Rising in the House, Hippolyte said she endorsed the estimates “as tabled by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance,” while grounding her contribution in both constituency concerns and the expanded mandate of the Ministry of Equity. She began on a sombre note, extending condolences to families affected by recent violence, acknowledging “a painful time” for relatives of victims.
The minister argued that the budget, valued at $2.188 billion, reflects a government attempting to navigate global uncertainty while maintaining social stability. Referencing geopolitical tensions, she noted that conflict abroad “could have devastating impact on our people and our country,” particularly through rising food and fuel costs and pressures on tourism.
Despite these risks, Hippolyte pointed to targeted subsidies as evidence of intervention. “The government… continued to cushion the impact of global oil price volatility,” she said, detailing subsidies across diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas. She described this as “concrete evidence of a government… showing love to our people” and an example of “prudent management of our finances.”
A central pillar of her presentation was the work of the Ministry of Equity, which she described as a reconfigured entity addressing labour, social protection and consumer affairs. She emphasised that social policy must respond directly to crime trends, particularly among young men.
“Our reality is crime is a major social problem affecting us,” Hippolyte said, adding that the country has seen “an alarming number of homicides in recent times.”
In response, she outlined the $2.5 million Catalyst Project, a two-year initiative funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The programme, she explained, is designed as “a comprehensive, non-criminal justice response to crime and violence,” targeting young men at risk of delinquency through education, community engagement and psychosocial support.
“Young males account for most of the perpetrators and victims of homicides,” she said, linking crime to “underdeveloped, economically deprived and congested areas” and factors such as unemployment, drug activity and low educational attainment.
The initiative will include after-school programmes, mediation training, youth reintegration and support for vulnerable families. Hippolyte stressed that the project “must be seen as a national investment… in our people and in our future.”
Turning to welfare reform, the minister acknowledged serious deficiencies in the Public Assistance Programme. “This programme is now broken,” she declared, citing inefficiencies where “persons… who ought not to be on the programme” are benefiting, while eligible applicants remain on waiting lists.
To address this, the ministry has begun verifying recipients and will implement a nationwide recertification exercise using the Saint Lucia National Eligibility Test. “If the situation has changed… then they should be removed,” she said, underscoring the need for fairness and accountability.
Hippolyte also highlighted policy shifts relating to the elderly, noting that Saint Lucia faces an ageing population. She rejected the notion that older persons are merely dependents, arguing instead that they are “active agents of change” who can contribute through mentorship, entrepreneurship and community service.
“Older persons can play a vital role in national development,” she said, calling for their skills and experience to be better utilised within what she described as the “silver economy.”
On labour, Hippolyte outlined ongoing reforms, including the revision of the Labour Act, the development of occupational safety and health policies, and the introduction of digital work permit systems. She noted that 185 workplace accidents were investigated, with over half originating in the hotel sector, highlighting occupational risks within tourism.
The minister further announced the establishment of a National Tripartite Committee to strengthen dialogue among government, employers and workers, alongside a broader Decent Work Country Programme focusing on employment, rights and social protection.
In the area of consumer affairs and cooperatives, she said efforts are underway to strengthen competition policy and expand economic opportunities. Eleven cooperatives are expected to benefit from MSME support, with investments targeting sectors such as agro-processing and waste management.
Hippolyte also drew attention to constituency-level initiatives, including the Bellevue Farmers Depot and a clean water project aimed at restoring the Soufrière river system. The latter, she said, has already produced measurable outcomes, including environmental monitoring systems and community engagement, with over 3,000 residents endorsing a river charter.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the budget, Hippolyte framed the government’s approach as one rooted in collective responsibility. “We should focus on what we have control over,” she said, echoing the Prime Minister’s call for resilience.
She concluded by reaffirming her support for the bill, stating, “We have a government that has shown love to our people… our onward journey is stronger when we move forward together.”