Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre on Monday pushed back on criticisms of one of his announcements during last week’s Budget statement. During the three-hour policy statement, he announced the government would offer a grant of EC$1,000 to first-time mothers.
Since then, there has been some criticism on social media and much discussion in public spaces.
“I want to mention a few issues that I know have been creating quite a bit of public discussion, and I thought it would be good if I just went through the main one,” Pierre told Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing.
“It’s one of the policy proposals for mothers of registered newborn babies who will receive a one-time grant of one thousand dollars, effective August 1, 2026. That was the first one, but there are some below it that everybody seems not to have seen.”
The Prime Minister explained that, in addition to the grant, there would first be a review of parental leave provisions after childbirth to better support families. This would be followed by a review of the Affiliation Maintenance Act and by expanding the school feeding programme to provide greater nutritional support for students. He suggested these points were missed and replaced by cheap political banter.
Further, Pierre said that regarding the country’s low birth rate, he had called for a mature and responsible conversation.
Pierre noted there are concerns about population growth on the island, saying, “Whether we like it or not, there are concerns about population growth in this island, that’s a fact and what we ask for is a mature conversation by the country, a responsible discussion.”
He dismissed claims that the grant incentivises having children, explaining, “People like to make political mischief when they talk about the government will give you a thousand dollars to make children, that is really not true, it was never true, and the buildup to it shows that it is not true.”
According to the Prime Minister, the thousand-dollar grant was meant as initial support for new mothers, not comprehensive financial assistance.
“Babies are expensive, so the thousand-dollar grant is just an incentive to help people with their initial expenses; it is not a reward, nor is it a payment, nor is it something we give you, because the government wants you to make children. It is far from enough, it was never meant to be enough, nor was it meant to be any situation where the government is giving you an incentive to make babies, what it is, it is support for mothers, especially low-income or unemployed mothers.”
Pierre said that, in tandem with this policy, the Government is providing greater support to parents with children attending early childhood education facilities, as well as incentives to businesses with child care facilities.
