The forum will discuss the NYC Municipal ID program, immigration fraud, and domestic violence.

The Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York will host a town hall meeting today, to discuss the impact that a number of city wide initiatives may have on Saint Lucian nationals.

The meeting will focus on the soon-to-be-launched Municipal Identification (ID) Card Program, ways to safeguard against immigration fraud, as well as services available to victims of domestic violence.

A representative from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), which is spearheading NYC’s Municipal ID Card Program, will provide an update on plans to implement the program in January 2015. Key questions about the program will be addressed. The Municipal ID Card Program is designed to improve access to NYC benefits and attractions, thus many Saint Lucian nationals who have not been able to do so due to the lack of any government-issued identification, will now qualify.

In addition, representatives from the Manhattan and Brooklyn District Attorney offices will speak about the dangers associated with immigration fraud. They will describe how businesses and unscrupulous individuals swindle immigrants by guaranteeing false success, sometimes cheating them out of thousands of dollars. Representatives will also highlight the specifics of legislation recently signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to better protect immigrants living in New York from potential fraud or wrongdoing as they seek immigration-related assistance.

Finally, Hon. Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, will provide an overview of services available for victims of intimate partner domestic violence, and elder abuse through the NYC Family Justice Centers. The Justice Centers have had over 47,000 client visits this year.

The forum will convene at 7 p.m., at the Saint Lucia House, 438 E 49th Street, between Church and Snyder Avenues in Brooklyn.