St Kitts and Nevis government marks 100th day in office, PM Terrance Drew outlines workings 

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis-led Labour Party completed 100 days in office on November 14, 2022, after getting elected in August 2022.

St Kitts and Nevis government marks 100th day in office, PM Terrance Drew outlines workings 
St Kitts and Nevis government marks 100th day in office, PM Terrance Drew outlines workings 

St Kitts and Nevis: The Government of St Kitts and Nevis-led Labour Party completed 100 days in office on November 14, 2022, after getting elected in August 2022. In order to mark the 100th day, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew addressed the Nation and outlined various national milestones brought out by his administration. 

During his address, he outlined the major workings of the Government in 100 days and outlined new initiatives which could be implemented in the coming days. 

He cited, “Your Government began working from Day Zero and has not rested. We know your expectations for us are high, and we continue to strive to exceed those expectations. We have been swift in our actions in some areas and more deliberate and methodical in other areas. But in all spheres, we have been prudent and pragmatic. During the election campaign this past summer, I promised our people a New Day and a Better Way for St. Kitts and Nevis.” 

PM Terrance Drew stated that they have to lay blocks of integrity and steel of innovation in this new foundation for growth in the country: 

• A foundation that will empower women and young people; 

• A foundation that will strengthen the economy of St Kitts and Nevis;

 • A foundation that will restore pride and resiliency in the Nation; 

• A foundation that will support the 7 Pillars for Positive Change that the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party campaigned on; 

• A foundation to establish a Sustainable Island State. 

Even as the country continue to clear away the wreckage of the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle the effects of global inflation, he stated that the Government of St Kitts and Nevis recognizes that

• They cannot revert to the same tourism policies, the country must begin to ‘Venture Deeper’; 

• They cannot have an economy that is built on outdated financial regulations and policies, they must have ‘Financial Advancement through Enlightenment, Partnerships, and Balance’; 

• The people cannot get tomorrow’s jobs with yesterday’s skills, the country must transform education. 

PM Terrance Drew further asserted that his Government has begun doing that in our first 100 days. They have effected several National milestones, such as the: 

• Appointment of the First Female Governor General’s Deputy, Female Speaker of the National Assembly, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, three women included in the Federal Cabinet, as part of the Government’s gender equality agenda 

• Approval of a Restoration and Transformation Project for the home of the Right Excellency Sir Robert L. Bradshaw, the Federation’s First National Hero 

• His Government has been relentless in our pursuit to strengthen and improve our Citizenship-By-Investment programme for enhanced sustainability within a framework of integrity. They have held productive discussions with local developers and international investors alike. There will be much stronger oversight and leadership in the CBI Unit by a new CBI Board and Technical Committee. 

“I will announce the detailed changes at our upcoming Press Conference, but I want to be absolutely clear that our evolved CBI programme will be run with the utmost transparency, “said the prime minister. 

PM Terrance Drew stated that, as pledged, his Government has provided Financial Assistance to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis: 

• Gratuitous payments for employees unjustly terminated for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine and who have not benefited from a statutory severance payment and filed complaints with the Labour Department or Union 

• Payment of Honoraria to government employees who worked on the frontline during the Covid-19 Pandemic 

• Financial support to SKELEC to enable lower energy costs for residents • Introduction of a Two-Month Duty Free Concession Window in November and December 2022. 

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has begun to revolutionize the healthcare sector as pledged, with the following: 

• Immediate removal of all COVID-19-related Health and Travel Restrictions on Day 1 in office to ensure that returning nationals and visitors have free access to the Federation, guided by scientific data 

• Introduction of a Financial Assistance Programme for any child in need of medical assistance only available overseas 

• MRI machine sourced for JNF Hospital to provide easier access to residents 

• Implementation of 24/7 Medical Doctor Services at the Pogson Medical Centre 

• Certification of approximately 250 healthcare workers from St Kitts and Nevis in life saving techniques. 

He added that as pledged, they have begun to foster meaningful change and development in the education system, they have offered

• A Free Tuition Policy for all students attending the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College to ensure that our young people have access to higher education 

• Introduction of Back-to-School Discounted VAT Rate Days to ease the financial burden on families during these tough worldwide economic times • Establishment of a Teacher Education Award to encourage teachers to excel in their studies 

• Payment of Economic Costs for all nationals studying at the University of the West Indies in all disciplines 

• Sourcing over 4000 electronic devices to enhance learning for our children 

For the Tourism sector, PM Terrance Drew stated that they have begun the work to diversify the economy with innovative, transformative ideas. 

• Launched the “Venture Deeper” Tourism Brand Campaign internationally to restore domestic and foreign investor confidence, and stimulate consumer enthusiasm and 

• Passed the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, an OECS initiative which allows the Director-General of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, to make Regulations for safety and security at our sub-regional airports. 

“As pledged, utilities and infrastructure remain priorities, and as such we have begun the work to ensure that our children grow up in a climate resilient environment, where special attention is paid to preserving our land and water resources to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “said the prime minister. 

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has

• Begun Consultations and the Initiation of the Plan for Creating a Resilient Energy Sector through consultations with representatives from the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, the Caribbean Development Bank, the St Kitts Electricity Company and Nevis Electricity Company Ltd regarding geothermal energy production 

• Re-established the Water Board to address the urgent water problem throughout St Kitts

 • Approved a project to build two partially solar-powered desalination plants 

• Digitized the land allocation database for land development 

Your Government is committed to Social Protection and Social Development, to assist our people with their advancement from vulnerability to self-reliance. As pledged, there has been the:

 • Passing of the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act which enhances the protection regime for victims of domestic violence and provides victims with swifter access to justice 

• Transition of the PAP Welfare Programme to the Ministry of Social Services to be revamped and improved 

• Launch of the Girls Empowerment Programme 

PM Terrance Drew cited that as part of his Government’s commitment to safeguarding their people and ensuring that they live in an environment that is healthy and clean, they have: 

• Launched the Ministry of Agriculture Asset Management Programme to rehabilitate various properties and compounds across St. Kitts in an effort to boost productivity and create cleaner green spaces. 

• Established a team consisting of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Sustainable Development to begin the validation of 40 potential Water Harvesting and Water Intake sites on St Kitts and Nevis, with 24 sites on St Kitts and 16 sites on Nevis. 

He stressed that the Government is committed to ushering in an ambitious, youth-driven transformation in our country through the Ministry of Sports and the Creative Economy in order to unleash transformative ideas and policies that will enrich our people and our country. To date, they have had the following: 

• Successful Hosting of 6ixty & CPL Cricket Tournaments, showing the Government’s commitment to hosting sporting events and developing our Sports Tourism Industry 

• Financial Contribution on behalf of the Ministry of Sports to Jahzara Claxton, our 16-year-old sporting phenome, who was named to the West Indies Women’s Under 19 Cricket Team 

• Financial Assistance to the teams that qualified for the Super 6 Football Playoffs

He added that as pledged, they have been working to ensure that the long-awaited constitutional, electoral and legislative reforms are achieved. During the first 100 days in office your Government has:

• Appointed Three (3) New Commissioners of Oaths to improve efficiencies at the Registry of Lands and High Court Registry 

• Engaged an Acting DPP, Acting Assistant DPP and other staff assigned to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to improve efficiencies • Established and Activated the Joint Constitutional Review Committee with the Legal Department of the Nevis Island Administration charged with re-creating and redesigning our Constitution 

• Established and Activated the Justice Committee, chaired by the Resident High Court Judge in the Criminal Division comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Magistrates, the Police, the Prison, the Office of the DPP and the SKN Bar Association charged with redesigning and improving the administration of justice 

• Consulted, Drafted and Circulated the Good Governance Legislative Framework: Anti-Corruption Act, Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Act and Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 

• Passed the St Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (Amendment) Act, Public Health (Amendment) Act, Small Business (Amendment) Act, Companies (Amendment) Act and Evangelistic Faith Church St Kitts (Incorporation) Act. 

PM Terrance Drew assured that the Government has remained committed to Diplomacy and International Relations. During our first 100 days they had: 

• PM Terrance Drew’s First Official State Visit to and sponsored by the Republic of China (Taiwan), which included Members of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Nevis Island Administration for the first time in our Nation’s history 

• Attendance and participation at the United Nations General Assembly, the 72nd Meeting of the OECS Authority in Montserrat, and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, amongst others. 

• St. Kitts and Nevis’ First Pavilion and the First ever Joint SKN Youth delegation at the global climate change conference, COP27 in Egypt.