HILARY HOSIA
The long-awaited initiative to put cash in people’s pockets is likely to take place sometime next year and not in December as previously predicted by the government.
The news came to light last week Wednesday during the discussion between the Enra Taskforce and Parliament Members at a specially-called Committee of the Whole briefing prior to the closure of Parliament for the year.
The Taskforce presented its mobility strategy, one that would include a massive outreach program to identify and register qualified Marshallese citizens all over RMI.
Enra Taskforce Chair Sherwood Tibon said the mobilization will be monumental and that it would take time for the outreach teams to cover the entire population, confirming the likelihood that the Enra disbursement to next year.
The fact that the US government must endorse the strategy proposed by the Taskforce is also expected to contribute to the delay in launching the program.
Ebon Nitijela Member Marie Davis Milne expressed anger after learning that students studying abroad on RMI Scholarships and citizens who went off-island for self-referral care are not qualified for the Enra.
“Those on self-referral left on their own because the government failed them,” Marie said. Marie said she was saddened by the eligibility format presented by the Taskforce.