In her maiden presentation to the Estimates, the Minister of Family and Gender Affairs Laverne Gibson-Velox said she would fulfil her governments mandate to “deliver hope” to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Backed by an overwhelming electoral mandate from East St. George—winning in every single polling station—the Minister characterized this maiden budget as a foundational pillar for national resilience.
While the $17.47 million total is lean compared to other portfolios, it represents a high-impact, integrated approach designed to maximize efficiency by harmonizing previously disparate social services into a singular, proactive force for justice and development.
The Minister said the establishment of the Ministry of Family and Gender Affairs represents a strategic consolidation of six core functions, intentionally designed to eliminate administrative silos and foster policy coherence. By integrating Labor and Local Government with Family and Gender portfolios, the government has created a synergy where economic protection and social welfare are no longer separate, but mutually reinforcing. This “lean yet transformative” structure allows the Ministry to manage a vast national responsibility—including the oversight of every community center, market, and cemetery in the country—through a unified strategic lens.
The Ministry’s integrated framework brings together:
• Family and Child Development
• Gender Affairs
• Persons with Disabilities
• Labor Administration
• Cooperatives
• Local Government Division
The recurrent budget of $15,709,029 prioritizes the day-to-day protection of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. At the heart of this allocation is a 28% increase in the Child Development budget, rising to $4.58 million. This surge is a direct, urgent response to the Minister’s stated “hurt” and “disheartened” stance regarding the rising tide of child abuse and delinquency.
By specifically funding foster care, kinship support, and institutional payments, the Ministry is moving aggressively to mend the safety net for children from broken homes, treating their protection not just as a social service, but as a national security priority.
2026 Recurrent Budget Allocations by Program
| Program Area | 2026 Allocation (XCD) |
|---|---|
| Local Government | $6,253,542 |
| Child Development | $4,588,261 |
| Labor Department | $1,844,071 |
| Policy Development and Administration | $1,572,434 |
| Cooperatives | $783,232 |
| Gender Affairs | $667,489 |
This breakdown reflects a strategic balance: safeguarding the individual through Gender Affairs and Child Development, while maintaining the “physical heartbeat” of our villages through the Local Government division.
Gibson-Velox said a cornerstone of the 2026 strategy is the integration of Labor and Cooperatives into the social welfare framework. The Minister emphasized that protecting workers’ rights is a direct investment in family stability; a secure worker is the foundation of a stable home.
The Labor Department will focus on enforcing legislation and fostering healthy industrial relations, while the Cooperatives division will drive community-led economic empowerment. Notably, the Ministry will expand its school-based cooperative programs to instill “good thrift” and financial management in the nation’s youth, ensuring the next generation is equipped for economic self-sufficiency.
Key Initiatives:
• Integrated Workforce Protection: Aligning labor administration with social protection to ensure economic growth benefits the most vulnerable.
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Expansion: Modernizing the Labor Department to house a dedicated OHS component to safeguard the physical well-being of the workforce.
• Cooperative Enterprise Promotion: Utilizing the $783,232 allocation to strengthen cooperative societies as vehicles for shared prosperity.
The $1.76 million capital budget focuses on the physical infrastructure that supports the soul of the nation. These projects represent the Ministry’s commitment to sustainable development at the community level, ensuring that public spaces are dignified and safe.
The four primary capital initiatives for 2026 are:
1. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Project: A new strategic priority involving the renovation and expansion of the Labor Department to integrate specialized OHS functions.
2. Aesthetic Improvements in Key Towns: Targeted visual and functional enhancements in three towns, including Calliaqua, to foster local pride and stimulate economic activity.
3. Cemetery Relocation Project: Addressing critical public health and land-use needs through strategic infrastructure management.
4. Community Revitalization Projects: A comprehensive program to maintain and upgrade the nation’s network of community centers and markets.
Reflecting on her maiden presentation, the Minister expressed a “profound sense of humility” and a deep reliance on faith, noting that her journey was “led by God.” She extended personal gratitude to her children, Luke and Nia, for their unwavering support, and to the Prime Minister for the confidence placed in her to lead this multi-faceted portfolio. The budget, she concluded, is more than a financial document; it is a pledge to the 3,395 constituents of East St. George and the wider nation that the government will remain unwavering in its pursuit of social justice.