Mothers cry out over lengthy waits for payments of critical cheques

Mothers awaiting child maintenance payments are suffering because of lengthy delays in receiving the monies from the court.

Several distraught mothers who spoke to Barbados TODAY on condition of anonymity, complained that the payment system implemented by the courts last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has been counterproductive and has left them struggling financially, barely able to keep food on their tables and forcing them to suffer through disconnected utilities.

One single mother said things had become so dire her telephone and internet were disconnected, leaving two of her sons – one of whom is scheduled to do CXC examinations – unable to attend online classes.

She said they would also be unable to attend face-to-face classes because she would not be sending them to school without money for lunch.

She said prior to the pandemic mothers would collect their maintenance cheques from the courts. However, she said because of protocols put in place those cheques were now being mailed instead.

The mother, who lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pointed out that she had not received a maintenance cheque since February.

“Right now I have no telephone, no internet, and I’ve spoken to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and the Barbados Light & Power and they gave me an extension. Two of my three children are not in school at the moment because I am unable to get the maintenance,” she said.

“The maintenance is at the court. Two monthly payments are there but the system is just awful…I am trying to get my money along with a hundred other mothers and we can’t get a cent. It has now gotten to a point where the children are the ones who are suffering.”

She said she had spoken to the Registrar of the court on three different occasions about her plight.

To make matters worse, she further complained that when she enquired at the court about the status of the maintenance, she was subjected to disrespectful and degrading comments by staff.

Another mother said even though she was employed her hours had been significantly reduced, leading to a smaller salary.

She said she was barely managing to keep food on her table.

“It isn’t fair to me and to the children. The money is there but we aren’t getting it. The money is automatically deducted from his salary so I know it’s being sent to the court but for some reason it’s taking extremely long for us to get it,” the mother of two said.

“I understand that certain things had to be put in place because of COVID and I accept that they don’t want to have an influx of persons at the court but there has to be a better solution than this. I’m at my wit’s end at what to do.”

The scenario was especially tough for a mother of two who told Barbados TODAY she was awaiting two maintenance cheques.

She said she was now forced to depend on assistance from her family.

“This is bare foolishness. I ain’t get no money in three months. I’m not begging for anything, the money is mine. I tired calling at the court asking for my money. Something really needs to be done to bring this situation to the attention of the powers that be,” she said.

When contacted, Attorney General Dale Marshall indicated that he was in Cabinet and could not comment at the time.

Efforts to reach Registrar Barbara Cooke-Alleyne were unsuccessful.
(randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)