Saint Lucia’s ongoing Public Assistance Programme (PAP) recertification exercise has found that some people listed as beneficiaries or awaiting assistance are deceased.
Deputy Director of the Welfare Unit Jahn Mc Farlane said the findings highlight the importance of periodic reviews and ensuring that beneficiary information remains current.
Since commencing on September 22, 2026, the exercise has revealed significant gaps in beneficiary records, the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This has highlighted the importance of the periodic review, the biannual review that we do. We’ve found quite a few of our beneficiaries, as well as persons on the waiting list, who are currently deceased,” Mc Farlane said.
“So, it really reiterates the need for the review, for persons to participate and for us to take action when persons don’t, so that we can get accurate data,” she added.
The recertification exercise is scheduled to continue until November 30. It is being conducted by the Department to strengthen beneficiary verification and improve the administration of the social assistance system.
The exercise has also highlighted challenges faced by field officers who encounter households experiencing severe hardship. The Welfare Unit has identified structured debriefing sessions and psychological support as considerations for improving future recertification exercises.
Meanwhile, Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Gender, Older Persons, Labour, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Emma Hippolyte has acknowledged administrative and systemic problems affecting the delivery of assistance, including payment interruptions and delays.
“The system is not perfect. Some of the problems are people-specific, whilst others are system-specific,” Hippolyte told Parliament.
She apologised to recipients who were still waiting for their payments to be reinstated and said the Ministry was working to improve service delivery.
“…And we look forward to the time that our PAP clients will be paid the same week as public officers. That is our goal,” the minister said.
The Department said the findings from the recertification exercise are expected to inform improvements in beneficiary verification, administrative procedures and field operations as it seeks to make the social protection system more responsive and accountable.
Household visits under the ongoing PAP Recertification Exercise will take place in Gros-Islet from October 28, while assessments continue in Vieux Fort-South. The exercise has previously covered Canaries, Anse La Raye, Laborie, Micoud, Dennery, Castries South-East, Castries East, Castries Central and Babonneau.
