Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Today, I appear before this Honourable Committee on behalf of the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services at a time when thousands of citizens continue to depend on the social protection systems of this country for dignity, stability and hope.
The work of this Ministry is unlike any other. We deal with the lived realities of people.
It is therefore fitting that as we review the financial position of the Ministry at the midpoint of this fiscal year, we do so with a clear understanding that behind every allocation, every programme and every intervention, there is a human story.
Mr. Chair, this Government inherited a social sector burdened by significant operational challenges, longstanding backlogs, delayed interventions and obligations that, in many instances, had accumulated over several years. The expectation of the people, however, was not that we would identify problems but rather solve them.
And that is precisely what we have set out to do.
Over the last several months, this Ministry has pursued an aggressive programme of reform, modernization and service improvement.
We have strengthened our social welfare delivery systems, reduced delays in critical services, improved collaboration across agencies, enhanced accountability mechanisms and placed greater emphasis on evidence-based decision-making.
Our objective has been straightforward: to ensure that public resources reach those who need them most, faster, fairer and more effectively.
Mr. Chair, the allocation of six billion, twelve million, two hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred and eight dollars ($6,012,215,208.00) provided to this Ministry for Fiscal 2025/2026 represents one of the largest investments in people made by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
We have strengthened frontline service delivery, accelerated the processing of key social assistance programmes, reduced longstanding backlogs, expanded support to vulnerable households and advanced critical reforms aimed at ensuring that assistance is delivered equitably and transparently.
These achievements were not accidental. They are the result of deliberate policy choices, disciplined management and the unwavering commitment of the public officers, social workers and frontline staff who continue to serve our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
Mr. Chair, what is significant about the increased supplementation to the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is this current administration addressing longstanding debts incurred under the last regime without due diligence and fiduciary obligations. This is what we inherited.
Mr. Chair, while much work remains to be done, the progress achieved thus far demonstrates what can be accomplished when Government places people at the centre of policy and administration.
It is against this backdrop that I will now defend the Ministry’s performance during the period under review and the justification for the supplemental funding being sought to sustain essential services and fulfil obligations to the citizens who depend upon them.