Ramadharsingh, Awong vex over Bret cheque distribution

Chairmen Dr Glen Ramadharsingh and Henry Awong claimed the ministry initially sent invitations to the corporations to be part of the distribution process but those invitations had been withdrawn at the last minute.

Ramadharsingh said his corporation was under the impression that the distribution would be rescheduled to a later date.

However, in a media release yesterday, the ministry said 68 households “referred by the Siparia Regional Corporation, inclusive of communities within Siparia, Fyzabad, South Oropouche, Woodland and environs” received grant funding for disaster relief in the aftermath of Tropical Bret.

The ministry said its minister, on Tuesday, distributed the cheques some of which were valued up to $10,000, during a brief ceremony at the ministry’s district office in Siparia. Crichlow- Cockburn said the ministry’s team “worked tirelessly to ensure the grants were ready within the shortest possible time” and reiterated Government’s commitment to bringing immediate relief to those who were adversely affected.

A similar distribution is said to have also taken place at the ministry’s district offices, on Tuesday, to households in the Diego Martin Regional Corporation (four), Sangre Grande Regional Corporation (149), Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation (71) and San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation (16).

Ramadharsingh said the corporation was unaware of the amount of people who were awarded grants or whether they were among those who had been most affected by the storm.

“The Prime Minister Dr (Keith) Rowley, when I met him in the field he asked for one thing. That those grants be given to those who need it the most. How can we check and ensure that when we don’t know who were given these grants? We are calling for a list of the names to ensure there is no discrimination, there is fairness and there is equity.

Meanwhile, Awong said he too could not say whether any grants had been distributed as the ministry had initially said the distribution would take place at the corporation only to call at the last minute to cancel the function.

Meanwhile, the ministry 27 households from the St. Helena, Kelly, El Carmen and Warrenville communities cheques based on recommendation of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation on July 1. Additional cheques amounting to 141 were also scheduled for distribution at the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation yesterday.