CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (APRIL 8, 2009) -- The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) said it would continue to be sensitive to the needs of the island’s less fortunate, even though the results of a Caribbean Development Bank commissioned Poverty Assessment evaluation showed a 30 percent drop in the poverty levels on Nevis for 2007/2008.
Minister with responsibility for Social Development on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel underscored the Administration’s position and said the needs of the less fortunate remained high on its agenda in a recent interview with the Department of Information.
“The message for the less fortunate on Nevis is this: you have a government that is sensitive to the needs of the people at the lower socio economic bracket; a government that is engaging in programmes which are aimed at yourselves, which are aimed to promote social mobility through education, training and entrepreneurial development.
“If there are any persons in need of assistance, I am sure they know where to go. I am the Minister of Social development and I think most people know where my head is in terms of ensuring that we move people from the bottom and put them at the top,” he said.
Mr. Daniel said the NIA was in place to ensure that if the situation of any less fortunate person was difficult, it would ensure that the situation was not passed on to ensuing generations.
“The people at the lower income bracket must see that there is support; that they can engage in programmes and I think it is not to be treated lightly,” he said.
According to Mr. Daniel, the study had spoken to the provision of concessions for people in business and had indicated that the NIA should continue to move in that direction.
