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St. Lucia
– Efforts to maximize the reach and efficiency of the Public Assistance Programme (PAP) are ongoing as the Welfare Unit prepares for the March 2025 biannual review. All beneficiaries of the programme are urged to attend the upcoming review, which begins on March 3, 2025, as it is critical for maintaining accurate records and ensuring the continuity of financial support.
Head of the Welfare Unit, Jahn McFarlane, has expressed concern over the low turnout at the last review in September 2024, which could contribute significantly to disruptions in upcoming payments.
“As we move into our first review for 2025, we’re appealing to all beneficiaries of the PAP program to present themselves for that review. Coming out of our last review, we also move into suspensions, so all persons who did not present on the last review by -end of February, will find that they will not receive the cash transfer. The accounts will be suspended until such time that they present themselves and we can update the information. With that also, once they present themselves and we can validate and update the information, we will compensate them for the suspended period.
McFarlane stated that accounts unverified for three months would be deleted, as the programme cannot confirm if beneficiaries are still eligible. She also emphasized the importance of monitoring the programme closely due to high demand, with over 1,000 applicants on the wait list and others eligible, but not yet added on.
“The review and the re-certification also serve as monitoring. And so, as persons move out of poverty, some become employed, children graduate from school, household circumstances change, then they become eligible, to graduate from the program. We also have the Koudmen Sent Lisi program, which is run by the SSDF. Right now, we have 40 households, PAP households, on that program. And the intention is once they complete that program, they would be able to graduate off of PAP and be able to sustain themselves.”
Given the high volume of individuals and limited resources, the public is kindly asked to be patient, as all applicants on the wait list will be attended to in due time, as the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment continues its ongoing efforts to support the most vulnerable in society.
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