By Caribbean News Global 
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Philip J. Pierre has ended the August salary drought for Saint Lucia’s temporary teachers, as stated in the policy proposal of the 2025 budget – “ Temporary teachers will now receive full salaries for the month of August;” meantime, Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) under the ministry of equity continued its interventions to assist the most vulnerable citizens, with the launch of the 2025 Summer Stimulus Program.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, (OPM) acknowledged that temporary teachers work just as hard as their permanent counterparts to educate students and learners across the education sector. The government believes they deserve to be fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication … every temporary teacher received a salary in August.
“In the past, temporary teachers did not look forward to the month of August. Due to their status as temporary teachers, they were not eligible to receive a monthly salary for August, forcing them to find other ways to cover their living expenses for that month. The government of Saint Lucia is happy to announce that every temporary teacher received a salary in August.”
Meanwhile, Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), in collaboration with members of parliament, on Monday, August 18, 2025, commenced community enhancement works through the launch of the 2025 Summer Stimulus Program (STEP), the ministry of equity said.
“The Summer Stimulus Program will engage thousands of individuals across constituencies islandwide, to carry out small-scale beautification and community cleaning works in areas not covered by the Roadside Beautification Program. These works include clearing overgrown foliage to improve road safety for motorists, reducing mosquito breeding grounds, and enhancing the overall appearance of communities.
“Beyond its community impact, STEP serves as an important short-term employment opportunity for thousands of vulnerable persons, providing meaningful work that directly supports SSDF’s mission of reducing poverty and dependency.”
The STEP programme will run for five days, benefiting hundreds of Saint Lucians with short-term employment opportunities and facilitating community enhancement works.
Residents and motorists are kindly advised to exercise caution around work sites and to note that debris will be stored in clear garbage bags for collection, the ministry of equity cautioned.
Executive director of the SSDF, John Victorin, underscored the significance of the program, noting:
“The Summer Stimulus Program is much more than a clean-up exercise. It is a lifeline for thousands of Saint Lucians who have benefitted from the dignity of employment through this initiative over the years. By putting tools in people’s hands, we are not only beautifying communities but also empowering families with short-term income that makes a real difference in their daily lives. This is people-centred development in action.”
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