Officials at the Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment are in the process of conducting an island wide survey for the development of a National Social Protection Policy.
In 2011, the ministry initiated a participatory process to develop a National Social Protection Policy. The aims of the policy are to achieve the minimum standard of living for those most in need, to guarantee systematic human capital investments, and to promote participation in the labour market.
In an effort to bring the draft policy into the public domain, members of the National Steering Committee for Social Safety Net Reform recommended hosting a series of community consultations to target community organizations and groups that are often integrally involved in the provision of social services to the poor and vulnerable in their communities.
Project Coordinator, Ms. Laurah John said: “the objective of the consultations is two-fold: first, the Ministry seeks to sensitize the public to the work being undertaken on the Social Safety Net Reform, and present key aspects of the draft National Social Protection Policy; secondly, the Ministry seeks to garner feedback from groups and individuals on the policy.”
In this vein, the Ministry in collaboration with local government constituency councils and Social Transformation officers, is hosting community consultations in each constituency. The ministry is inviting community groups, community leaders and all interested persons to attend these consultations.
The consultations will be held between May 26 - June 26, 2014, from 5:30 p.m. at the following community venues on the following dates:
Micoud North, Patience Combined School, Tuesday, June 10
Laborie, Velon John Administrative Building (1st Floor), Wednesday, June 11
Dennery North and South, Dennery Primary School (Dennery South) Thursday, June 12
Vieux Fort North, Bellvue Human Resource Centre, Monday, June 16
Soufriere, Constituency Council Office, Tuesday, June 17
Choiseul, La Fargue Community Centre, Wednesday, June 18
Anse La Raye, Parish Hall, Monday, June 23
Micoud South, Desruisseaux Multipurpose Centre, Tuesday, June 24
Vieux Fort South, Vieux-Fort Primary School, Wednesday, June 25
Canaries, (venue to be announced), Thursday, June 26