BASSETERRE, ST KITTS – The Parliamentary Representative for Central Basseterre, Hon. Marcella Liburd, has accused Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and his brother, Mr. Lenworth Harris, General Manager of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, of destroying the lives of young people in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Ms. Liburd, the chairperson of the opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party made the charge Wednesday following the termination of two senior employees, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Carlton Pogson last week and Manager of Business Division, Mr Shavon Douglas on Monday of this week.
“The Government is destroying the lives of our people, including our young people and their families by terminating their employment, treating them with grave disrespect, insulting them,” said Liburd during Wednesday “Issues” programme on Freedom Radio.
“Shavon is a young man, 37 years old with a young wife and children. He returned from vacation on Monday and was greeted with a letter that day stating that that day was his last,” she told listeners. She described the treatment as grossly insulting and disrespectful pointing out that his termination was without warning and immediate.
“Just because of politics, job security is now a thing of the past and all workers must be jittery and fearful as each of them is thinking ‘I just maybe the next.’ This week is Chavon Douglas and last week it was Carlton Pogson and one wonders who Len Harris will send home next week,” said Ms. Liburd, who said both nationals of St Kitts and Nevis “face an uncertain future.”
“They have their mortgages to pay, they have their families to feed, but this does not matter to (Development Bank General Manager, Len Harris and his brother Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris,” said the two-term parliamentarian, who described both men as “heartless, who care about no one but themselves.”
Ms. Liburd said the victimisation of Pogson, Douglas and hundreds of others “are clear breaches of our constitutional right of association.” “The Constitution gives you that right to associate with any political party or group or association,” said Ms. Liburd, who named the members of Board of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis – Warren Thompson, Chairman; Denise Alleyne, Robina Nisbett, Steven Jones, Floyd Harris, Dr. Dale Crawford and Walton Jacobs.
“I ask them, how can they be comfortable supporting Len Harris, Timothy Harris and this government in destroying the lives of our young people. Is there no empathy and no compassion? How can you support sending home these young men without any advanced notice, just because of politics and I wonder if they would want that for themselves and for their children,” Liburd said.
She singled out Board Chairman Thompson who she said has been active in politics for many years.
“I would say he is a political activist who while the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government was in power, applied for contracts and got jobs, even though he was in active politics against the Labour Government. Everybody knew where he stood politically, but now he is chairman of the Board he is endorsing the sending home of young professional because of politics. This is ,” said Liburd,
She also mentioned a Nevisian-born Ersly Jones better known as “Miss Jimmy” who was attached to the Ministry of Tourism in Nevis.
“First they said she was unable to work and they were trying to deprive her of her benefits after being employed for 12 years, she fought her case and stood up and was able to secure compensation,” said Liburd.