The thousands of CEPEP and forestry workers sent home are being encouraged to apply for social grants, the urging comes from Opposition MP Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly who warns a social crisis is looming.
00:00A social crisis is looming following the United National Congress's decision to hold CPAP contracts, thereby sending home thousands of workers.
00:1014,000 of those being the most vulnerable people who have benefited over the years from the CPAP and the forestry programs.
00:22And I say social crisis, and this is not an exaggeration nor a stretch.
00:28While grass is growing across the country, she says people are starving.
00:34Many of our CPAP and our forestry workers live day to day.
00:38They, in some cases, borrow money or trust items to be able to live.
00:45They live paycheck to paycheck.
00:47And so when one paycheck comes, in many cases, that is already spent.
00:51So having been paid on Monday, and that would be their last paycheck, the question is, how are these workers now, thousands of workers, which represent families, which represent children, many of them school-age children, how are they now, in reality, to be able to afford to deal with the back-to-school expenses, the vacation expenses?
01:20Dr. Gatsby Dawley says government made the move without a plan to take care of the vulnerable.
01:26The opposition is not comforted, she says, by promises made by Social Development Minister Vandana Mohit.
01:32We have spoken to our persons in our communities, and they have received no comfort or help from the Ministry of the People.
01:42And that desperation, Dr. Gatsby Dawley says, leads people to making dangerous decisions.
01:57And we are concerned about the children and the impact on the dropout rate, the impact on gangs, because vulnerable children are good fodder for gang warfare and for recruitment.
02:15And we are concerned about that in our communities.
02:17She is encouraging the thousands to apply for social grants, such as temporary food cards, permanent food support, public assistance and rental assistance.
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