Grants For Self Help, Manufacturing Companies

Social Development Minister, Camille Robinson-Regis, is urging recent recipients of Self Help assistance not to engage in fraudulent activity as they now hold cheques from the National Self Help Commission in their possession. Twenty one people from the Arouca/Maloney area received Grants from the National Self-Help Commission on Monday to aid with home repair, which also included homes damaged by natural disasters. Minister Robinson-Regis encouraged the recipients to act responsibly and honestly with the Grants given. She said while budgets over the years have decreased significantly, the National Commission for Self-Help was still able to generate the largest number of grants to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Self-Help, Elroy Julien, said the Commission has thousands of requests for assistance. He referred to those in receipt of Grants as fortunate and reminded of the Commission's commitment to assist the vulnerable in society. And the Codrington Family Institute, a member of the steel pan fraternity, is the first recipient of the Steel Pan Manufacturing Grant Fund Facility. Trade and Industry Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon, presented the Grant on Tuesday to the Codrington family and explained that the grant fund facility provides funding of up to 50%, up to a value of $250,000 to Small and Medium Enterprises. She added that to date, 12 companies have qualified for the funding at cost of just over $12 million. She said those funds have already been disbursed. Another recipient of the Ministry's Grant Fund facility was Kent Vierra of Kent Farms Limited, who received $176,000 to assist with his fish farm processing facility.