August 18, 2017: Cabinet has approved the National Social Mitigation Plan which was developed by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. The following is an excerpt of the statement made by Minister of Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn during the post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday 17 August, 2017.
“I am very pleased to advise the national community, that in keeping with this Government’s policy, to care for and protect the vulnerable, we have developed a National Social Development Plan, to cushion the impact of the economic downturn on the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The Plan was developed after a series of Public Consultations. We had them in the North, Central, and South Trinidad and in Tobago. We also did a number of focus group sessions. We had questionnaires, we had interviews and we did a number of surveys. The recommendations contained in the plan include short term programming and measures for retrenched workers, assessment of the disabled sector, exploring the introduction of unemployment insurance, productivity, innovation and enterprise development, poverty protection through financial security awareness. These recommendations, are expected to form part of our national budget.”
Minister Crichlow-Cockburn also announced that Government intends to enhance the coordination and integration of the country’s approximately 100 social programmes.
The National Social Mitigation Plan is available for viewing via the Ministry’s website: http://www.social.gov.tt.
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For more information contact:
Communications Unit
Ministry of Social Development and Family Services
(868) 623-2608; Ext 5405/5424/5432