As a direct continuation of the momentum generated by the overwhelmingly successful VAT-free shopping day, the St Vincent government has authorised a $22 million national bonus program.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday on Friday framed this expenditure not as a government “cost,” but as a strategic “transfer” of wealth back into the pockets of the citizenry to combat food insecurity and a crushing cost of living.
To ensure the widest possible relief, the administration expanded the bonus to include 12,000 beneficiaries across three tiers:
Civil Servants ($2,000): Paid to all permanent and non-established staff as an incentive for a public service that is valued and respected.
Pensioners ($1,500): Included following the administration’s determination that those on fixed incomes require urgent protection against inflation.
Daily-Paid & Part-Time Workers ($1,000): Targeted at the most vulnerable workers. For many in this category, this payment represents 75% to 100% of their monthly income.
All bonus payments are Tax-Free and have been mandated for processing by the Treasury no later than January 30th.
This $22 million injection serves as a powerful local stimulus; unlike capital projects with high import leakage, these funds will be spent directly in local communities, aiding families with home repairs and urgent needs while driving private-sector growth.