KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) Karl Samuda, yesterday assured Members of Parliament (MPs) that the selection system for families seeking benefits under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) has been a transparent process.

“I am aware that there is some speculation, and possible suspicion, on how persons are selected for social security benefits, particularly the PATH programme,” Samuda told the House of Representatives in response to questions raised by the Opposition’s spokesman on labour and social security, Angela Brown Burke.

“Jamaica’s social protection system is a transparent one, and the programme delivered through the ministry has very clear and transparent guidelines and criteria for selection and participation,” he argued.

He said that selecting beneficiaries for PATH is conducted using an identification system which was developed by the PIOJ to identify poor and vulnerable families seeking to participate in the programme. He also noted that, children, pregnant women, elderly persons and children with disabilities are the ones targeted for benefits.

He said, however, that despite this, his ministry is taking additional steps to ensure transparency and accountability, in terms of PATH and other social protection programmes.

He also explained that often PATH families are characterised to receive benefits from other social programmes conducted by the MLSS. These, include school feeding, transportation allowance, benefits under the government’s CARE programme, social pension and burial assistance under the Rehab Programme.

The Rehab Programme has been redesigned and enables the Ministry, in real time, to say exactly what the requests are, and the recommendations as they occur in the various parishes throughout the country.

“Each applicant family has to complete an application process. The first step to complete the electronic application form, and a social worker is assigned to the family for an household visit,” he said.

“It is at this point that the observations are made by the social workers. It seeks to verify the information provided on the application form. If the score is above the eligibility score, the family will not qualify for the programme,” Samuda noted.

However, he said that the family can appeal, as there is an appeal process, in which case a committee of professionals within Government and the community will deliberate on the factors.

Samuda also noted that currently there are some 283,382 registered PATH beneficiaries. But, he pointed out that these figures are based on the 2011 census as well as 10-year-old poverty maps, which means the information from the upcoming 2022 census will be essential for future activities.

– Balford Henry