Revise PATH system for more equitability

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) was created to uplift the most vulnerable members of our society, but the system currently used to determine eligibility is flawed.

As it stands, many individuals and families who genuinely need support are being denied access based on outdated and unrealistic assessment criteria.

One of the major issues with the current PATH assessment is its emphasis on physical assets. The presence of a flush toilet, washing machine, or television in a home is being used as a measure of financial stability.

But these items, often acquired through loans or years of personal sacrifice, do not reflect a family’s actual economic reality. In fact, many Jamaicans with such basic household items are still unable to meet their most essential needs. These are families who, after loan deductions and monthly bills, are left with little or nothing to survive on.

The system also fails to account for people living with disabilities – not just those with autism, but a wide range of special needs such as Down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and physical impairments.

Parents who must travel long distances from rural communities to urban areas, like Kingston, for medical treatment or therapy face mounting transportation and healthcare costs. These expenses can cripple a household’s finances, yet they are not reflected in PATH’s current evaluation process.

Among those affected are also working-class professionals, particularly teachers, who are often excluded from PATH benefits. Despite being at the heart of our education system, teachers remain among the lowest-paid professionals in the country.

Many are parents with multiple dependents, and like others, they face rising food prices, school-related expenses, and growing transportation costs. Some of them are even caretakers of children with special needs. Why, then, are they automatically excluded from support?

We must acknowledge that struggling families are not confined to a specific category of job or income level. Whether it’s a teacher, a vendor, a security guard, a farm worker, or a parent of a child with a disability – many Jamaicans are living pay cheque to pay cheque .

The cost of living continues to soar, and inflation is squeezing every dollar tighter than ever before. Yet, many of these individuals are overlooked simply because they do not fit the system’s narrow checklist.

The St Mary Ambassadors for Change is calling for a more compassionate and accurate way to assess PATH eligibility. We recommend that the Government implement a case-by-case assessment that considers disposable income versus monthly living expenses, and factors in the number of dependents, healthcare need, loan obligations, and cost of transportation, especially in rural areas.

Revising the PATH system in this way would not only make it more equitable, restoring dignity to the process. It would mean that support reaches those who are genuinely in need, not just those who appear to be poor based on what appliances they own.

TASHIBA JULIUS

President

St Mary Ambassadors for Change