The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services (MPSDFS), has provided seven thousand, five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) in disaster relief assistance to Ms. Hilary Elliott, whose household appliances were damaged by flooding at her William Street, Enterprise home and applied for assistance from the Ministry in 2024.
The grant, presented by Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Vandana Mohit, forms part of a deliberate and structured effort by the government to address disaster relief applications, while strengthening systems to ensure accountability and timely delivery. The brief presentation took place on Friday, 23rd January, 2026 at the Ministry’s Head Office, St. Vincent Street, Port of Spain.
Expressing her appreciation, Ms. Elliott conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the Minister and the Ministry, noting that despite the length of time since her initial application, the assistance has brought much-needed relief and reassurance. She described the support as a reminder that her situation was not forgotten and thanked the Ministry for following through during a challenging period.
Minister Mohit reaffirmed the Government’s approach, stating that, “We are systematically working through outstanding applications to ensure that every eligible household is treated fairly and assessed properly. While this process takes time, our focus remains on delivering assistance with compassion, transparency, and due diligence—because people deserve both help and accountability.”
As a second responder during disasters, the Ministry provides financial assistance and psychosocial support to households affected by unforeseen events. The National Social Development Programme (NSDP) leads the Ministry’s disaster response and the processing of disaster relief grants. These include General Assistance Grants, food support, home repair assistance, as well as counselling and referral services, aimed at stabilising families and supporting recovery.
The Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services remains committed to providing meaningful support to vicitms of disaster in their time of need while maintaining accountability and transparency.