Saint Lucia: The government of Saint Lucia announced the over eighty cheques for income support to be given to the vendor members of the Department of Cooperatives, for which a Ceremony is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs on Tuesday, 2 April.

As per the reports, the Income Support Cheque Handover Ceremony will be hosted by the ministry through the Department of Cooperatives around 9:30 am on the day at the Finance Administrative Centre in Pointe Seraphine, a neighbourhood along the northwestern coast of Saint Lucia.

The officials disclosed in the statement that the government will present more than eighty cheques on behalf of vendor, who are members among the four facilitating Cooperative Societies in Saint Lucia.

It is said that under the Income Support Program by Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, each will approved applicant will receive the support of one thousand and five hundred dollars, which will be one-time payment.

The ministry mentioned that nearly eighty nine vendor members were approved for the financial support among the pool of around hundred and four applicants. The reason for the decision is shared to be the disadvantages and losses faced by the vendors during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also interrupted the household income generation.

The decentralised access points of the three involved facilities required to ensured a relatively seamless application process to provide the support took place after the collaboration between the Department of Cooperatives, the wider Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Equity.

The Saint Lucia Ministry of Commerce shared their intentions with the process, that is, to improve the local cooperative societies with the strengthen the coordination and collaboration of efforts amongst stakeholders.

The ministry is also aiming to adopt the seventh Cooperative Principle of Concern for Community. The plans are to move ahead in the way of diversity, equity and inclusion with poverty reduction, as per the re-emerging cooperative enterprises around the globe.

The ministry mentioned at the end that the expected milestones are significant and the government of Saint Lucia is optimistic towards their approach of achieving the aims by necessary support with collaboration and mutual coordination that could lead to the exp;lore the potentials of the nation.