GOVERNMENT PROPOSES INCREASED FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN 2027

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, October 22, 2026 (SKNIS): Support for society’s most vulnerable is expected to improve in 2027, as the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis continues to expand opportunities to ensure that no one is left behind.

Financial Secretary, Carlton Pogson, said that the Ministry of Finance has pushed forward an increase in the budget envelope of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Ageing, Disabilities for the 2027 fiscal year. His comments came at the National Budget Forum 2027, held on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The forum allowed stakeholders from all walks of life to learn more about the priorities for the 2027 Budget, while sharing their questions and suggestions.

Speaking specifically to the challenges of persons living with a disability, Mr. Pogson said that times are changing and the attitudes of the public towards persons living with disabilities are finally shifting, and old stereotypes are being washed away.

“They (persons with disabilities) have value to add. When we go to some of the metropolitan countries, we see them. But what it calls for again is for a mind change as to how we interact with our people,” he stated.

Support for students graduating from the Cotton-Thomas Comprehensive School is also being reviewed. One such graduand was recently offered financial assistance through scholarships to advance her education.

Azilla Clarke, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, noted that the same support, including access to uniforms, textbooks, etc, that is available to students in traditional schools, are available to students at Cotton-Thomas.

Further, she added that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Ageing and Disabilities is working with public sector and private sector agencies to implement the Action Plan of the first-ever National Disability Policy, laid in the Federal Parliament in May this year. The five-year action plan covers the period 2026-2030. It is designed to facilitate the full inclusion of persons with disabilities as listed in the National Development Planning Framework.

“It’s necessary for us to map out the linkages across ministries. It’s about reframing what agencies are already doing within their work,” Ms. Clarke stated. “So, now that the policy is approved, that is the next step to be able to operationalise the action plan, bring together the focal points in each ministry so that their work can begin to incorporate disabilities, gender, child-sensitive lenses and all those other interconnecting principles and values.”

The permanent secretary strongly encouraged everyone with a disability to register with the ministry so that they can access support services where available.

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