St Kitts and Nevis Cabinet approves gross payment of double salary, announces PM Drew

St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew announced that the Cabinet of St Kitts and Nevis had approved the gross payment of an additional salary, popularly termed double salary, to be paid on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022. 

PM Terrance Drew, through his official statement, cited that the persons who will be benefiting from this additional economic relief are all public servants, civil servants, Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), pensioners, and persons enrolled in the STEP and Peace Programme. 

He expressed pleasure and noted, “It is my desire as Prime Minister to see the Federation return to a state of economic stability. I am pleased to announce that after careful deliberation, the Cabinet has approved the gross payment of an additional salary, popularly termed double salary, to be paid on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022.” 

PM Drew stated that statutory bodies are encouraged to extend this beneficial economic relief to their staff members as well.

He outlined that additionally, as a continuation of the government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan initiatives, the Cabinet has approved the three discounted Value Added Tax (VAT) Rate Days.

The first will be on Friday November 25th, 2022, however, there will be no VAT discount on vehicle purchases on this date. The second will be on Friday December 16th, 2022, and the third on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 (inclusive of vehicle purchases).

On the Discounted Vat Rate Days, all VAT-registered businesses charge value-added tax at the rate of 5 percent on the sale of goods only. 

However, PM Terrance Drew also urged the people to note that for vehicle purchases on the 16th and 17th of December 2022, VAT will be exempt on the first $50,000, and any costs in excess of the $50,000 will attract the standard rate of 17% VAT. 

Earlier, PM Terrance Drew attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Molineux for the graduation on Wednesday, November 16th, for the graduation ceremony in celebration of the Cayon High School Class of 2022.