Instead of receiving the usual monthly cheques, 20,000 beneficiaries of the state-run Poverty Alleviation Through Health and Education (PATH) programme got warning letters saying the allowance had been suspended for their failure to attend school or health clinics regularly.

The labour and social security ministry, which administers the PATH programme for “the poorest of the poor”, said since February it had stopped the allowance cheques to the recalcitrant beneficiaries who represent roughly 12 per cent of the total number of participants. Approximately 155,000 persons still received their payments, but notices were sent to the others who had not complied with the requirements.

“We make no bones about suspending the programme until they comply with the requirements,” said state minister in the ministry of labour and social security, Senator Floyd Morris, who has special responsibility for the programme.

The Government this year increased the PATH allocation to $1.1 billion, up from $760 million last year. The school fee allocation for high school students who qualify for the programme was topped up to $400 per month, from $300, effective this month.

Senator Morris argued that beneficiaries had a responsibility to meet the programme’s requirements.

“I think if Government pays your tuition fee and Government gives you a stipend, it’s only fair that you fulfil your end by going to school and the health centre,” he said. “No longer can Government throw the limited resources at the public like that, without engaging them in some form of responsible action.”

Morris said that the ministry was willing to resume payments once the beneficiaries started to fulfil their obligations under the programme.

Senator Morris appealed to beneficiaries to comply with the regulations. Slipping into patois, the popular dialect, he urged them: “Please . go to the health centres and send the pickney dem go a school nuh. Please, me ah beg yuh.”

Children receiving benefits under the programme must attend school for more than 85 per cent of the school year, while children up to six years old must visit the clinic six times every year. Older beneficiaries are to have medical checks twice a year.

Failure of beneficiaries to comply, Morris stressed, would result in them being categorised as non-compliant, and payments would be suspended pending investigations.

The junior minister explained that tabs were kept on the level of compliance through visits paid to schools and clinics listed on application forms. Schools were checked every two months and health centres twice a year. The checks were carried out by the ministry’s team of 300 employees – including officers from the island’s Poor Relief Departments, using the Beneficiary Identification System listing the names of the schools and health clinics being used.