Tobago is experiencing a significant decline in its birthrate, prompting the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to introduce initiatives aimed at encouraging more births, including a $500 monthly baby grant.
The initiative was launched on Tuesday, September 1st, with Secretary of Health and Wellness Dr Faith Brebnor revealing that the number of babies being born in Tobago annually has fallen significantly.
“So a couple years ago we had close to a thousand births per year, and the last couple years we were down to 500 and 600 births, so that is a significant drop.”
While the reason for the decline remains unclear, Dr Brebnor said financial challenges may be contributing to the trend.
Under the new policy, parents of babies born from January 1st, 2026, will receive $500 per month for the first five years of the child’s life.
“We are helping those who have the babies but need a little support, and we are encouraging those that they could probably have one more, just have one more, one more, and we would help you along with helping to provide for it.”
The grant is only available to residents of Tobago.
“You have to be actually a resident in Tobago. You have to show proof that you are a resident in Tobago.”
Applications are being processed through the newly launched Tobago ID portal, which allows Tobagonians to access grants and services offered by the THA.
“This is actually the first grant in the Tobago House of Assembly where you can apply in its entirety for the grant, you can track the progress of your application as the applicant, you can submit all of the supporting documents.”
Documents required include identification, proof of address, banking information and the baby’s birth certificate.
“If you have not gotten the birth certificate of the child, when you leave the hospital, they give you a paper that you take to the registrar general, you could submit that as well.”
Seventeen applicants have already been successfully screened and are awaiting payment.
“”Those applications just need to get to the administrator, and the administrator then says to accounts, ‘Process the people and their payment’, and we are doing it via ACH, so we are not writing cheques, we are sending it directly into their banks.”
The baby grant is being funded by the THA. Dr Brebnor clarified that the THA Act 40 of 1996 allows the Assembly to establish policies such as the baby grant without permission from Central Government.
“As long as that policy does not go against any specific law of Trinidad and Tobago, there is no law in Trinidad and Tobago that says we can’t have a Tobago ID. There is no law in Trinidad and Tobago that says we can’t have a Tobago-specific baby grant, so we are not breaking any laws.”
In addition to the baby grant, the THA provides new mothers with baby boxes containing items to assist with caring for newborns.
Work is also ongoing on a trust fund facility for children to help parents prepare financially for their children’s future.