New Ministry Gets $17.4M to Protect Children, Strengthen Families and Local Government 

By Val Matthias. Updated 5:55 a.m., Friday, January 30, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

The newly established Ministry of the Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities, Occupational Safety and Labour has been allocated EC$17.47 million in the 2026 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, signalling a major investment in social protection and community development.  

Minister Laverne Gibson-Velox, in her maiden presentation to Parliament, explained that the ministry’s recurrent expenditure totals EC$15.08 million, while capital expenditure stands at EC$1.76 million. The portfolio consolidates several critical functions, including child development, gender affairs, disability services, labour administration, cooperatives, and local government.  

The largest share of the recurrent allocation goes to child development, which receives EC$4.58 million in 2026, compared to EC$3.57 million in 2025. This increase, Gibson-Velox noted, will strengthen foster care, kinship support, and institutional payments for children unable to remain in their biological homes. She described the plight of abused and neglected children as “disheartening,” stressing that the government must act decisively to protect the most vulnerable.  

Moving from child protection to gender affairs, the minister highlighted an allocation of EC$480,000 in 2026, compared to EC$643,877 in 2025. While modest, she emphasized that the funds would support programs aimed at promoting gender equality, preventing gender-based violence, and advancing public education and advocacy. These initiatives, she said, are critical to building a more inclusive society.  

Attention then shifted to cooperatives, which receive EC$783,232. Gibson-Velox underscored the importance of cooperative societies in fostering economic empowerment, pointing to the success of school-based cooperative programs that teach children financial literacy and resource management.  

The minister also addressed the Labour Department, newly incorporated into her ministry. Allocations here will support labour administration, industrial relations, employment services, and enforcement of labour legislation. She explained that integrating labour functions within the ministry allows for a more coordinated approach to workforce development and occupational safety.  

A significant portion of the budget is directed to the Local Government Division, which receives EC$6.25 million. This allocation will support the management of community centres, cemeteries, and vegetable markets, reflecting the ministry’s wide-ranging responsibilities in sustaining community well-being and public health.  

Finally, Gibson-Velox turned to the capital expenditure, totalling EC$1.76 million. These funds will finance cemetery relocation projects, town revitalization initiatives, occupational health and safety programs, and the renovation of the Labour Department to expand its scope.  

Comparing the allocations to the previous administration, Gibson-Velox noted that child development funding has seen a clear increase, while gender affairs experienced only a modest rise. She stressed that the ministry’s integrated structure is designed to improve service delivery and policy coherence across interrelated areas. “We have too many children in need of help in this country,” she said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening families, advancing gender equality, and empowering communities.  

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