Happy families in need getting support

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I welcome the announcement made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness that changes will be made to the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) to enable more families in need of support to be identified for benefits.

The prime minister told a media conference recently that the Government has decided that it is going to do a massive overhaul of the PATH programme in significant ways to ensure that the beneficiary identification system is far more targeted than it is now.

I have been of the view that the PATH programme is among the most important initiatives in the country and could do with a significant improvement in its reach.

Holness told the media briefing that too often when he visits communities, there are complaints regarding the programme and eligibility for qualification.

I was encouraged that the prime minister went on to state that there is clearly a refining that needs to happen in the entire beneficiary identification system for PATH and that the Government will address the issue to ensure that the system is picking up more of those people in our society who are genuinely in need of social-safety-net support.

I recall Mr Holness indicating that prior to transitioning from this life, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga told him do not forget the poor. It pleases me that it appears that the prime minister has not forgotten Mr Seaga’s wise words.

The National Social Housing Programme (NSHP), which has so far reportedly delivered houses to over 150 Jamaican families in need, is additional evidence of this.

Keep going, PM.

BERNARD HEADLEY