‘Why are we still talking about food baskets?’- Levor A.H. Lettsome
Lettsome, who chairs the newly formed Virgin Islands Innovative Association (VIIA) and is its first declared Territorial At-Large candidate, said the territory should move away from the food baskets narrative and instead provide monthly electronic benefits that residents can use directly at retailers.
Food Baskets outdated
Speaking to the Talking Points programme on Monday, September 7, 2026, Lettsome argued that the food basket initiative can be considered outdated.
Referring to the Food Baskets, he stated, “The government controls what they can get, or they cannot get. This is foolishness. Why are we in this day and age talking about food baskets?”
He added, “Give the people that $700 and something dollars that they’re spending to go dig up the tree [on DeCastro Street]. That thing should have been the social development institution providing funds for people who need support,” he said, proposing an electronic card system similar to the United States’ food stamp programme. He said the programme could be referred to as “supplementary assistance.”
Lettsome proposed loading a fixed amount onto each beneficiary’s bank card monthly, allowing them to purchase food and essentials directly.
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9 Responses to “‘Why are we still talking about food baskets?’- Levor A.H. Lettsome”
every day people in this country import goods either for resale or home use, we use a import tariff rate to calculate the duty on these goods.
as a governing body in the country, theministers of government can sit and put together a proper planned exemption list for the people of the country.
example: the governing body put together a list of goods to be exempted imported into the country such as, LED LIGHTS, SOLAR EQUIPMENT, ELECTRIC CARS, ALL RENEWABLE ENERGY GOODS. now tell me how much of the country population can afford to buy those goods and what benefit are those to us.
light bills are very high and its being blamed on fuel, but the fuel cost to import remains the same and the bulbs to we use at night to burn the electricity is duty free.
cutting or lowering tariff on imported groceries and essential goods directly reduces wholesale prices for businesses which can lead to lower cost for shoppers.
cost control is a must in the country because it helps regulate cost of living . look at the housing rental in the country, some rental apartments are way too high for the condition and size of apartments. an ordinary working family cant afford most apartments because of the low income and high bills and cost of living.
suggestion: implement temporary or long term caps on how huch landlords can raise rent protects tenants from sudden displacement.
i am only suggesting, if the governing body can implement an exemption booklet that will ease the strain on the importation of goods that every living and working person can beneift from that will be a start. in the supermarkets the foods that are duty free anr the most expensive on the shelves. salt fish, chicken, fresh vegetables, sugar, flour the list goes on. all exempted from import duty but high price on the shelf.
cost of living high, bills high, some families cant afford to feed their kids, when we die from starvation or every day pressures the caskets imported into the country to burry us are imported duty free.
just trying to make a point at some of the things that we can change to make life a bit easier.