 More St. Lucians are to benefit from government initiatives aimed at providing relief to those impacted by the financial fallout from COVID-19. Ministering the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for housing and local government, Hon. Richard Frederick, during the sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, announced that all vendors renting from the Castries Constituencies Council, CCC, will be granted a waiver on rent owed to the CCC prior to 1 November 2021. All 656 vendors, who are currently renting from the Castries City Council, only outstanding debt accrued before 1 November this year, is hereby forgiven. This waiver is to the tune of $3 million. Minister Hon. Richard Frederick explained that vendors have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this relief will go a long way in assisting their financial recovery efforts. This rent reprove, Mr. Speaker, is for vendors in the vendors' arcade, vendors in the central market, both provision and craft markets, the various units owned by the CCC, and the individual vending booths all across the city. This move, Mr. Speaker, this additional reprieve will cost the government another $3 million, putting the people first. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the government is helping its people. The people must now help the government by discharging the legal obligations, by paying the rent from January, and agreeing not to sublet. The Department of Housing and Local Government to date has provided two reprieve packages totaling $7.2 million. In October, Hon. Richard Frederick announced the waiver of rent owed by both commercial and residential tenants of the CCC.