On this system, which got the green light from Parliament last Monday, Ebanks confirmed that it describes and determines, for the first time, who is eligible for government financial support, Cayman Kompas reported.
The title described the law that replaced the poor as “hopelessly outdated and inadequate”, and which has seen “slight” change in six decades, and away from meeting the needs of the elderly, people with disabilities, the poor, and families in need of assistance.
Among the novelties, it has established the Financial Assistance Department to replace the Needs Assessment Unit and benefit from the vulnerable sector of citizens, the spouses of a citizen and the guardians of a dependent resident.
In addition, Ebanks noted, there will be a revamp of the Department of Children and Families Services and a new appeals court will be established under which official decisions on financial matters and complaint handling can be appealed.
Information from the Ministry of Social Development also indicated, Thursday, that the new law will enter into force in the first quarter of 2023, after the establishment of the Economic Assistance Department.
Meanwhile, Heather Bowden, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Development, commented that the regulation would bring relief to anyone who has problems getting financial support from the government.
As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, among other factors, the Cayman Islands has recorded a record number of people seeking food assistance in the past two years; The unemployment rate was around six percent at the end of 2021, while food inflation rose 7.90 percent that year.
The Cayman Islands, with an estimated population of about 70 thousand, are located in the western part of the Caribbean Sea. The archipelago consists of three islands, Grand Cayman (where most citizens reside) Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
L/MBV
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