SEARCH ON SNAP benefits restored
FOR TOP JOB
now that the lobby for the first women
secretary general is gaining momentum.
Currently home in Suriname,
Soeknandan spoke to the local Star News
only publication at the weekend and did
not rule out running. She said he has the
experience and ability.
“Much more important is whether
the person is suitable and competent. I
leave that conclusion to you. The question
is will Suriname finally go for a high
position to leave a mark in the region.
I have been able to give my strength to
all councils, and I have also been able to
represent Suriname in the heads of state
and in the prime ministerial sub committees
meetings. In order to be able to
do this, there has always been close cooperation
with and in the home front with
all actors- none excepted,” she said.
Eight men from various parts of the
region including Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados
and the nine-nation Organization
of Eastern Caribbean States sub
grouping have run the daily affairs of
the region since CARICOM was formed
back in July 1973. Insiders say things are
about to change. The so-called outer bloc
member states like The Bahamas, Belize,
Suriname and Haiti have not as yet been
Caribbean L 18 ife, MAR. 26-APR. 1, 2021
able to have one of their nationals head
up the secretariat but it seems to be
heading Belize’s way this time.
Soeknandan apart, many in the region
are beginning to root for another former
female deputy secretary general — Carla
Barnett of Belize, willing her to send in
her resume even if she is reluctant.
Barnett has vast experiences dealing
with things CARICOM, having not only
served as the first female in the number
two position but also as the deputy director
of the Barbados-based Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB), ex governor of
the Belizean Central Bank, her country’s
financial secretary and now senator of
Belize’s upper house. She is a qualified
economist.
Continued from Page 1
rule directly undermined Congress’
intent for SNAP, that the USDA violated
the federal rulemaking process, and that
the rule would impose significant regulatory
burdens on the states while harming
states’ economies and residents.
The rule was originally set to take
effect on April 1, 2020, but Attorneys
General James and Racine secured a
preliminary injunction, in March 2020,
from Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the US
District Court for the District of Columbia
that temporarily blocked the rule
from taking effect while the matter was
being litigated.
In October 2020, Chief Judge Howell
struck down the rule in its entirety,
protecting access to SNAP benefits for
more than 50,000 people in New York
City, and eliminating the risk of tens of
thousands more throughout New York
state going hungry.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ)
under the Trump administration initially
appealed the decision setting aside
the rule, but, this past Monday, the
Biden administration’s DOJ asked the
US Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit to dismiss the appeal,
which the District of Columbia circuit
court did late Tuesday afternoon.
As a result, Chief Judge Howell’s decision
striking down the rule is now final,
and the SNAP cuts proposed by the
Trump administration will not go into
effect.
James said SNAP has served as the
country’s primary response to hunger
since 1977 and has been a critical part of
federal and state efforts to help lift people
out of poverty.
She said the program provides access
to food for millions of Americans with
limited income who would otherwise
struggle with food insecurity.
While the federal government pays
the full cost of SNAP benefits, it shares
the costs of administering the program
on a 50-50 basis with the states, which
operate the program, James said.
She noted that Congress amended
SNAP in 1996 with the goal of encouraging
greater workforce participation
among beneficiaries.
The changes introduced a threemonth
time limit on SNAP benefits for
unemployed individuals, aged 18 to 49,
who are not disabled or raising children
— “able-bodied adults without dependents”
(ABAWDs).
“Congress understood that states
were best positioned to assess whether
local economic conditions and labor
markets provided ABAWDs reasonable
employment opportunities,” James said.
“As a result, the law allows a state to
acquire a waiver of the ABAWD time
limit for areas where the unemployment
rate is above 10 percent, or if it presents
data demonstrating that the area lacks
sufficient jobs for ABAWDs.”
Continued from Page 1
Outgoing Secretary-General of
CARICOM Irwin LaRocque. Caribbean
Community
Integrity
Compassionate
Accountable
Respect.
Excellence.