supporting documents.

Padarath said he was surprised and alarmed yesterday at Deyalsingh’s position on the issue.