Having inherited an economy with a growth rate of 7 percent in 2014, Prime Minster and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has the economy stuttering at a projected 1.93 percent for 2017.
“In 2014, in his bid for power, in his response to the 2015 budget, Member from #7 (Timothy Harris) said and I quote: “We deserve an economy that is growing and booming…’ At that time, the economy was growing at 6 to 7%. In fact, the member once said that those figures were paltry to what his government could do. After the Harris-led Government took over, just 3 years later, the economy is stuttering at 1.93%,” said Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 3 (West Basseterre), Hon. Konris Maynard in debating the 2018 Budget.
He told fellow parliamentarians and the Nation that this year alone, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), revised downwards on three occasions, the GDP growth of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The estimate growth was first at 3.02. In January it was downgraded from 3.02% to 2.84%. In July, a further revision from 2.84% to 2.36%. Low and behold, just last month, The ECCB further revised downwards the 2.36% figure to 1.93%,” said MP Maynard.
“We going down, down, down and backwards. Why is everything surrounding the member responsible always backwards? St. Kitts and Nevis was in front, now we are in the back. St. Kitts and Nevis was on top, now we are at the bottom. That is why the people are saying they want them ‘back out’,” said Maynard.
He said: “People can feel this 1 percent economy. A small vendor, who use to be open all day, now can only open during what are peak hours. Everywhere I look, I see the same signals.”
Maynard is of the view that if the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance was a CEO, the board of directors would fire him.
“What should we do with a Prime Minister who from the time he has taken office is responsible for the complete reversal of the fortunes of this country. We should Fire Him!,” declared Maynard, who pointed to figures in the 2018 Budget, which indicates total revenue and grants down, overall tax revenue down from estimates, taxes on income down from estimates, taxes on property down from estimates, taxes on domestic goods and consumption down from estimates, taxes on international trade and transactions down from estimates,” Maynard told the National Assembly.