NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (August 23, 2018) — The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is embracing the Poverty Alleviation Programme, a Federal government initiative which will provide assistance valued at $500 monthly for qualifying households earning $3,000 or less per month.

 Hon. Eric Evelyn, Minister responsible for Social Development on Nevis said on August 23, 2018, that the ministry is pleased with the Federal government’s decision to expand the new initiative to Nevis.

“Here on Nevis we have been asked on numerous occasions whether or not the programme will be extended to us. Well we are happy to say that it is indeed extended to Nevis and the Nevis Island Administration, we are happy to be a part of the initiative. We are happy to be a part of anything that will assist our more vulnerable persons in our society,” he said.

Mr. Evelyn stated that the registration process which commenced on August 27, 2018, be spearheaded by the ministry and those who will be carrying out the registration process will be assisted by persons from the Statistics Department.

The minister gave some information about the programme and used the opportunity to encourage those applying to be honest.

“I want to urge members of the general public to be as truthful as possible in the registration process. Of course there will be a lot of instances where the information will be back checked and so we want people to be truthful…

“After the registration process would have been completed, the information has to be verified and collated and so the actual assistance programme will not start immediately. We want you to be as patient as possible. We also want to let you know that the assistance will not be in the form of cash but the assistance will be provided once you qualify for the assistance,” he said.

Mr. Evelyn also addressed the issue of confidentiality and ensured the public that all information provided during the registration process would remain confidential.

“All of the officers who will be a part of the process in terms of the registration will be taking an oath that will be administered by someone from the High Court.

“So, we are assuring you that information will be kept strictly confidential and so there is absolutely no need for you to worry about the information that you will be providing to the enumerators,” he said.

On August 23, 2018, a four member team from the Federal government headed by Mr. Andrew Skerrit, Permanent Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister were in Nevis to conduct a training session with officers executing the registration process and to brief the NIA Cabinet on the procedures for the data collection process and the overall programme.

The other members of the team were Mrs. Beverly Harris, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Mrs. Gaile Phillips, Director of Statistics and Mr. Corneal Williams, Social Statistician.