Government Provides $10,700 In Disaster Relief Grants To Chaguanas Family After House Fire

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Pictured Above: The Honourable Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services presents disaster relief grants to Mr. Jeffery Friday. Also pictured are (L-R) Ms. Patricia De Leon-Henry, National Director, NSDP; Mr. Ryan Ramcharan, Permanent Secretary, MPSDFS and Ms. Vera Deonanan-Balkaran, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MPSDFS.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services (MPSDFS), said it continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting and supporting vulnerable citizens during times of crisis.

Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Vandana Mohit, presented disaster relief grants totaling $10,700 to Mr. Jeffery Friday for his family of four (4) on Wednesday (21st January, 2026), following a recent fire that caused partial damage to their home at Lions Gate, Enterprise, Chaguanas.

The grants distributed were as follows:

  • Household Items Grant: $5,000
  • Clothing Grant: $4,000
  • School Supplies Grant: $1,700

In a Media Release on Wednesday, the Ministry said these grants are “intended to assist the family with replacing essential items, meeting immediate needs, and supporting the continued education of school-aged children affected by the disaster.”

The Ministry notes that it “serves as a second responder during times of disaster, providing timely relief in the form of financial assistance and psychosocial support to families who become vulnerable due to unforeseen events. The National Social Development Programme (NSDP) is responsible for managing the Ministry's disaster response and processing disaster relief grants for eligible citizens.”


The Ministry said its disaster relief programme is guided by two (2) key objectives:

  1. To provide transparent and timely financial assistance for food and basic household amenities to disaster-affected households; and
  2. To offer counselling and referral services to individuals and families impacted by disaster.

Minister Mohit urged Mr. Friday to utilize the grants for their intended purpose and reaffirmed the Ministry's unwavering commitment to bringing relief to those in need as promptly as possible.

She emphasised that the Ministry remains focused on restoring dignity, stability, and normalcy to the lives of individuals and families affected by disaster.

During the presentation, Mr. Jeffery Friday expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Minister Mohit and the Ministry, noting the “quick, compassionate, and positive response” to his family's tragedy. He stated that the assistance provided would go a long way in helping his household recover and begin rebuilding their lives.

The Media Release concluded by saying, “The Ministry continues to work diligently to ensure that no family is left behind in times of hardship, reflecting the Government's people-centred approach to social development and care for the most vulnerable.”
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