Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris is praising and thanking his Government and people for making St. Kitts and Nevis a more prosperous and democratic country to live in on the 1st anniversary since the Government swept to power on February 16, 2015..Dr. Harris commended his young government for achieving much more in just one year.
Some of these achievements include the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from food, medicine and funeral expenses; $16 million EC payout to disenfranchised former sugar workers, $25 million EC to Nevis in budgetary support and the ending of the shift system at the environmentally health plagued Basseterre High School (BHS) by building a temporary structure with plans of a new BHS in the near future.
Other achievements include recording the best ever “VAT Day” revenue in the history of the country; recalibration and resuscitation of the Citizenship-by-Investment programme that was mired in controversy; establishment of the Criminal Justice Strategic Board; establishment of the National ICT Governance Board; successful hosting of CPL and Carifta Games; renaming of national athletic stadium in honour of Kim Collins; declaration of first prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, The Right Honourable Sir Kennedy Simmonds, as a national hero; geothermal development on St. Kitts; passage of new legislation for renewable energy; and establishment of farms for PEP Workers in Cayon and Phillips.
Meanwhile the owner of Kyss Fm A u Brown is taking the TUG to task and has given the TUG a “D” grade for their non performance after 1 year in government. Their persistent indiscriminate human rights violations is reminiscent of the PAM administration of the 80’s to mid 90’s under Dr. Kennedy Simmonds. The opposition is asserting that almost two hundred persons on St. Kitts and a reported 300 on Nevis have been victimized for their God given and democratic right to affiliate, support and or vote for the party of their choosing. Other’s have also been victimized for their criticism of the bad decisions, poor policies and lack thereof by the government. Contracts were terminated with total disregard for our laws. Former members of the Labour Party cabinet and other high ranking government officials have taken the government to court over unpaid salaries and pensions.
The promise of a livable wage has not materialized, instead the price of food has increased and working people have less disposable income. The promise to resolve the price gouging after the removal of VAT from food, was just talk, as the government is powerless in those matters. Said Browne.PAM’s signature legislative agenda touted for so many years while in opposition, such as freedom of Information, integrity in public life and term limits for the Prime Minister bills, have not passed in the parliament as promised. The social assistance programs such as REACH left by the former administration is slowly finding their way into the history books.
Operation Rescue Director, former SKNLP Tourism Minister, Dwyer Astaphan told WINN Fm that he is concerned with the failure of the Team Unity Government to probe into past Government activities of the Dr Denzil Douglas Administration, such as SIDF, SKIPA, La Valley and White Gate. Astaphan said it appeared that after one year in office, the Team Unity Government was dragging its feet on this probe. But speaking to Freedom Fm on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Dr Denzil Douglas said the country is in mourning one year after the Team Unity government came to power.