#BTEditorial – Social services. What’s in a name? Reform.

Beyond the human tragedy of COVID-19, this pandemic has triggered the most serious economic crisis this country has ever seen and shaken the foundation of our families and society.

Unlike the daily dashboard outlining the number of infections, deaths, recoveries and vaccinated citizens, there’s no data to show how many Barbadians can no longer support themselves and are on the brink.

What we do know is that hundreds are still out of jobs, with little to no prospect of work on the horizon, savings have either dwindled or been wiped out, National Insurance benefits have all been cashed in and it’s now a task for many to meet their basic needs through no fault of their own.

As the Massy Foundation presented the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs with $50,000 worth of food vouchers for the Welfare Department, the dire situation was made clear by Chief Welfare Officer Deborah Norville.

She revealed that more people are turning to department’s services for cash grants, food, rent and utility payments.

Norville said: “Food, however, continues to be the highest category of assistance granted. Figures for the month of May 2021 indicated that 3,326 persons received food from the department at a cost of approximately 870, 000 dollars.”

People Empowerment Minister Cynthia Forde also made clear that the situation is worsening.   

She said: “I can tell you the numbers are large, when I get 700-odd WhatsApp messages per day mostly from strangers…we need more help more than ever before.”

Forde added that while the issue of vulnerability has always been present, it has been much more prevalent over the last 18 months not just because of the impact of the coronavirus, but also the ashfall from St Vincent’s La Soufriere volcano and more recently, the freak storm which left several families homeless.

Government and indeed the wider society have a responsibility to support those who are unable to support themselves.

But we have to be smart about it.

News this week that Government is ramping up its delivery of social services is therefore welcomed.

While the details are still thin, improving the response to vulnerable citizens is a timely move.

Minister of Maritime Affairs Kirk Humphrey who broke the details on Sunday said: “Very soon what we know as welfare and the other agencies will be replaced by a new agency called the Department of Family and Children Services in Barbados.” 

He explained the focus of the new department will be to “reduce the problems in Barbados, address your needs and to give you opportunities for advancement and to bring the services closer to the people”.

We await more details but suggests that this new agency presents the perfect opportunity to seriously reform our social services.

No doubt, special attention must be paid to the delivery of services. It cannot be overstated that those in need of assistance must not be made to feel as if they committed some grave crime by seeking help.

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, lives and circumstances can change at any given moment and therefore those whose responsibility it is to investigate and provide solutions for the vulnerable must do so fairly, thoroughly and with empathy.

Frontline social services staff will therefore need the necessary training to better help families that are struggling.

At the same time, authorities must step up their scrutiny to ensure that the unscrupulous among us will not seek to exploit Government’s scarce resources. There are too many stories of people who do not need the state’s assistance but yet are benefiting to the detriment of those who need it most.

We also urge that thought be given to helping the vulnerable to create a better life for themselves. Welfare should not be a hand out but a hand up.  Where possible, clients should be exposed to opportunities to develop the necessary skills that could improve their plight.

Nonetheless, this opportunity is a crisis that should not go to waste. Social services that are equitable, accessible and empowering should be available to all Barbadians who may come to need them, regardless of their station in life. Now is the time to reform, not mere name change and certainly no publicity packaging.