March 11, 2016: The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services is at present reviewing and investigating the case of Ms Michaeline Wall, a young mother with a physical disability who was incarcerated recently due to her use of marijuana to address the pain she experiences as a result of her physical challenge.
While the Ministry is allowing the legal system to take its course, Ms Wall and her family were visited by one of the Regional Managers of the Ministry today, at their Byron Street, La Romaine residence. The Ministry discovered that no actual application was made by Ms Wall to the Social Welfare Division. However the Officer was able to offer advice, and counsel the family, in an effort to determine and evaluate, exactly how the Ministry could provide some immediate assistance to them, during this time of their physical and emotional distress.
In this regard, Ms Wall and her family were invited to visit the Ministry’s San Fernando branch where further information will be provided on how they may access some of the various social programmes and services, which are available.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services continues to place focus on the vulnerable, marginalized and indigent in our society by ensuring that those targeted persons are able to receive help - on time and in appropriate measure when they reach out to the Ministry. In particular, the Ministry has, as one of its priority areas of focus, persons with disabilities, given the recently ratified UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities.
The Social Welfare Division of the Ministry is responsible for the equitable, transparent and timely provision of services to meet the social and financial needs of the less fortunate members of our society. Among the suite of services offered in this division are senior citizen’s pension, public assistance grant, disability grant, and other general assistance. These interventions allow the Ministry to reach out to the less fortunate members of society who are challenged by social and financial constraints.
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For further information please contact:
The Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Social Development and Family Services
868-623-2608