Prime Minister and Minister with responsibility for Social Security, Dr. Terrance Drew, has acknowledged the urgent need to reform the Social Security system to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the radio programme Issues on Tuesday, 15th April, Dr. Drew outlined a number of bold interventions that his administration is preparing to undertake as part of its commitment to securing the future of social protection in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Nothing has been done to Social Security for its longevity since its inception in 1978. It is long overdue, and you’re supposed to have adjustments accordingly so that it can remain viable—or they use a word called ‘solvent’, so it can remain solvent. Nothing has been done,” Prime Minister Drew stated.
He warned that if left unchanged, the Fund could become insolvent in as little as ten years.
“In any other country, Social Security is adjusted accordingly in terms of the years and in terms of the contribution for it to remain viable,” he added.
To ensure objectivity and foster public understanding, the Prime Minister noted that the Social Security Board has already begun nationwide consultations. He explained that he intentionally stepped back from the initial outreach to avoid politicising the issue.
“I told them I am not going to do it as a politician, because the minute I speak about it, it’s going to become politics. Let Social Security speak to it with the objectivity that it deserves. Everybody understands that Social Security must be preserved,” Dr. Drew shared.
In addition to strengthening Social Security, Prime Minister Drew reaffirmed his government’s intention to implement a National Health Insurance scheme. He stated that actuarial studies have been completed, and the next phase involves a comprehensive public education campaign and consultations with stakeholders.
“One of the other things that we are looking at is health insurance. To implement something like that will require that our people contribute to it, just as they do in Western Europe, the United States, Canada, and so forth. We admire those systems, but we must also recognise that their people pay into them,” Dr. Drew explained.
The proposed National Health Insurance initiative forms part of a broader strategy aimed at delivering universal health coverage—ensuring that all citizens and residents have access to necessary medical services without financial hardship.
Prime Minister Drew emphasised the importance of having these conversations now. He further expressed his belief that a secured pension plan and reliable health insurance—or what he described as universal health care—will make Kittitians and Nevisians more financially secure and resilient in the long term.
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