In the wake of charges that the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI) was being victimised because of the role its principals played in the uncovering of the Montego Bay street people scandal, the state-run Tourism Product Development Company has sought to clear the air about their decision not to continue to provide their usual funding to the non-profit organisation.

“The perception is that CUMI is politically influenced, and during the commission of inquiry (into the street people removal) it deliberately set out to embarrass the St James Parish Council,” charged honourary board member, Lloyd B Smith.

“There is also a general feeling that (CUMI chairman Liz) Hall and other members of the board are anti-government. And so from that point onwards, the funds coming for CUMI just dried up. The whole thing is enshrouded in mystery and I think the tourism minister (Portia Simpson Miller, under whose ministry TPDCo falls) has an obligation to tell Montego Bay, and tell the country, what really is the position with TPDCo and CUMI and why CUMI can’t get any assistance at all,” he added.

But in a statement issued recently, TPDCo maintained that CUMI was just one of the organisations it found impossible to fund this year because of its shrinking budgetary allocation.

“We had every intention to assist CUMI to continue its work, and gave its administrator this assurance. This was our intention. Unfortunately TPDCo experienced a 28 per cent reduction in its budget which necessitated a review of expenditure on all projects,” the letter said.

“I am sure you will understand that this necessitates the company to now focus its limited resources primarily to those activities that were deemed core responsibility areas. The budget reduction, therefore, resulted in TPDCo being unable to provide any further funds to assist both CUMI and the Portland Street People Committee in the 2000/2001 fiscal year. It may also be of interest to note that TPDCo was also unable to provide assistance to the Western Society for the Upliftment of Children. This is an organisation which Minister Portia Simpson Miller had wished to offer some level of support.”

The letter also noted that it was regrettable that CUMI could not gain financial support from the community.

According to CUMI’s nurse administrator, Joy Crooks, they get by on contributions in cash and kind from generous businesses and individuals inside and outside of Montego Bay; as well as the interest from the Trust Fund they started.