WAITING GAME FOR DESPERATE FAMILIES: Govt holds off a decision on whether aid schemes will extend into new year

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government has not yet decided whether it will further extend its COVID-19 support initiatives – including the unemployment benefits programme – beyond the December deadline, according to Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle.

Mr Rolle was asked whether there will be a continuation of the programmes, which are set to end this month.

“We’ve not evaluated that process as yet,” he told reporters. “You are aware the government had extended from June to December. At some point, we will take a look at what’s happening in the country and make the judgment.”

To assist with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnis administration in March launched its unemployment benefit programme, among other initiatives, for self-employed people directly connected to the tourism sector and later expanded it to include self-employed people outside of the industry.

The programme was initially extended to July and then to September.

However, recognising that thousands continued to be affected by the pandemic, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced in October that the assistance programmes will continue until December, with an additional $45 million allocated towards those initiatives.

According to Mr Rolle, hundreds of assistance cheques at NIB are still waiting to be collected by beneficiaries.

“There are hundreds of individuals who have not collected their cheques and we’ve advised the public. We have tried to call individuals based on the number contacts that we had and there are a number of persons who have not collected their cheques from the benefits from the board as yet,” he said.

Yesterday, the minister was also asked about the possibility of National Insurance Board contribution rates increasing next year due to the financial losses experienced by the agency amid the health crisis.

However, Mr Rolle refrained from giving a direct answer, only telling reporters he wanted them to spread the word to the Bahamian people about the importance of making NIB payments.

He said yesterday: “I told you before, I’d be interested in you taking the lead in this process and you informing and educating the public as to what is required for you to have a very good understanding of the fact that NIB had to spend $150 million that was not budgeted this year and that monies and the board must somehow be there for you and me.

“So, if you lead the way and you use your platform and your great influence to educate the public and tell them about the importance of NIB then certainly there may be some consideration.”

Comments

KapunkleUp says...

Seriously?! I ain't gonna scroll down 200 ads to get to the comment section. I guess 'all in moderation' is a novel concept for the webmaster. I outta here until this changes.

Posted 2 December 2020, 9:08 a.m. Suggest removal

Kalikgold says...

bye! ill hold the fort until you return :)

Posted 2 December 2020, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.

Posted 2 December 2020, 9:52 a.m. Suggest removal

John says...

The number of Corona cases and deaths worldwide are starting to taper off for the first time since June and will most likely start a downward spiral, indicating a reduction in the number of new cases and also corona related deaths. Signifying the ending of the third ( and probably final) wave of the virus. Is this the reason for the mad, madder rush to distribute to he vaccines? Will these vaccines become obsolete and useless by early next year or will the authorities continue to distribute the vaccine and claiming it is responsible for the reduction and eventual disappearance of the covid-19 virus?

Posted 2 December 2020, 9:01 p.m. Suggest removal

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