St Kitts and Nevis: The Government has decided to increase the wages and salaries of civil servants across the Federation. Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris announced the above recommendations during the People’s Labour Party (PLP) Convention 2022 on March 26, 2022.
While addressing the convention, PM Harris stated that he had asked the Financial Secretary to analyze what is the procedure for increasing the wages and salaries of the civil servants and what it costs to give them more salaries.
“I love my country and its citizens, but when money comes, please spend it well. Money will help. I don’t say that how wages will increase and but out of love, I am telling you all that I know money is coming for you”, underscored the prime minister.
Prime Minister Timothy Harris also indicated that he would come again to the office for his third term. He stated that he would devote another term in office to making St Kitts and Nevis the number one country not just in the OECS and CARICOM but also in the World.
He further laid down several plans to alleviate the cost of living for the general population.
Outlining various plans and policies, PM Harris noted that his Government is working actively to formulate policies to assist the general population of the country and to contain the spiraling cost of living, which would result in better living standards in St Kitts and Nevis.
“I have ordered the Ministry of the Finance of the Federation to put forward various recommendations for considerations that will include various policies and measures to reduce gas prices and reduce certain other taxes which would help you to make the cost of living more manageable,” he added.
Further, PM Harris emphasized that his Government has decided to extend the income support in which they will increase wages and salaries. Other details will be announced in some time.
“We are going to extend the income support to the people who are unemployed by giving them $1,000 per month. In Budget 2022, we have presented the recommendation for only three months; we now the administration of St Kitts and Nevis have decided to increase it for another three months to help the general public because people’s labor part care every person of the country”, PM Harris noted.
He further highlighted various aspects of the energy resources and affirmed that the Government wanted to build an alternative source of energy to make the country more resilient to energy and could deal with the high cost of fuel and energy. This is essential to sustain environmental health and to ensure a sustainable supply of affordable energy.
“We will majorly be focused on the development of the blue economy in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. As the World Bank recognized the blue economy as the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem,” PM Harris said.
Prime Minister also stressed the significance of the digital economy and reiterated that this would be the main priority of the Government. The programme will help to create new jobs and several opportunities for people to work away from home.
He stated that they would target the high-tech industries for the uplift of the sector in St Kitts and Nevis, and they would also build out a state-of-the-art data center here, which would bring big industries and business to St Kitts and Nevis.
