PM gets US$5M from CAL as she launches Children's Life Fund

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar launched the Children’s Life Fund at the Hilton Wednesday, noting that she hopes the fund would reach $100 million.

And she got an immediate boost for the fund - US$5 million.

The chairman of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) George Nicholas III presented the cheque, which he said represents US$5 deducated from each ticket that the airline sells.

Speaking about the necessity for the fund which she established soon after taking office, Persad-Bissessar said for too long there was unnecessary suffering of children because their parents could not afford the life-saving medical procedures.

She made it her number one priority and her first note to cabinet after taking office was to establish the fund. She puts 10 per cent of her salary into the fund and ministers contribute five per cent. Private individuals, groups and organisations as well as some public officials have also been contributing to the fund.

She said since the start of the fund 38 children between the ages of six and 14 have benefited from close to $10 million. 

The Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) which has a fully constituted board of directors has the responsibility to operate, manage and administer the fund.

The CLFA’s chief executive officer is Jeffrey Lewis. 

The fund is meant to help pay for medical services abroad for children when the services are not available locally.

There are several conditions that must be met to qualify. The child/person must be under 18, unmarried and must be a Trinidad & Tobago citizen.

In addition the a medical specialist in the field of treatment must certify that the patients has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and requires treatment that is not available locally. 

The cost of the medical expenses must exceed 25 per cent of the family’s annual income.