Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government has begun distributing a second batch of building materials to residents through a social assistance programme aimed at helping vulnerable households.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne radio programme, Browne announced the arrival of the materials and said distribution is already underway.

“I’m also pleased to announce that we have the second set of our building material here, and we are now distributing those,” Browne said.

The prime minister said distribution had not yet started in Point and Villa but would begin next week.

“We haven’t started in Point and Villas yet. I’m going to start next week,” he said.

Browne encouraged residents in need of assistance to make contact, adding that Housing Minister Rawdon Turner would assist with the delivery process.

“Several of you will approach me and I will send your names to Mr. Turner, Minister Turner, [who will] assist me in delivering the material to your respective homes,” Browne said.

The building materials programme forms part of a broader package of social support measures being implemented by the government. Browne said the initiative complements other assistance programmes, including food vouchers and the recently launched free prescription eyeglasses programme.

“We have these food vouchers, we have the building materials, our glasses,” he said.

Browne said the programmes are intended to address the needs of residents facing hardship and ensure that assistance reaches vulnerable individuals and families.

“We’re a caring administration and we have these little pockets of poverty and need. We’re trying to fill them,” Browne said.

He added: “We don’t want anyone to be left behind.”

The government has not disclosed how many households are expected to benefit from the latest distribution of building materials.