Fifty indigent Caymanians needed government financial assistance to bury loved ones in the past 12 month, according to figures provided by the Department of Children and Family Services.
Under the DCFS burial assistance scheme, indigents are eligible for funds if they cannot meet burial expenses on their own.
DCFS Director Deanna Look Loy said the DCFS provides a maximum of $4,000 assistance, but this can run up to $7,000 when a larger casket is required.
The DCFS usually pays $1,800 for a burial vault and the rest of the money provided goes toward a cooler, lowering device, casket and hearse.
Mrs. Look Loy said her department encourages anyone seeking assistance to pay half of the burial costs. Caymanians are proud people and it is important the feel they have contributed to the cost of burying a loved one, she said.
Over the course of the last three budgets, funding for the scheme has increased from $45,000 to $100,000.
For the 2006/07 financial year, the DCFS expected to help 20 to 30 indigents at a cost of $90,000.
Mrs. Look Loy said the scheme was running slightly over budget by 1 June and a request was made for additional funding from the Ministry for Health and Human Services.
On 28 May, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts told the Legislative Assembly the level of funding for the scheme was about right, but added that additional funds would be allocated if the need arose.
His comments came after opposition MLA Anglin Rolston asked whether more money should be made available for the scheme.
Mr. Tibbetts said the means tests employed by the DCFS to determine eligibility for burial assistance struck a compassionate balance between ensuring people take responsibility for burying deceased family members and helping those genuinely in need of financial assistance.
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