Black Immigrant Daily News

El gobernador Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia, junto a la secretaria del Departamento de la Familia, Carmen Ana González Magaz y el administrador de la Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (ADSEF), Alberto Fradera, anunció el lunes el comienzo de un programa federal que proveerá ayuda económica a ciudadanos y familias que tengan atrasos en el pago de sus facturas de la luz con aviso de suspensión o desconexión.

“Este año las familias que cualifiquen pueden recibir una ayuda de hasta $1,200 para el pago del servicio de energía eléctrica. Hemos visto un alto costo en los precios del combustible a nivel mundial que afecta directamente los precios de la gasolina y la energía eléctrica, es por esto que como gobierno estamos constantemente buscando alternativas que puedan representar un alivio en el bolsillo del pueblo. Esta ayuda que anunciamos hoy se une al Programa de Asistencia para el Pago de Renta del Departamento de la Vivienda que además de ayuda para el pago de la renta, provee también ayuda económica para el pago de los servicios de agua y luz”, informó Pierluisi Urrutia en declaraciones escritas.

El programa federal de ayuda para energía en hogares de bajos recursos o Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP, por sus siglas en inglés), duplicó los fondos asignados a Puerto Rico y este año asignó 36 millones dólares. El programa está dirigido a las familias que viven bajo el nivel de pobreza establecido por el gobierno federal, que tienen atrasos en el pago de energía eléctrica y recibieron un aviso de suspensión o desconexión en la última factura.

Por su parte, la secretaria de la Familia indicó que, “con esta ayuda, nuestras familias podrán recibir un alivio al bolsillo y evitar que les suspendan o corten el servicio de energía eléctrica, que es vital en nuestra sociedad”.

Mientras, el administrador de ADSEF explicó que el beneficio se otorga una sola vez por año fiscal y el pago se hace directamente a la cuenta de LUMA Energy. Es decir, las personas no reciben el dinero de la ayuda.

“Exhortamos a aquellos que cumplan con los requisitos de elegibilidad a solicitar. Esta ayuda está sujeta a la disponibilidad de los fondos y la validación de los datos provistos por el solicitante. El proceso es sencillo y rápido. Pueden hacerlo a través de la plataforma ADSEF Digital en pr.gov y en https://serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital/Security/Login.aspx. De no tener acceso a Internet, pueden solicitar llamando al 3-1-1 o visitando cualquier oficina del Departamento de la Familia”, sostuvo Fradera.

Los solicitantes deben acceder a la plataforma ADSEF Digital desde pr.gov, completar la solicitud y someter una serie de documentos. Luego, serán redirigidos a turnospr.com donde recibirán un turno para una cita telefónica con un oficial de elegibilidad que les informará si son elegibles para recibir la asistencia económica por crisis de energía.

Los documentos requeridos, los requisitos específicos y las guías de pobreza están disponibles para consulta en ADSEF Digital.

“Continuaremos buscando alternativas y agilizando el uso de los fondos y programas federales que tenemos a nuestra disposición para ponerlos al servicio de nuestra gente”, concluyó el gobernador.

Guía federal del nivel de pobreza en Puerto Rico (Año fiscal 2022) para el programa LIHEAP

Número de miembros
Ingreso
1
$ 10,247
2
$ 13,400
3
$ 16,553
4
$ 19,706
5
$ 22,859
6
$ 26,012
7
$ 26,603
8
$ 27,194

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Four men were arrested last week after a joint Customs and Border Control (CBC) and Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) investigation uncovered illegal drug importation activities.

On Thursday July 7, Customs and Border Control (CBC) Officers assisted by the RCIPS, carried out an operation at the CBC transit shed (warehouse) located on Owen Roberts Drive, George Town.

The operation commenced with CBC Officers securing cargo of interest which was imported on Wednesday, July 6, after which RCIPS officers inspected the cargo.

During the process of inspection, the CBC K-9 made an indication on a particular pallet of goods, the contents which was closely inspected. From the inspection, several large packages of ganja were recovered with each package containing smaller packets.

The suspected drugs were subsequently seized and secured.

Four men were arrested in relation to the operation. Three of the men, ages 23 and 52 of George Town, and one age 27 of West Bay, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the importation of ganja. A fourth man, age 30 of George Town, was arrested in relation to CBC revenue related offenses and on suspicion of being concerned in the importation of ganja.

All four men are currently on bail while investigations continue.

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Minister of Energy Stuart Young at the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago’s 7th Geological Conference at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Photo by Sureash Cholai

THE Ministry of Energy launched its 2022 bid rounds for onshore blocks on Monday.

Energy Minister Stuart Young declared the bid round opened as he spoke on Monday at the seventh Conference of the Geological Society at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain.

Acting senior geologist Kimberlee London said the bid round would last six months up until January 8. Awards of blocks were set for next April, she added.

Oil and gas companies can bid for exploration and production (E&P) on the blocks which run from central Trinidad to south-east, south and south-west Trinidad.

Kimberlee London, acting senior geologist at the Ministry of Energy, speaks at the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago’s 7th Geological Conference at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Photo by Sureash Cholai

Eleven blocks are up for grabs.

These are Aripero, Buenos Ayres, Charuma, Cipero, Cory D, Cory F, Guaraguayare Onshore, Southwest Peninsula Onshore, Southwest Peninsula Offshore, St Mary’s, and Tulsa. London read a brief background to each block, such as the names of past occupiers and their reversion to the government for non-exploitation by occupier.

Acreages were typically 10,000-13,0000 hectares. Each bid must be accompanied by a US$30,000 application fee or its equivalent in TT dollars, London said. Bids will be evaluated by using both a model licence and a point system.

London said E&P licences were awarded for six years initially, with an optional extension for 25 years, and then five more years. For each year of holding an E&P licence, a company must supply the minister a work programme for that acreage.

She said the bid rounds were conducted under the legal authority given by the Petroleum Act, Petroleum Production Levy and Subsidy Act and the Petroleum Taxes Act. The Petroleum Act lets the line minister grant the E&P licences, subject to competitive bidding.

Also due soon are the shallow water bid rounds. Last month the 2021/2022 deep-water bid round for 17 blocks attracted just four bids by a consortium of bpTT and Royal Dutch Shell.

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NEW BOARD: Planning Minister Pennelope Beckles, centre, with members of the EMA’s board of directors whom she gave instruments of appointment to on Monday. Photo courtesy EMA

PLANNING and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles gave instruments of appointment to board members of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

The instruments were given of the directors chaired by Nadra Nathai-Gyan during a brief ceremony at the EMA offices on Monday. Beckles was accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Joanne Deoraj.

She commended the work of the board and recognised the importance of the EMA, particularly as it relates to the National Environmental Policy and TT’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Beckles reiterated her long-standing passion and commitment for environmental sustainability against the backdrop of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and the upcoming COP27 which is focused on emissions and energy.

Nathai-Gyan said it was an honour to serve as chairman of the board which was appointed for an unprecedented fourth term.

The chairman also conveyed the authority’s dedication to sustainable development and indicated that its new strategic plan (2022-2026) is focused on greater compliance for a greener future.

Directors Althea Thompson, Jacqueline Wilson, Andrew Castor, Garth Ottley, Gordon Paul, John Julien, Dr Roshan Parasram and Vyash Nandlal, also received instruments of appointment.

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