Incoming Support

Prime Minister the Hon. Philip J. Pierre announced an Income Support Programme for Mini Bus Permit Holders, who continue to function below capacity. Several of the COVID-19 (Prevention and Control) Orders stipulated limited numbers of passengers permitted on a minibus in an effort to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease. Additionally, various measures such as zoning, residential confinement/curfew, prohibition of assembly and the blended approach to teaching and learning i.e. a combination of face-to face instruction and online learning resulted in fewer passengers requiring access to the services of the minibus operators.

A meeting was held with representatives of several of the Minibus Associations across the island on Tuesday November 16, 2021. At this forum, Stakeholders were apprised of the initiative and all parties came to an agreement on the application criteria and the deadline date for submission of the names of beneficiaries in keeping with the said criteria.

The Government of Saint Lucia also launched an Income Support Programme to provide relief to valid Liquor License Holders who were impacted by CoVID-19.

Several bans on the sale of alcoholic beverages, suspension of all liquor licenses and closure of all bars were announced between March 29, 2020 to September 14, 2021. Consequently, Liquor License Business Owners endured limited hours of operation which ultimately impacted their profit. Such measures were necessary as they formed part of the island’s national CoVID-19 response.  To this end, the Government of Saint Lucia has allocated funds to provide relief to valid Licensed Bar Owners, who qualify for support under the programme.

Applicants are invited to submit their information electronically using Cognito Forms. The weblink will be posted on the Government Portal, Ministry of Equity’s Facebook Account, public service announcements and SMS Text blasts to potential clients. The Ministry’s Social Transformation Officers (STOs), along with Welfare Officers and Technical Officers from the St. Lucia Social Development Fund will be in the various District Offices around the island from December 16 to 17, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist clients who have difficulty in accessing the online platform.

This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Government of Saint Lucia to assist affected Saint Lucians.

The application centres were as follows:

CASTRIES, DENNERY, CHOISEUL, GROS ISLET, VIEUX FORT, MICOUD, BABONNEAU, CANARIES/ANSE-LA-RAYE

• District Council Office
• STO Office
• Regional Office
• Welfare Office

SOUFRIERE

• Soufriere Post Office
• Fond St. Jacques HRDC
• Welfare Office at the Town Council