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PACE cancellation upsets former minister
Nov 07, 2009 (Turks and Caicos Net News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A programme known Poverty Alleviation Citizens Empowerment or PACE was the dream child of the former Minister of Health and Human Services Lillian Boyce. The program was instituted in April 2006 and now has been officially cancelled by the interim government, effective 31 October.
The termination notices received by PACE employees indicate that the programme is being cancelled as part of the overall cutbacks arising out of budget shortfalls.
A portion of the interim government's statement indicates the reasons for the cancellation: "...Governments review(s) with the aim of reducing costs which create more efficient and effective Public Service."
The letter received by the PACE employees says in part: "A number of areas, including PACE were identified for cancellation."
Both the statement and termination letters were signed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This has affected 12 people: 4 in Provo, 1 in Grand Turk, 1 in Salt Cay, 2 in North Caicos and 2 in Middle Caicos.
Apparently the program was to be the recipient of donated food stuffs, which were to be disbursed to poverty stricken residents. TCI Net News has learned that at least in some locations the employees of PACE occupied space in the welfare offices at Provo and North Caicos.
While on rare occasion there have been reports of distributions being made in Provo, for the most part the employees are not active. Reports from North Caicos and Middle Caicos indicate there may not have been any distribution of food. Another area PACE was to address was to attack illiteracy but there have been no reports of teaching classes being conducted on any of the islands.
Boyce has, however, issued a strong admonishment to the interim government for its cancellation of the programme during a period when many residents are suffering hardship.
Her statement said: "I am really going to stand up for people of this country on this issue because it is now becoming quite clear and obvious for all to see that the Governor and the British Government do not care about the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and they want to cut, chop and drop everything that was built or developed in recent years."
Residents interviewed indicated that, to the best of their knowledge, the programme was for the most part dormant. One woman interviewed was able to identify the workers but indicated that there was no activity. "This is just another one of those 'make work' programmes where people were being paid with no real job assignments," she claimed.
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go to http://www.tcinetnews.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Turks and Caicos Net News,
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