Government will pay registered child caregivers $800 per child each month, according to the Department of Financial Assistance.

But registered caregivers, who are limited to watching three children by the Children's Act 1998, say they are worried the $2,400 paycheque is not enough to live on.

In his speech to the Island Monday, Premier Ewart Brown said Government is committed to carrying on social programmes such as free child care allowance for families making less than $70,000 gross income a year.

And at a press conference yesterday, Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler, indicated that $1.5 million had been budgeted for the initiative which he said could help between 300 and 400 families.

Asked whether that money would still be available despite the economic crisis, he replied: "Government made a commitment in the Budget and those funds have not been touched.

"Those funds were left to ensure we had sufficient money to pay for those people who need it."

The Minister said a progress report would be made to Parliament three months into the initiative, spelling out how many people had applied, how many had been accepted, how many rejected and why they were rejected.

There are caregivers and parents however, who worry that the proposed rate isn't sufficient.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette following a public information meeting on the initiative Wednesday night, Tomeko Simons said: "My concern is if they are even trying to downsize the places, the cost of living is too expensive (for the caregivers).

"They are going to offer them $800? She (a caregiver) is still struggling to exist. They (Government) need to find a balance," the grandmother-of-two stated.

"My whole thing is, in a financial crisis, if milk is $5, she cannot do it (on an annual income of $28,000). This Government needs to look at it realistically. They need to make sure their (caregivers') needs are met."

Three public meetings were held this week using information provided by representatives from two Government departments – Director of Financial Assistance Diana Taylor and Chief Environmental Officer David Kendell.

Approximately 60 residents attended the final meeting in the Goodwin C. Smith Hall of the New Testament Church of God Wednesday night. Previous meetings were held at either end of the Island.

Ms Taylor told those at the Hamilton meeting that the Department of Financial Assistance could only pay $800 per child per caregiver. However she stressed that the programme was in its early stages.

"Right now the legislated maximum is $800 per child per month and you will be approved per term (as part of a three-month payment schedule set up by the Department). The day care provider will be paid on a monthly basis," she said.

"This is a new initiative. Please be mindful we are going to be monitoring it for the next six months to a year."

Ms Taylor said the initiative is being offered to families — whether single parent or not — if they make less than $70,000 gross each year and their child is between the ages of 0 and 5. Other qualifiers demand that the child is Bermudian, that they reside with the family and that the child care provider is registered or licensed with the Department of Health.

The director added that her Department will begin accepting applications from parents on November 3 and that they are likely to take about ten working days to complete although payment to registered caregivers will begin immediately.

One of the issues raised continuously at the meeting was the three-child limit for a registered caregiver. Mr. Kendell explained it was legislated a decade ago – under the Child's Act 1998 – in an effort to protect children's safety and developmental needs.

"The ratio was established in 1998," he said. "It has been in place for ten years. When a baby is born their brain is only 20 percent developed.

"When they are five it is almost fully developed and if it's not getting nurtured because there's a fifth, sixth or seventh child screaming louder then them, they won't reach their potential."

However that opinion was contradicted by Melanie Richardson. Having worked as a registered caregiver for 24 years, she said she simply did not believe the information to be correct.

"If you have more children you can still bond with them. If you (a mother) have twins you bond with them or if you have five children, you don't bond with just three.

"You bond with all five. You have to be in this business to know. We know how many we are able to look after."

The Department of Health produced a brochure earlier this week which provides parents and caregivers with more information on the new initiative. It is available online, at www.health.gov.bm, and in paper form at various offices on the Island.

n For more information call the Department of Financial Assistance on 297-7600 or visit its website at www.gov.bm. Alternatively, telephone the Department of Health on 278-4976 or visit www.health.gov.bm.