Education Minister Kenson Casimir has clarified his recent remarks encouraging Saint Lucians to have more children, emphasizing that family planning and financial readiness must remain central to any such decision.
Speaking during a pre-cabinet press briefing on April 13, Casimir addressed public reaction to his earlier comments, noting that declining birth rates are a growing concern not only in Saint Lucia but across the region.
“Most of the islands are telling you that we are seeing population trends going in the opposite direction, and that has been happening for years,” he said. “We have more contraception, more family planning, and more programmes that allow women to decide when they are going to have children.”
Casimir stressed that his position is rooted in personal responsibility and economic reality.
“I, Kenson Casimir, have taken my responsibility to contribute to the next generation of Saint Lucians. I have my twin girls, I am very proud of them,” he stated. “I will decide, based on my financial position, whether I should have more children, and I would say the same to all Saint Lucians.”
He reiterated his call, while underscoring the importance of affordability. “If you can afford to have children, I will say it again, if you can afford to have more children and contribute to the economy of this country, then by all means, as Minister of Education, I encourage you to do so.”
The minister also addressed concerns about the implications of falling birth rates on the education system, particularly declining enrolment in classrooms.
“It only becomes a problem if you have a government that is not thinking,” Casimir said. “All you have to do is re-strategies and ensure that the classrooms that are filled can still be used for development.”
He revealed that the Ministry of Education is already exploring new ways to utilize underpopulated classrooms, including targeted interventions for students who require additional support.
“Previously, a child who was considered troubled might be suspended and sent home for a week or two, left at their own whims and fancies,” he explained. “We are looking at identifying classrooms within schools that have dwindling numbers and instituting programmes for these children who need additional attention.”
According to Casimir, the initiative will include specialized support personnel. “You would have a classroom set up with a behavioral modification counsellor to work with that child during that period and ensure they can be realigned to become more productive students,” he said.
He added that further details on the initiative are expected during the upcoming budget debate.
“There is a lot that we are going to do to ensure that, even with declining numbers, we continue to develop productive young individuals,” Casimir affirmed.