Progressive Labour Party MP Patrice Minors moved to shed further light yesterday on the PLP's childcare scheme which would provide free day care for struggling families.

Mrs. Minors, who has a two-year-old son and is a candidate for Smith's North, said she recognises as a mother how significant it is for needy parents to seek and find day care on the Island.

She explained: "I've meet with day care providers and parents who have expressed their concerns with there not being enough facilities available that they can address the needs of children, typically from the ages of newborn to two.

"Because after age two the children go into the nursery school environment. It's a tremendous thing.

"You have young mothers who do have to bring home the funding to support the family but need to be able to financially pay for the services to watch their children."

According to the PLP manifesto, churches and other community organisations would be brought into the fold to have their facilities used as a community child care centre.

Asked on what criteria will be used to determine who would qualify for the service, Mrs. Minors added: "Families in need. Families that can show that they are challenged in the area of meeting the provision of child care for their children.

"Those that definitely have a need should be the ones that are seeking to benefit from this initiative. I don't know the specific criteria and the details how it will be rolled out.

"But the very thought that we are going to provide it is what is significant."

The plan would be implemented by next spring. She noted that Government would not run the programme itself but would provide the means for its operation.

"There are some churches that don't have the financial means to do it and maybe challenged in that area and they too can come in.

"The Premier stressed the need to bring churches and organisations together to help develop our young people and provide the proper environment to group up within their community."