St Kitts and Nevis: PAM, CCM launches ‘One Movement Manifesto’ for upcoming general elections

St Kitts and Nevis:  People’s Action Movement and Concerned Citizens Movement launched the ONE Movement Manifesto under the theme “Moving Our People Forward” in Green Tree Lawns, Old Road, Constituency #4, July 26. 

PAM laid out 11 pillars in their Manifesto which will be their core priorities after getting elected the election. 11 pillars included- Creating Jobs, War On Poverty, Caring For People, creating National Youth Agenda, Boosting Tourism, Enhancing Food Security, Building Resilience, Good Governance Agenda, the republic, immigration and foreign reform. 

The party promised to launch an incubation and acceleration programme called the $100 million dollar dream fund designed to power Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development by injecting seed money into approved business ideas of up to EC $200,000.

The party also pledged to create 5,000 New Jobs under their “Jobs Now” program over the next five years; introduce the Housing Revolution that will see the development of 3,000 housing solutions, distributed fairly across both islands in the next five years and eight other pledges in their first 100 days if elected.

Along with this, PAM also announced its plans for the first 100 days for St Kitts and Nevis. 

• We will launch the $100 MILLION-DOLLAR DREAM FUND designed to power Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. This fund will inject seed money into approved business ideas of up to EC $200,000. The $100 MILLION-DOLLAR DREAM FUND will also provide concessions plus incubation and acceleration business-type coaching to yield intergenerational wealth.
• We will create 5, 000 New Jobs under our JOBS NOW program, over the next five years. This program will reduce unemployment by 50%. We will target manufacturing, farming, infrastructure, and the service industry to generate sustainable employment opportunities.
• We will introduce the Housing Revolution that will see the development of 3, 000 HOUSING SOLUTIONS, distributed fairly across both islands in the next 5 years. With an average of four persons occupying a single household in St. Kitts and Nevis, this housing solution will positively touch 12, 000 residents.
• We will make tertiary education more accessible, through an increased number of and access to scholarships to eligible applicants.
• We will move towards a Republic with a Head of State coming from St. Kitts & Nevis to replace Queen Elizabeth II.
• We will establish a Constituency Development Fund making money available to address community needs in a timely manner devoid of the normal bureaucracy.
• We will build a new Hospital, improve existing facilities, and establish free healthcare through National Health Insurance.
• We will ensure the Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP), Skills Training Empowerment Program (STEP), and the Alternative Lifestyle Pathway Program (ALPP), commonly referred to as the “PEACE Program” help those who are most in need.
• We will allocate $50 million to further develop the sports, entertainment, and creative industries.
• We will retroactively correct payment oversights due to Government Auxiliary Employees. Additionally, we will develop a pension plan to ensure that all government workers qualify for post-employment financial support.
• We will also negotiate with private sector employers to create same. Further, minimum wage will be increased to improve the overall standard of living of our people.

Besides this, the PAM’s Manifesto was highly youth-centric and promised to prioritise the health and well-being of our young people by:

• Ensuring that our educational institutions have mandatory health and eyesight screening for early detection of health issues.
• Introducing a National Health Insurance Plan, which will offer free healthcare, dental screening, eye screening and medical prescriptions for children 5-18 years old.
• Developing a mental health policy and implementation plan to deal with increasing incidents of mental health among our young people.
• Introducing a Reach Out Hotline, which will provide 24/7 psychological support for young people from a cadre of trained and qualified professionals.
• Expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people at our local medical institutions.
• Embarking upon training and support for educators and educational institutions to deal with mental health and well-being.

Leader of PAM- Shawn K Richards noted, “For St. Kitts and Nevis, embracing digital technologies will transform our public services, reducing transaction time and costs for our citizens, expanding e-learning in our classrooms, and ensuring that we help in providing high-value-added commercial crops.” 

So, PAM pledged to empower the youth by: 

• Free Wi-fi hotspots in government and public spaces
• Free ICT Training at the community level
• Reduce import duties on computer hardware, software, tablets, and smartphones.

He pledged to upgrade the technology and skills and raise productivity to ensure the people receive their products on time at the right price. The Federation must keep up with the pace at which the world is going to ensure that no Kittitian and Nevisian are left behind.

There are many young people who remain unattached from any formal grouping and sometimes get left behind and fall through the cracks.

PAM-The People’s Action Movement is committed to ensuring that our policies touch and reach vulnerable young people so as to enhance their lives, regardless of their individual circumstances.

As part of our plans for strengthening citizen security, the One Movement Government -in coordination with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court – will establish a SECOND CHANCE programme which will work towards expunging the criminal records of juveniles for minor offences and working towards reintegrating them into society as productive citizens.