The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J Pierre, delivered the Budget address on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The address included the transformative agenda of the government for the financial year 2023-2024. The PM also tabled the Appropriation Bill 2023/24 in Parliament.
In the Budget Address, PM Pierre announced the allocation of $500,000 for scholarships for Saint Lucian students. The PM added that the country’s youth is his priority as they are the country’s future. The youth must be educated to build a country’s future, so this huge budget has been allocated for students’ education. He added that no student must be deprived of education because of the poor condition of their family.
The government of Saint Lucia has also allocated $25 million to the public assistance program, the largest ever contribution made to the vulnerable in society.
Another major highlight of the Budget address was establishing a Coroner’s court in Saint Lucia. This court will handle matters relating to death deemed to be unnatural or in the exercise of law enforcement. A sheriff’s office will also be established to manage assets subject to writs.
PM Philip J Pierre, along with his Cabinet, has focused on advancing the health sector of Saint Lucia during this financial year. For that, the PM announced several major changes being introduced by the Health Ministry for the citizens and residents.
The Ministry of Health of Saint Lucia will establish a cancer registry and elderly affairs unit, and there are plans to advance for construction of the Soufriere Hospital. Also, the Ministry will launch a Golden 80 plus medical package. The Maternity and Child Healthcare program to be considered the first stage of UHC – Universal Health Care, announces the PM in the 2023/2024 Budget Address.
Also, a health card will be issued to every citizen by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry is collaborating with the MHMC – Millennium Heights Medical Complex to construct Castries multipurpose health facility. Further, the LA Ressouce Health Centre and Soufriere Health Centre will also be refurbished.
In November 2022, work began on the reconstruction of the St Jude Hospital, and the Prime Minister has allocated $32.75 million to meet outstanding payment for work done on the existing structure, ‘the box’ that should have been the St Jude Hospital.
The Prime Minister highlighted all these major changes during the Budget address and vows to bring all these changes within the next few months.
