Charles

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles says 38,000 new beneficiaries were added to the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) at the end of June.

In a statement to the House of Representatives, Charles said another 39,000 persons, who were previously rejected because of the criteria for qualification, have now been included.

"This means that a total of 77,000 have been placed on the list. Another 38,000 remain to be added," Charles announced.

He explained that the ministry was making every effort to ensure that the programme was fully subscribed by October. This, he said, would allow 360,000 persons below the poverty line to benefit from the $2.7 billion provision in the current budget.

New initiative

The Government is also establishing a new initiative called 'Steps to Work' to assist adults in PATH households. Charles said the ministry would be providing counselling, remedial education, skills training, financial support for micro businesses and job placement. Pilot projects for Steps to Work have been introduced in Kingston and St Andrew, Manchester, Clarendon and St James.

The labour and social security minister said the pilot would run for two years with 8,700 persons in PATH households being targeted for assistance.