DISCLOSURES on the final evening of the 2015 budget debate has been a source of embarrassment for the Opposition PPP/C and is causing much discomfort for former ministers in the House.
Contrary to what they had been telling the public, records presented in the National Assembly show clearly that the former PPP/C-led Government had intended to scrap the $10,000 cash grant to schoolchildren.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, in his presentation, informed the House that the cash grant initiative which his Government is now reviewing had been cut off by the PPP/C since February of this year.

“There has been a lot of talk about the “Because We Care” programme and I know that I have been chided for making statements about the programme not being targeted etc., but here are the minutes of a Cabinet sub-committee on education, held on February 7, 2015,” he said as he held aloft the document.

According to the minister, the meeting was attended by the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, then Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Delma Nedd and Presidential Advisor Kheedmat Budhu.

Quoting from the minutes, Trotman read, “It was envisaged that the “Because We Care” cash grant would not be possible this year, 2015.”

“We [APNU+AFC Government] are being accused of discontinuing a programme that they ended,” Minister Trotman said.

The minister reminded the House that the former Administration accused the APNU+AFC Government of being uncaring and unconcerned about the parents and children who benefited from the programme.

He assured the House that the Government will not discontinue any progamme or project that is ongoing, as to do so would lead to a collapse of the State.