Although the government has been tackling the issue of poverty, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves still believes that there is a group of people who the policies seem not to be touching.
Speaking at the official launch of the Adopt a Classroom programme and ceremonial handover of cash grants to parents of children selected to be a part of the programme, PM Gonsalves said he needs to have the policies touch these group of people.
The ceremony was held at the Foreign Affairs conference room on July 29 and signalled the start of programmes to be implemented by the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, a legislative body set up by the government with the aim of eradicating poverty by the year 2020.
The Minister of Finance said based on reports he received there were about 3000 people who are less fortunate in this country and it hurts him to know that there are Vincentians who go to bed hungry at nights.
“Don’t think it doesn’t hurt me, and I want to correct that”, he said “Ah can’t correct everything because I am not almighty God but I have to do what I can do,” he said.
He said there are certain areas where people are having difficulty making ends meet for their children more than others and the Adopt a Classroom programme will assist with alleviating that situation.
PM Gonsalves said it is easier to tackle poverty and hunger in this country compared to others as there is the benefit of size.
The Adopt a child programme has a total cost of approximately 160,700 dollars and will benefit 190 Kindergarten pupils from seven schools in six of the areas considered to have more incidences of poverty in this country.
