Minister Phipps Fully Endorses $952 Million People-Centred Budget

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 15, 2021 (SKNIS): Senator the Honourable, Wendy Phipps, has hailed the Appropriation (2022) Bill, 2021, as a people-centered Budget that waters the roots of economic grounding in order to restore St. Kitts and Nevis’ pathway to growth and development recorded pre-COVID-19.

To support this statement, Minister Phipps cited several key measures outlined in the 2021 Budget Address that was presented to the Federal Parliament on December 14, 2021, by Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

“We have seen, for example, the largest ever budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education to the tune of $104.5 million. This is unprecedented in the history of this country,” Senator Phipps stated, during her presentation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. “The second reason I would give is the increase in capitalization for the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) in order to bring further household support to persons who are displaced by the pandemic whose households are less than $3,000 per month, and we are seeing that the figure that has been allocated is some $32.3 million.”

Senator Phipps, who is also the Minister of Labour, noted that additional funds have also been injected into the Severance Fund. Five million dollars have been added to enable the Government to continue the response to the ongoing contraction of the job market. Further, the Government has committed to providing a third stimulus package that will bring relief to persons who continue to struggle financially as a result of the global health emergency.

Minister Phipps added that the presentations by other ministers of government will further highlight the many opportunities designed to empower residents and citizens. She fully endorsed the $952 million Budget and wished it safe passage through the National Assembly.