GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has formally written to Prime Minister Luc Mercelina urging the Government of St. Maarten to move swiftly on the newly launched Livelihood Protection Policy (LPP) offered through CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility).
The LPP is a parametric micro-insurance product designed to provide rapid cash payouts to individuals, micro- and small-businesses, and vulnerable livelihood groups who suffer income loss from extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones or heavy rainfall.
MP Wescot-Williams noted that because Sint Maarten is already a member of CCRIF, the island’s micro- and small-enterprise (SME) community is eligible to benefit from this innovative protection mechanism.
“In my constant quest to ensure that Sint Maarten obtains maximum exposure and benefit from regional initiatives and programs, I believe the Livelihood Protection Policy represents an important opportunity for our small entrepreneurs and informal workers,” the MP stated.
In her letter to the Prime Minister, MP Wescot-Williams requested clarity on whether the Government has already begun engagement with CCRIF regarding the LPP. If not, she urged that immediate steps be taken to:
• Obtain the full set of technical and regulatory details from CCRIF and its implementing partners.
• Formally express the Government’s willingness to participate and enable LPP roll-out in Sint Maarten.
• Launch early outreach to local insurers, small entrepreneurs, and MSME stakeholders to ensure awareness and preparedness for the program.
The MP emphasized that access to micro-insurance can significantly increase the resilience of small businesses and vulnerable workers, who often lack traditional insurance coverage yet face the greatest economic shocks after severe weather events.
“As a hurricane-prone island, Sint Maarten should be proactive in securing every additional layer of protection available for our people and our economy,” she added.
“The LPP is specifically designed for those who are most at risk and least able to absorb sudden income loss.”
MP Wescot-Williams reiterated her commitment to monitoring regional opportunities and ensuring that Sint Maarten is not left behind in programs designed to enhance social and economic resilience across the Caribbean.
https://tribune-site.webflow.io//articles/mp-wescot-williams-push-government-to-act-on-livelihood-protection-policy
