How to monitor PATH funds
Published:Friday | July 16, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
To my great consternation, I have learnt that several persons receiving social support through the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) have been using the money for purposes other than to satisfy their basic economic well-being.
As reported in the media, several mothers receiving PATH support for their children have been misdirecting some of the funds to their beautification purposes, thus denying their children their full benefits.
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles, having recognised the problem, must not stop by merely highlighting publicly the sorry situation. He must move to put meaningful corrective measures in place to ensure said funds are used only for the prescribed or intended purposes.
I submit that efforts should be made to eventually cut out the granting of cheques to PATH beneficiaries and to issue debit-like cards on which the funds would be added at whatever frequency currently obtains. This would help to better monitor or track how the PATH funds are being used and to prevent misuse or abuse.
No cash
By such an arrangement, no cash would make it into the hands of the recipients, and merchants with point of sales (POS) machines would be able to process the transactions as they would any normal debit-card transaction.
To the extent POS facilities are not available, actual vouchers should be given to the recipients, and merchants would have to complete same and submit for payment as they would with cheque transactions.
If a school-feeding programme is available at the schools of the recipients, to the extent said school-feeding programme is not otherwise charge-free to the students, the Government could establish an account for each student beneficiary at his school from which drawdowns would be made.
Otherwise, meal and trans-portation vouchers could be given for the students to obtain lunch and transportation. Naturally, there would have to be a convenient system in place whereby the merchants receiving such vouchers would be able to easily redeem them.
Understandably, some of these changes would probably identify students as PATH beneficiaries, a valid concern so as to prevent victimisation and the like; however, a greater good would be served by such changes.
I am, etc.,
KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER