Vets’ fund gets new board

IT might have taken a year longer than originally planned, but the new War Veterans Subvention Administration Board officially got off the ground yesterday.

The board will administer the War Veterans Trust Fund, which was established under the War Veterans Subvention Act of 1999. Introducing the new board, which takes over from its predecessor, whose term expired in 2005, Labour Minister Alpheus Naruseb apologised to would-be beneficiaries for the delay.He said this was because of the restructuring of Government functions last year when President Hifikepunye Pohamba took over the reins of Cabinet.”Following the reorganisation of Government offices, Ministries and agencies, the War Veterans Subvention Act is now administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and no longer by the Ministry of Health and Social Services,” he said.Cabinet approved the appointment of the new board members in August.The board will be chaired by Kenapeta Hikuama-Mupaine, Director of Labour Market Services in the Labour Ministry.Other members are Albert Biwa, Onno Amutenya, Major Monika Sheya, Colonel George Ngeesheya, C Kauaria, Angelina Nauta-Sinvula, Helao Shityuwete and Ida Jimmy.They were appointed from the ministries of Trade, Finance and Defence, the National Planning Commission and organisations representing war veterans, as prescribed in the Act.Naruseb was quick to point out that yesterday’s appointment of the board was not at all prompted by the demands of a committee of former Swapo war veterans.The committee is not represented on the board.Asked who would be eligible to benefit from the War Veterans Trust Fund, Naruseb said that each case would be handled on its own merits, and that former SWATF soldiers and even veterans who fought in either World War could apply.”It goes without saying that we make laws for everyone, so everyone should be able to benefit from our laws,” he said.Introducing the new board, which takes over from its predecessor, whose term expired in 2005, Labour Minister Alpheus Naruseb apologised to would-be beneficiaries for the delay.He said this was because of the restructuring of Government functions last year when President Hifikepunye Pohamba took over the reins of Cabinet.”Following the reorganisation of Government offices, Ministries and agencies, the War Veterans Subvention Act is now administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and no longer by the Ministry of Health and Social Services,” he said.Cabinet approved the appointment of the new board members in August.The board will be chaired by Kenapeta Hikuama-Mupaine, Director of Labour Market Services in the Labour Ministry.Other members are Albert Biwa, Onno Amutenya, Major Monika Sheya, Colonel George Ngeesheya, C Kauaria, Angelina Nauta-Sinvula, Helao Shityuwete and Ida Jimmy.They were appointed from the ministries of Trade, Finance and Defence, the National Planning Commission and organisations representing war veterans, as prescribed in the Act.Naruseb was quick to point out that yesterday’s appointment of the board was not at all prompted by the demands of a committee of former Swapo war veterans.The committee is not represented on the board.Asked who would be eligible to benefit from the War Veterans Trust Fund, Naruseb said that each case would be handled on its own merits, and that former SWATF soldiers and even veterans who fought in either World War could apply.”It goes without saying that we make laws for everyone, so everyone should be able to benefit from our laws,” he said.