PM Harris addresses nation in first press conference since June 5 general election victory

By: Chaïra Flanders

Prime Minister Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris updated residents and citizens during his first press conference of his second term in office held in the NEMA conference room in  Lime Kiln, Basseterre.

During his opening remarks, he thanked the electorate  for giving his administration yet another opportunity to serve the people.

Prime Minister Harris said a STEP regularization committee has been set up to accommodate employees working on the Skills Training and Empowerment Program as well as government auxiliary employees(GAE). He said the committee has made recommendations that suggest the regularization of the employees under the Skills Training Empowerment Program (STEP) should be undertaken on a Phased Basis commencing with the 36staff assigned to the STEP Secretariat and 1,849 workers assigned to the Public Sector in both St. Kitts and Nevis; Reviewing of the financing arrangement of the STEP to ensure compliance with the Finance Administration Act, 2007; the establishment of the Government Auxiliary Employees Commission, preparation and ratification of Regulations for the Government Auxiliary Employees Act, 2012, temporary freezing of new entrants/recruitment into both STEP and the Public Sector to facilitate the completion of financial impact and projections by the Ministry of Finance and the conducting of a Public Awareness initiative geared towards the sensitizing of STEP Employees and Heads of Departments across Government along with several other principle recommendations.

He said therefore that by September 2020, the Government Auxiliary Employees status will be regularized.

He also revealed that a new speaker and deputy speaker will be revealed at the first sitting of national assembly which will be held next week (Wednesday July 8) at the St. Kitts Marriot Resort.

Prime Minister Harris also used the opportunity to thank the security forces for their hard work and dedication and revealed that the Special Services Unit (SSU) will be relocated to a new headquarters at Fortlands, Basseterre before Independence 2020.

Due to spacing limitations and physical distancing protocols, the press conference was held under restrictions that only allowed one  representative per media organization and  invited officials who asked questions for the benefit of the listening and viewing public

The press conference was  carried live on ZIZ radio 96.1 Fm, ZIZ TV channel 5 and online at  www.zizonline.com