So, there was no infographic for the past two days and no food pantries - or "grocery bags" -- for the past two weeks.
The "grocery bag" program - as it has been re-branded by the new minister in charge, Dolores Balderamos Garcia - has been put on pause since the Ministry is trying to reconfigure it. 10 days ago, Balderamos Garcia said it would be suspended for, quote, "a couple of days." Here's how she put it at the time:
Hon. Dolores Balderamons-Garcia - Minister, Human Development "It will be a couple of days there, please let me assure you, it's not going to be 2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month, Christmas the come, so we will do our best but realising of course that we're in difficult times, so work with us on that. It's the same thing but this is personal now, it has been renamed, grocery bag instead of pantry."
That was November 23rd and - according to our best information - it has not resumed. And, now, those who have depended on the program since its inception are wondering where their next food package will come from.
Sources tell us that the ministry has not announced a set date for when it will resume the program, since it seems it's still under review.
The Pantry Program and the Food Assistance program are social safety net programs instituted by the Barrow Administration - but criticised by the PUP for being overly politicised. But while politics is one thing - as many as 45 thousand persons were receiving food packages through these programs. We did try and get comment from Balderamos Garcia - who is currently at home with COVID 19.
Reports say the Unemployment Relief Program - has also been put on hold. 42 thousand persons are signed up to that program.
