Dozens converge on Social Welfare Department

The Social Welfare Department was literally swamped earlier this week by parents and guardians seeking assistance for their children from the annual School Support Programme.{{more}}

As early as 7 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, persons started gathering outside the Social Welfare Department’s Lower Kingstown Park’s Office.

Some persons waited patiently for a number, while others hurled abuse at the staff of the department and persons pressing against them at the entrance of the building.

“Me nah ah come back. I not going waste my time,” said a disturbed Janell Joseph, a mother of four who travelled from Richland Park to seek some assistance for her five-year-old child who will be entering Grade One when the academic year begins.

Bernadette Caine, a resident of Mesopotamia, venting her frustration told SEARCHILIGHT: “This yah come like stress you into. I don’t like people push me around.” Caine a mother of two children, a 15-year old and 13-year-old, said her children are entering Form Three and Form One, respectively, and she was trying to get some assistance for them.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilization Rosita Snagg told SEARCHLIGHT, at the beginning of every school year, her ministry tries to assist parents with school uniforms and accessories such as bags, transportation (students travelling from Fancy to Kingstown) and meals.

She said each year, the total assistance for the programme is approximately EC$300,000. Over 2,000 students benefit from the exercise annually.

Snagg said the Social Welfare Department encourages parents to bring supporting documents from the schools stating what classes their children are entering and describing the child’s social conditions where possible.

“We really don’t turn back anybody,” said Snagg.

Snagg added: “We never totally get it right, but we try.”

The Social Welfare also finances a Book Loan Scheme, as well as assistance for 205 foster children.