Minister for Multi‑Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh has defended the integrity of the ministry’s grant programme after questions were raised when a government grant was awarded to a Methodist church. Singh said the recent funding decision does not signal preferential treatment for faith‑based organisations and that grants are distributed through a transparent, merit‑based process open to all communities.
Critics asked whether religious groups received special consideration after the grant handover prompted public scrutiny. Singh pushed back firmly, telling reporters the ministry “takes care of everyone, including the Methodist, Catholic, Sikh, Muslim and others.” He said the grants are not handed out on a personal or religious basis but through a standard application process that ministry officials vet.
“These are not given on a personal basis. They are for the benefit of the wider community,” Singh said, stressing that every application is assessed on merit and “only those that qualify are approved.” He reiterated that the government’s priority is to back projects that deliver tangible benefits to communities rather than to individuals or particular groups.
Singh also addressed questions about pre‑award engagement with faith‑based organisations. He said there was no need for separate consultations because the grant opportunities were advertised and organisations applied through the ministry’s portal. “There was no need to meet individuals separately,” he said, adding that he, as minister, does not decide individual grants. “As minister, I do not influence who receives grants. I am a very transparent minister, and this is a transparent government.”
The minister’s comments are the latest attempt to reassure the public about the grant process after the specific award drew attention. He pointed to the role of ministry officials in vetting submissions rather than asserting ministerial discretion, suggesting a separation between political office‑holders and administrative decision‑making.
Singh’s defence comes at a time when transparency in the allocation of public funds is under greater public scrutiny. While he affirmed that faith‑based organisations are eligible and that the ministry serves diverse communities, he did not provide further details on the specific application from the Methodist church or on how many applications were received and assessed for that funding round. Ministry officials would need to be asked separately for records of applications, assessment criteria and decision timelines to provide independent verification of the process.
For now, the minister’s statements aim to close the debate over whether religion influenced grant decisions, reiterating that advertised, portal‑based applications assessed by officials determine which projects receive support.
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