Hide Article Text (OCR)
Dark days for Advice Bureau:□ Organisation struggles with reduced subvention, no air time'THE CITIZENS Advice Bureau, one of Jamaica’s premier voluntary organisations, has been plunged into great difficulty following a recent decision by the Government to cut its annual subvention from $300,000 to $100,000 According to chairman of the Bureau, Mr. Glendon Brown, in July of this year, theMinistry of Labour wrote to the organisation advising that its subvention would be cut by two-thirds as the Ministry was “undergoing resource constraints.”However Mr Brown described the Mmistn' 'on as ridiculous “M response is 11' in iK' ’c cutback is a cut^.1' to the• Wirulon S»BVice-chairman of the Citizens Advice Bureau, Mrs. Hazel Monteith (left), gives the Rev. Carmen Stewart, Custos of St. Andrew, a kiss on the cheek after presenting her with a floral bouquet. The Custos was the guest speaker at the Bureau ’s annual general meeting on Tuesday. ■needy,” he said. He stated that the bulk of tbe subvention was used to pay salaries for the Bureau’s small staff of five. But with the wage bill due at the end of the month, he said he wasunsure how the Bureau would manage. “We don’t know how we are going to pay staff at the end of the month, Mr. Brown declared.Executive director of the Bureau, Mrs. Lucy O’Sullivan, said that representation is being made to the Ministry to have it reverse its decision. She said a letter has been drafted and sent off outlining tbe expenses of the organisation and the problems it faces in securing funds. Mrs. O’Sullivan stated that at the time the Ministry advised that it was cutting the subvention, the organisation was in the process of asking for an increase as it is having problems with securing money to keep the organisation alive.In the meantime, the Bureau has made an appeal to individuals and corporate companies to assist the organisation to carry through its work. However, Mr. Brown was not optimistic that the Bureau would get enough hinds to make up for the shortfall.ProblemsBut it is not only a cut in the subvention which has caused problems for the Bureau. Mr. Brown said die axing of the organisation’s programme “Citizens Advice Bureau” from the RJR air waves last May has created its fair share of problems. “Our contact with the public has been severely curtailed and we do not have the financial resources to provide an equally adequate alternative. Mr. Brown said while addressing the audience at the Bureau's Annua] General Meeting at the PCJ Auditorium yesterday.The programme, which was hosted by vice-chairman of the Bureau. Mrs Hazel Monteith. assisted persons seeking jobs, clothing, household articles and general assistance Mr Brown said since the programme was taken off the air. the offices of the Bureau had been bombarded with persons seeking assistance He said this has put added pressure on the small staff at the organisationOne source at RJR told The Gleaner that the station and the Bureau had discussions earlier this year regarding reinstating the programme Ho*e\cr. no final decision has yet been made on the matter
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Thu, Sep 10, 1998
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 13 Feb 2019
Other Publications Near Kingston, Kingston
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston Weekly Gleaner
Kingston Outlook Magazine
Colonial Standard
De Cordovas Advertising Sheet
