THE GOVERNMENT will not provide the $332 million in relief funds promised to more than 64,000 victims of Hurricane Ivan from its current budget, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security disclosed on Tuesday.
The victims, recorded as receiving minor damage in the September disaster, have yet to receive an expected $5,000 each in relief funds assured after the hurricane.
Permanent Secretary in the Social Security Ministry, Alvin McIntosh, told members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the ministry had already disbursed a considerable amount of funds to other victims despite being hampered by limited resources.
Mr. McIntosh said he had been assured that the payments would be made shortly after the April start of the new financial year.
"The Government system has responded, of course, based on the affordability of resources," Mr. McIntosh said.
COLLECTIVE EFFORT
He added: "We all know that, when we have a disaster, what it requires is a collective effort. A number of private sector persons have pledged assistance but the pledges have not materialised in a number of instances. So largely it is strictly budgetary provisions that have to be used to assist these persons."
The issue of hurricane relief was not on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, but PAC members took the opportunity to interrogate Mr. McIntosh on his ministry's efforts.
Mr. McIntosh pointed out that the social security ministry had already disbursed $375 million to 75,000 NIS pensioners and $144 million in extra payments through the PATH programme.
