St Ann admin professionals answer call of household helpers
THE ST Ann chapter of the Jamaica Association of Administrative Professionals (JAAP) has answered the call for assistance from the Household Helpers Association (HHA).
As part of Administrative Professionals Week, the JAAP handed over several care packages to household helpers in an April 22 ceremony at the Lifeline Deliverance Church in Keith district, St Ann.
The move was in response to a call from HHA President Shirley Pryce for assistance to members of the association who have found themselves out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although domestic workers can benefit from the Government’s relief programme to assist persons displaced by the impact of the coronavirus – being eligible for a fortnightly payment of $9,000 from April to June or a one-time grant of $10,000 from the COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme – Pryce believes that is not enough.
“I believe domestic helpers need a special grant because just as farmers receive some decent money, you gave small businesses decent money, but for domestic workers only $10,000, that’s not enough,” Pryce told The Gleaner last month. “Give them a $30,000 or $20,000 each, something special to offset their loss of income brought about by this COVID-19.”
President of JAAP St Ann, Marilyn Wisdom-Garrick, told The Gleaner that her organisation decided to step forward and help after hearing Pryce’s appeal.
“We are fulfilling our charitable obligation and have responded favourably to the call by the Household Helpers Association for assistance and decided to act in good faith, hence care packages presented to members in St Ann,” Wisdom-Garrick said.
Wisdom-Garrick, along with Boss of the Year Julian Pink, Administrative Professional of the Year Sejae Burey and other members made the journey to the community to put some smiles on the faces of the household helpers.
Several household helpers who were in receipt of the donations were quite appreciative of the packages, which contained a range of food items and toiletries.
Ingrid Grant, who heads the St Ann chapter of HHA, expressed thanks on behalf of the members.