SOCIAL Development and Family Services Minister Donna Cox rejected claims from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and UNC vice-chairman Khadijah Ameen that the PNM was attempting to bribe people to vote for the party in the August 14 local government elections.
In separate statements on Sunday, Persad-Bissessar and Ameen based their allegations on flyers of PNM candidates which listed grants that are available under the Social Development and Family Services Ministry.
In a Whatsapp response to Newsday on Monday, Cox said there is no substance to Persad-Bissessar and Ameen's claims.
"The Ministry of Social Development is not involved in giving out food cards or offering grants in that manner to anyone."
Cox said, "Thats how the UNC operated when they were in government."
She added that there is a process whereby people can apply to her ministry to access the grants that are available.
"Grants are available to all as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. Persons can visit any of the social welfare offices to apply."
On grants being identified on flyers being used by some PNM candidates, Cox said, "Maybe the candidates intend to educate them (the public) about the grants that are available to them and assist them with their applications."
She said this was all that the candidates could do.
[caption id="attachment_1026969" align="alignnone" width="861"] Donna Cox -[/caption]
"The ministry's staff does the processing and approval or rejection (of applications for grants) based on the (ministry's criteria)."
The grants offered by the ministry include Food Support Programme (Food Card), Minor House Repairs, Sanitary Plumbing Assistance, Electrical House Wiring, SEED Grant, Disability Assistance Grant for Children, Disability Assistance Grant for Adults, Senior Citizens Pension, Public Assistance Grant and General Assistance Grants.
The ministry uses different criteria to determine the eligibility of people for its various grants.
The documentation that applicants are required to submit also varies between grants.
In the case of food cards, required documents include all recent utility bills and birth certificates for all members of the applicant’s household.
For minor house repairs, the documents applicants must submit to the ministry include a valid national identification card and proof of income for all applicable members of the household.
The latter could include job letters, pay slips, bank statements or NIS letters.
PNM candidate: Due process is integral
PNM Cocal/Mafeking candidate Imran Ali, whose campaign flyers mentioned some of these grants, also rejected the UNC bribery claims.
Ali, an employee with the Agriculture Ministry, said he has been working intimately with farmers in the Rio Claro/Mayaro region for four and a half years.
During that period, he continued, "I recognised that representation was at its lowest."
A resident of Cocal/Mafeking, Ali said he was wooed by the PNM and UNC for the elections.
"I picked the PNM as an individual."
Ali sa
