Modernizing Families in St. Kitts and Nevis

(ZIZ)– Minister of Community Development, the Hon. Marcella Liburd says ongoing projects in social assistance are modernizing families and are focused on assisting the whole family instead of an individual.

In an interview with ZIZ News, Minister Liburd said switching from vouchers to debit cards for families in need has been a big hit.

“Because remember a lot of these people would’ve been on social assistance so it was a very exciting time for them to have a card and to learn how to the bank, the ATM and so on to get money. They’ve probably heard about people doing that but now they are doing it. It caused them a bit of excitement,” the minister explained.

Liburd said the ministry has also hosted classes on various topics to strengthen the family unit.

“We’ve run quite a bit of classes, in the pilot stage, to help people manage money because remember they have the cards now so they’re budgeting. We’ve helped with family planning so you know you don’t just go and have ten children. We’ve helped with parenting…and that’s the wraparound services that we provide in a programme like this, so it becomes a family thing.”

The initiatives fall under the Department of Social Services’ two year pilot project called MEND: (Mould, Empower, Nurture, Direct) families in St. Kitts and Nevis.