In last night's news, we showed you what Judith Alpuche, the CEO in the Ministry of Human Development, had to say about a series of important topics, including the reasons why her ministry rented office space from the family of her ministerial boss, Anthony "Boots" Martinez.
During our conversation yesterday, she also discussed Government's Food Assistance Program, which her ministry is responsible for managing.
She flatly rejected the PUP's accusation that UDP politicians have been playing politics with the program.
Another complaint about the roll-out of this program has been its logistics. The Ministry is utilizing a chain of grocery stores and supermarkets countrywide as the locations where qualified families can pick up their basket of food items. Yesterday, the press asked the Human Development CEO about the reason for this mode of distribution:
Judith Alpuche - CEO, Ministry of Human Development
"Although people were complaining. I know it was a new and novel way of doing things. But, we realized, because of our experience - and people said, why don't you send out NEMO? Well, Human Development is NEMO. When it comes to humanitarian assistance, we're the ones who do it. So, from our experience, we knew that you couldn't get things on the ground quickly, the way - you know, using that old methodology. So, we have shops in ever nook and cranny of this country. So, that's why you see on our Facebook, we have published the contents of the basket, and that sort of thing because we want people to be able to protect themselves. You're not going into the shop to beg for a favor, you know. This is a benefit given to you by the Government. And so, we want people to help us to make sure that the Government is getting value for money. And so, whenever we get those complaints, we make sure that we investigate. We've taken off certain shops, not only because of the quality of goods, but also treatment, that they've not been very customer-centered. And as I said, this is not something that people are going to beg. This is a benefit that your government is giving to you. So, please help us to make sure that the Government is getting value for money."
