PM Harris announces extension of Income Support Programme for three months

St Kitts and Nevis: The Government of St Kitts and Nevis decided to extend the Income and Disability Support Programmes for an additional three months to assist workers who are unemployed and working on low wages. The programme will be extended up to June 2022. 

Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris announced the measure during his address to the Nation on the occasion of Labour Day 2022. He stated that this is not an ordinary Labour Day, especially after the two hiatus years of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PM Harris also extended gratitude to the workers, citizens, and other frontline workers, saying that everyone is keen to come back to the normal phase and wants their lives to get back on track. 

He noted, “The Select Committee and the Human Resource Management Department have successfully completed the work necessary to facilitate the integration of the first group of STEP workers into the Public Service as Government Auxiliary Employees.”

Prime Minister Harris further outlined the following short-term fiscal policy measures adopted for implementation: 

• The Government of St Kitts and Nevis approved amending the price for gasoline and fuel products that have witnessed a hike in recent times. On April 13, 2022, the Government approved the measures to reduce the excise tax on the importation of fuel. Now, the price of gasoline witnessed declined from $2.25 per gallon to $0.95.
• The reduction of the price will come into effect from April to September 2022, and the Government has also granted an increase in the Gas Station Dealers’ Margin by $0.30.
• The Government is decided to extend the Income and Disability Support Programmes for an additional three months. It has been extended up to June 2022.
• The measure will assist workers who are unemployed and working on low wages. It will also help the workers in their additional expenses from caring for children with disabilities.
• Prime Minister Harris also announced the reintroduction of the duty-free allowance during the month of December. It will be applicable to the importation of food items by non-commercial importers from May 1 to September 30. The measure will benefit everyone who spends higher taxes.
• The Government has also announced to pace an eight-month cap on the freight cost, which is used in the calculation of duties taxed. It will be applicable to the importation of goods which helps to enhance the savings of the consumers.