The Governor of the Virgin Islands has officially assented to the Public Assistance (Amendment) Act, 2024, a landmark piece of legislation designed to enhance and modernize social welfare in the territory.
The amendment updates the original 2013 Act by introducing a comprehensive range of assistance programs, including basic income grants, hardship allowances, and shock response grants. These additions aim to provide more effective support to the most vulnerable members of the Virgin Islands community.
His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce hailed the amendment as a significant advancement in social welfare.
“This is a big step forward towards supporting the most vulnerable people in the Virgin Islands,” Governor Pruce said. He noted that the new system represents a vast improvement over previous grant systems and aligns with the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) to reform legislation for a fairer and more equitable social support system.
Governor Pruce also commended the Cabinet’s ongoing commitment to refining social welfare legislation.
“I welcome Cabinet’s commitment to continue to improve legislation in this area so it meets international best practice as well as introduce a wider Social Protection system based on the UNICEF and Social Policy Research Institute Review of 2022. A modern welfare system should benefit the people of the Virgin Islands for many years to come,” he added.
Honourable Vincent Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the transformative impact of the amendments.
“The recent changes to the Public Assistance Act will revolutionize the way we provide social assistance in our community. These amendments will allow us to better support and serve the most vulnerable members of our population,” Minister Wheatley said.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to advancing unified social protection services, envisioning a future that is more inclusive, resilient, and hopeful.
“As Minister of Health and Social Development, I, with the support of my team, remain committed to championing unified social protection services as we strive towards a future that’s more inclusive, resilient, responsive, and full of hope,” he stated.
The Public Assistance (Amendment) Act, 2024, is expected to have a lasting positive impact on the welfare system in the Virgin Islands, setting a new standard for social protection in the territory.