Praise for Smart Cards

At last week’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Social Services Minister Anthony Roberts announced that 20,000 families will soon receive the debit cards to use to pay for groceries.

The Smart Card system replaces the Share Programme from August 1. The cards are valued according to the size of the family from $300 for families with three and less, $400 for families with up to five members and $500 for households with six or more members.

Roberts said a memorandum of understanding was signed between supermarkets and the ministry.

Chairman of the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) Clive Pantin said, “Anything that can be done to alleviate poverty and hunger is worthwhile. A major concern is will these Smart Cards be given out or passed on to people who are reliable? Or is it going to be a real Smart Card?”

Pantin wanted to know if the card could be sold and if grocers involved “know what they are getting into.”

He wanted to know if the many organisations helping the poor could apply to get Smart Cards for their clients. “So it will be a national effort and not contained to certain people in certain areas. These are things to think about.”

He said FEEL gives out approximately 150 hampers monthly. An official of the Rainbow Rescue also hoped NGOs could be assisted with the food needs of their clients. She said 17 children (15 boys and two girls) were being accommodated at the Rainbow Rescue home. The children were sent by the courts, were found living on the streets or from homes where there was abuse.

The official would like to see each child be sponsored. She said $500 (the largest sum being offered in the Smart Card system) cannot go far in the supermarket.

Rose Jackman, a founding member of Living Water Community, said the debit card was “a great thing” to alleviate poverty and said it was in keeping with the Government’s stated intention to alleviate poverty as part of its 2020 vision.