Bus Fares for PATH Students

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY-WILLIS, Senior staff reporterFriday, April 19, 2013THE Government is to introduce a pilot programme to provide bus fares for student beneficiaries of the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced yesterday.Phillips, in opening the 2013/14 budget debate, said funds have also been provided to introduce bursaries to tertiary-level students and implement a project to deliver 120 housing solutions under the programme, which was allocated $4.4 billion this year.He said the intention was also to provide skills training and remedial education to 525 farmers, 120 low-literacy clients and 500 youths, and provide 1,000 entrepreneurship grants under the welfare to work programme, among other initiatives.In the meantime, the more than 400,000 beneficiaries of the programme will, starting this August, see a 15 per cent increase in their benefits with another 15 per cent to come in August next year."Even as we have reduced expenditures overall, we have maintained our commitment to protect spending on programmes which are targeted at the most vulnerable segments of the population," he said."Over $6 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for social welfare programmes. This reflects an increase of approximately $562 million over the previous budget of $5.7 billion," the finance minister told the House."This Government, led by the most honourable prime minister, has an iron-clad commitment to the more vulnerable in the society, even in the face of budgetary stringency," Dr Phillips said.PATH beneficiaries include children from birth to completion of secondary education; the elderly, 60 years or over, and not in receipt of a pension; persons with disabilities; pregnant and lactating women; and poor adults 18 to 59 years.Under the programme, children up to age six receive $750 per month, while all other categories receive $900 per month.Clcick here to read more