The Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Dr. Timothy Harris, who was in Anguilla for a meeting of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, has updated nationals of the twin-island Federation, residing here, about progress and other matters in their homeland. He was accompanied by Mr. Ian “Patches” Liburd, the Federal Minister with responsibility for Public Infrastructure, Urban Development and Transport, who also spoke at the meeting.
The Prime Minister told the large gathering that his Team Unity Government – an amalgamation of his Peoples’ Labour Party (the only seat of which he is the holder), the Peoples’ Action Movement (four seats) and the Nevis Concerned Citizens’ Movement (two seats) – had accomplished much since the February 16, 2015 general election in St. Kitts-Nevis.
“I challenge Governments anywhere – whether in Anguilla or Jamaica or Trinidad that they, and even the Obama Government, could not deliver what we have delivered in St. Kitts and Nevis in such a time frame of three months,” he said to the cheers of his fellow nationals.
Among other matters, Prime Minister Harris reported that on coming to office his Government had abolished the crippling 17% Valued Added Tax on foodstuff, medicine and funerals. Other achievements included the provision of 16 million EC dollars – following negotiations with the Government of Venezuela – for former sugar workers in St. Kitts who lost their jobs when the industry was closed down by the former Labour Government. According to the Prime Minister, some two thousand former sugar workers have already applied for financial benefits which will be paid as from September.
Mr. Harris emphatically denied that his Government had become engaged in victimisation of members of the public service with political affiliation with the former ruling Labour Party. He said that, on the contrary, his Government was strongly opposed to any form of victimisation – the only requirement being for public servants to do their work properly and professionally. He cited cases where some persons were sabotaging the Government and outlined the position taken by him and his colleagues.
“Right now, we are saying give us competent, loyal, professional service. That’s not too much to ask,” he explained. “We said to those who are not prepared to deliver it: ‘you have to deliver it; you must, and are compelled to, deliver it or else we will reposition you. You either do what the job requires or you we will find something else to do and we are serious about that.”’ He was pleased, however, that a number of persons who were being difficult in some areas of the service, and not prepared to confirm to the Government’s requirement, had opted to quit thus giving the Government a fresh start.
Mr. Ian Liburd, the Prime Minister’s colleague, reported on such matters as the maintenance of roads, including the construction of the road to the southeast Peninsula in St. Kitts at a cost of 21 million EC dollars. He also spoke about plans to reduce the high cost of electricity and the setting up of a committee to look into millions of dollars owed to fuel suppliers. He expressed the hope that St. Kitts and Nevis would be able to develop geothermal energy – as an alternative to fossil fuel energy – thereby ensuring that as many persons as possible could have electricity and at an affordable cost.
He also spoke about enhancing a number of public places as part of an urban development programme.
The meeting was arranged by Mr. Bernard Wattley and was chaired by Mr. Christopher Richardson, two St. Kitts nationals residing and working in Anguilla.
