Community Affairs Minister Mike
Adam said government officials will meet this week to decide how they might
restore funding to various poor assistance programmes.
At the beginning of the year,
government cut the budget in a number of areas that provide poor assistance to
the elderly, indigent, and disabled, as well as economically disadvantaged
children.
Those included significant
reductions in rental accommodation programmes, support for foster care, care
for elderly and disabled residents, the school lunches and uniform programme,
and the administration of community services. “The real big one…is a more than
$1 million reduction to administration of community services,” George Town MLA
Alden McLaughlin said. “It is clear to me…that there is a shortfall in the
level of funding that is available for financial assistance in government.”
Mr. McLaughlin, in a private
member’s motion filed with the Legislative Assembly, asked the ruling
government to move funds from other areas of its budget to close the gap. The
opposition MLA suggested that government might find the money in executive
expenses provided to the offices of the premier and deputy premier.
Specifically, Mr. McLaughlin
referenced the utility bills, as well as a housekeeper paid for by government
on behalf of Premier McKeeva Bush. He also noted the purchase of a new SUV made
with public funds for Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
“(These expenses) truly create a
great deal of ill will…toward all of us who hold elected office,” Mr.
McLaughlin said.
Without addressing where specific
funds might come from to boost poor relief, Mr. Adam told the assembly that
Cabinet members would consider supplementary appropriation proposals (this)
week.
“I am acutely aware of the needs of
our most vulnerable,” Mr. Adam said.
North Side MLA Ezzard Miller said
he has additional concerns about the time it is taking for social service
evaluations to be completed. Mr. Miller said in some cases, residents of his
district have to wait two or three months before they are even seen by a social
worker.
“I don’t know whether that is…a
lack of staff or lack of a calendar,” Mr. Miller said.
Mr. McLaughlin said that in most
instances, it’s probably neither.
“In many cases…the staff know full
well that they don’t have the wherewithal (to provide assistance),” said Mr.
McLaughlin, referring to a lack of funding.
Unemployment in the Cayman Islands
has risen steadily in the past two years, the impact being felt most keenly
among Caymanians. In late 2009, Caymanian unemployment rose to nearly 10 per
cent, according to government reports.
Typically, non-Caymanian
unemployment is quite low because foreign individuals who do not have a job are
not allowed to remain here unless they are married to someone who is working
and can support them as a dependent.
Premier Bush said last week that
Cayman’s government would resurrect a local jobs programme around Christmas
time, similar to what it did last year with the road-side cleanup in several
districts.
This year, Mr. Bush said, the
cleanup will focus on the beaches and iron shore areas.
Related Videos
