No rum, cigarettes with Smart Card

The Smart Cards, designed in the colours of the national flag, would replace the government’s SHARE programme, in which families in need received groceries every month, Roberts said.

He said Cabinet had approved an inter-ministerial team to study the cards and come up with recommendations for their implementation and one of the recommendations was that debit cards should be issued to persons who qualify. Such persons would be those who are unable to provide foodstuff for themselves and their families, he said.

Warning that having received food from the SHARE programme did not automatically qualify someone for the card, Roberts said the amount of money on the cards would be based on the size of the family.

Families comprised of three and under persons would get $300, and those with four and five members would receive a card with $400 on it. If you have a family of six and more, you are entitled to get $500, the minister said. “The card is actually ready and during the course of next week would be distributed to persons who qualified,” Roberts said.

He further warned that it would enable the family to buy 40 basic food items, not including rum and cigarettes. He said there is a memorandum of understanding between supermarkets all over TT involved in the programme, and his ministry. Roberts added that the new card system ensures that persons are empowered, and said by August 1, they will begin the distribution of the cards throughout TT.