The local Social Development Department has underscored its commitment to ensuring confidentiality and equity in delivering public assistance to persons across the Virgin Islands, through more accessible and streamlined social services in the VI. Photo: GIS

The Department added that it has made several steps to ensure that access to public assistance is easy and accessible for qualified individuals and that their information is protected once they engage the department for assistance. Photo: GIS

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Miss Tasha Bertie at a recent Table Talks Session said the transition to the current system where public assistance grants are streamlined under the Social Development Department has promoted transparency and equity across the board.

"We are pleased with what we have seen with the transition. While we were comfortable with what existed before, we now have an enhanced approach to correctly channel and properly manage all grants, ensuring equity across the board," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Social Development Officer Mrs Annie Malone-Frett said the transition also allowed the department to move away from a manual system of recording information on Public Assistance to digital record keeping.

Digital system being used 

“We are using a digital system and that makes things much easier and people do not have to wait a long time to get assistance and not to mention it has streamlined and assisted us greatly in our reporting obligations to the ministry.” 

In addition, Programme Director for Children and Family Support Services, Miss Laurel Freeman also emphasized the confidentiality of the Public Assistance Programme and how the Social Development Department takes extensive steps to ensure that the information of persons requesting assistance is protected.

Miss Freeman said, "The applications are only recognized by your NHI number. So nobody would know who the person is. If you do not have an NHI number, we use your Social Security number, and if you do not have your Social Security, we use your passport. If you do not have a passport, we use your birth certificate or driver's license."

Since the recommendations of terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry were agreed on in 2022, the Ministry of Health and Social Development says they have stepped up its mandate regarding transforming public assistance in the Virgin Islands.

The Department added that it has made several steps to ensure that access to public assistance is easy and accessible for qualified individuals and that their information is protected once they engage the department for assistance.