St. Lucia poverty level rises

The Director of Social Research at the Ministry of Social Transformation in St Lucia, Mariunus Pascal is reporting that the general level of poverty in the country has increased by eight percent.



Pascal said the first poverty assessment was conducted in 1995.



The current rate of poverty has seen an increase from 21.4 percent to 28.8 percent in 13 years.



Pascal said the indigent population, which accounts for those living below the extreme poverty level, has decreased from 7.1 percent in 1995 to 1.6 percent.



The last Country Poverty Assessment in 2005 revealed a seven percent increase in household poverty over the previous assessment 10 years earlier.