According to a post on the District 6 Community Board Facebook page, the number of applications she received for financial assistance represents an amount that is in excess $247,000.

She said the figure continues to increase.

Speaking on the initiative, Maduro-Caines said: “The people need help and our government is committed to help as many people we can.”

“The Premier instructed us to help with renters’ debt and other expenses so I’m reviewing each application personally with hopes to begin payment as soon as possible.”

Funds to be audited monthly

Meanwhile, Premier Andrew Fahie had stated in a recent session in the House of Assembly that the more-than-quarter-million-dollar sum allocated to each elected representative will be audited at the end of each month.

He said: “We want to ensure that the people see and understand how each representative is spending the funds—government and opposition.”

“This is important so that if the members of the opposition in this Honourable House of Assembly or the Public Accounts Committee call for the audited reports on this process, they are all readily available for viewing. By ensuring ongoing auditing, we will be policing ourselves as a self-governing territory,” Premier Fahie explained.

Fahie who is also the Finance Minister further said that the relief funds are for immediate help of residents. He re-emphasised that there is no favoritism, political bias or discrimination towards the allocation of the funds.