By Dionne Rose, Staff ReporterPERSONS WHO were affected by Hurricane Ivan earlier this month should be getting some financial assistance by next month.
This is according to Faith Innerarity, director of Social Security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, who also disclosed that the islandwide assessment, which commenced more than two weeks ago, was 70 per cent completed.
So far, she said, that some 43,000 families have reported damage done to their homes and properties. "We hope to complete the assessment by Thursday (September 30)," she told The Gleaner in an interview.
MOVING AHEAD
"We are moving ahead as quickly as possible - as early as possible in October we are looking at giving some assistance," the director said.
Mrs. Innerarity said that the house-to-house assessment included disruption in economic activity or damage to properties, personal belongings, livestock and agricultural crops.
"The objective of the survey is to establish the degree of damage sustained and to determine the appropriate level of assistance that should be given to individual families," said Alvin McIntosh, permanent secretary in the Ministry, in a recent interview.
He also told the media that "whatever the case, once there is justification for assistance to be given, it will be given." He said that the data collected from the assessment would be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, which will be responsible for preparing vouchers for the victims.
The vouchers will then be distributed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security at selected venues in each parish. The vouchers, he said, would allow persons to purchase materials from hardware merchants, or other approved items. Persons who lost family members during the hurricane will also be assisted with funeral expenses.
Persons who have suffered loss are urged to make a report as quickly as possible, to the Ministry's office in their respective parishes. They may visit the office in person, send representatives to act on their behalf or make contact by telephone.
