(Trinidad Guardian) Having faced a barrage of criticism for her “greedy people” comment, Social Development Minister Donna Cox says she remains on the side of the destitute and will continue to do her best to help them.
Cox had come under fire for saying “there are some people in need and some in greed,” in response to long lines for food outside South Park Plaza in San Fernando last Friday.
Among those condemning her were the Opposition United National Congress, political leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah and several other social media activists.
In an interview with CNC3 news producer Bavita Gopaulchan yesterday, Cox said her comment was misinterpreted.
“But if you read the context you would see of course there are people in need and we would like to help the people in need,” she said.
But she insisted there were people who were blocking genuinely destitute people from getting aid.
“We would like the person who is not in need to allow the person who is in need to access whatever is meant for them,” she said.
“I want them to get and be able to access what is available to them. But the reality is there are those who come to access it and block those who really should be getting,” she added.
The ones accusing her of being out of touch with reality were politically-driven, Cox said, adding, “I am trying to figure out why they making an issue. I think everyone knows that in every situation there are those who are in need and others who may not be in need.”
Asked whether she was willing to apologise for her remark, Cox responded, “Everyone knows the type of person I am. I have been helping everyone. Social development is not about politics but it is about helping the vulnerable and these are the ones who I am interested in.”
She also said not everyone had the data she had access to, saying millions of dollars were given by people who double-dipped into the government’s income relief grants. She did not want to give details saying she did not want to discourage donors.
The Minister also revealed that fewer people were applying for grants because of the stricter measures that were put in place to curb double-dipping.
“She noted that millions of dollars had been wasted on people who applied for multiple grants and she noted that these figures will be supplied.
“We have invited applicants and the deadline is July 8 but on the whole, the number of applicants is much less,” she said.
On Friday the Youth Arm of the UNC called on Cox to “not be greedy and to resign.”
Over the past few months, farmers have been distributing tonnes of produce for free. Agricultural economist Omardath Maharaj has called on the government to utilise the public green spaces and to begin immediately to plant fruit trees like jackfruit, chatagne, breadfruit so that if families face starvation in the future, they can reap food freely from public spaces.
Mayaro farmer Roget Lobin has been donating over 4,000 pounds of melons while in Central Trinidad sweet potato farmers have been distributing tonnes of produce freely to the poor. Groceries have started community food banks where hungry families can go and pick up items for free.
Several contractors including Jaggerssar Group of Companies have also been donating to NGO’s.
Angie Ramnarine from the La Romaine Migrant Support group told CNC3 news that the situation has become so dire that migrant families were now trying to return to their homeland.
