There are people trying to cheat the system by applying to several state agencies for grants at the same time for the same purpose. This was disclosed yesterday by Surujdeo Mangaroo, chairman of the National Commission for Self Help Ltd, during an address at a distribution of grants ceremony at the La Joya Complex, St Joseph. Mangaroo said the commission would not be bullied into responding to such tactics. He said he was proud that the commission yesterday brought relief to 180 vulnerable families from Central and the East-West Corridor through the distribution of grants.
Mangaroo wasted little time, however, in exposing unscrupulous individuals. "I would like to take the opportunity to speak about unscrupulous individuals who are quick to blame the Government for not assisting them during times of crisis," he said. "There are people applying to several state agencies for grants and hoping to attract funding from all of them at the same time for the same purpose. "There are also those who wish to hold state agencies to ransom by using the media to highlight their plight so that state agencies are embarrassed into providing immediate assistance for fear of negative media reports. "Let me say that the commission will not be bullied into responding to such incidents."
Mangaroo said there were an estimated 6,970 applications for assistance through the Minor Repair Reconstruction Grant Programme. He said the commission would embark on an initiative to sift out the most vulnerable from those who could help themselves. Those who applied before January 2010 and are still interested in obtaining the grant are being asked to reapply. He said next week the commission, in partnership with the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), would start up 20 infrastructure projects on the East-West Corridor at an estimated cost of $2.2 million.
Mangaroo said 3,904 people would benefit. Some of the projects include:
• Footpath at Flamingo Boulevard, Maloney;
• Steps at Upper Sixth Avenue, Barataria;
• Drainage at No 2 Picton Road, Laventille; and
• Retaining wall at Smith Hill, Carenage.
Mangaroo said the commission would provide materials for the projects and the URP labour and technical equipment.