Judith Alpuche, the CEO in the Ministry of Human Development was available at the event and the press asked her to discuss the Food Assistance Program - which has not been without controversy.
You'll remember how the Opposition Party keeps insisting that the ruling UDP government is trying to play politics with this relief program being offered to Belizeans suffering in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Well, in an interview this afternoon, Alpuche told the press that the food assistance program has strict oversight in the form of 2 audits being done on the funds being used:
Judith Alpuche - CEO, Ministry of Human Development
"We don't deal with URP but we are being audited for the food assistance program yes. So basically, anything they ask us for and we have a system because of it is done using technology, so they have access to get in to see our whole system, the texts, everything, so they can see it right down the line and the point is made that a part from the auditor general, we also have to ensure that everything is above boards because it is a loan and it will be audited and this is done on a reimbursement basis, so we have to make sure that all the paper work is in order. So the way it works the government spends the money, when you spend that trench, then you ask for reimbursement, so you have to send up all the paper work, all the evidence that how it came to be, we had to send that it's being spent according to the concept note you sent to the funder. So basically, we have 2 level of oversight with that food assistance program."
Reporter
"Do you expect that there will be any duplications found based on how things played out in the very beginning because people may have applied to more than one government assistance program?"
Judith Alpuche
"It will not be 100% because the programs were rolling out at the same time but what we have done is to make sure that we're talking to various databases. Your name, etc is ran against our database because your on the regular food pantry or BOOST then you don't qualify. If you're getting URP, so we get the database from URP and run names against that as well, as well as HRMIS which is the database that tells you about public officers and teachers being paid. So we do these checks but because the programs are running almost simultaneously in terms of uptake of people, it's not going to be 100% but because it is an ongoing benefit, you might get one basket but when we run again and you show up for the second basket then you won't qualify."
Alpuche also stressed that her Ministry is attempting to equally distribute the food to needy Belizean households. Here's how she explained why the only thing that matters is whether an applicant qualifies for the program or not:
Judith Alpuche
"It's a simple thing you know, people qualify of they don't qualify and the qualification criteria is there. So that's the only measure. If you were told by your area representative, by your pastor, by your neighbour, whoever, you should apply, that's immaterial. If you qualify, you qualify, if you don't, you don't. We have also continue to keep our offices open, so people are in need of food, they can access the Ministry of Human Development, our offices continue to be open to receive applications and we have been receiving applications throughout and the reason why we do that is we believe that we know as the pandemic progresses, in the beginning, maybe people were doing okay but this thing is going on a while now, and so maybe people have run out of resources now and really need the help and that's why it's always remained open. So, if there is anybody that need, they can go to our offices and we have had situations where NGOs have helped people to fill out and so forth, it's simple. Do you or do you not qualify, it matters not how your application comes, do you or do you not qualify, that is it."
