The Government is providing immediate financial and practical assistance to families affected by the MV Barima tragedy through the HEART Initiative, with support being assessed according to the individual needs of each household.
The HEART Initiative—standing for Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust—was launched by President Dr. Irfaan Ali following the July 18 tragedy to provide immediate and long-term support to survivors and families affected by the disaster.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud, speaking on the Starting Point podcast on Sunday, said the initiative was established to provide assistance to families dealing with the aftermath of the disaster, particularly those who have lost a breadwinner.
Persaud explained that the HEART Initiative has several components, including psychosocial, spiritual, legal and logistical support. Regional teams are being developed to assess families and determine what assistance is required.
She said the immediate financial assistance is intended to help families manage pressing expenses following the loss of their loved ones.
“The immediate financial support would have been for small things, for incidentals, food support, maybe transportation,” Persaud said.
She stressed that the assistance should not be confused with compensation. She noted, “It is not compensation. We are not dealing with compensation. We’re dealing with what is needed right now.”
Persaud said families have different needs, with some facing expenses associated with memorial services and others struggling to meet bills following the loss of a family member.
She said requests are being assessed on a case-by-case basis by the teams assigned to the initiative.
“People have different needs, and that’s being assessed by this team,” the minister said.
Particular attention is being paid to families that have lost their sole breadwinner, Persaud said, as the Government seeks to determine how the loss has affected the household.
She said, “If it’s a breadwinner, we need to make sure they have food support. We need to make sure the children are taken care of. We need to make sure that the parents have that support.”
The First Lady’s Office is also directly involved in matters concerning children and their parents, according to Persaud.
She said the Government is attempting to assess what the deceased breadwinner would have provided for the family while also recognising that financial assistance cannot replace the person who was lost.
“I know the presence is what is missed the most,” Persaud said. “I know that while we deal with the practicalities, it’s a void that’s not going to be filled by anyone.”
The HEART Initiative is part of the Government’s broader response following the sinking of the MV Barima, which claimed 73 lives, while 30 people remain unaccounted for and 76 survived.
Persaud said the support structure will remain in place as families continue to deal with the emotional and practical consequences of the disaster.
She also encouraged private-sector organisations and other members of the public who wish to assist to reach out and contribute to the wider support effort.
