BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Five days of meaningful debates and presentations on the 2021 Budget came to a close this evening, when The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020 was read a third time and passed in the National Assembly late into the evening of Monday, December 21, 2020.
The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020 provides for $867,919,842 million dollars for the provision of services for the financial year commencing 1st January, 2021 and ending on 31st December, 2021.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, in wrapping up the debate said that through the provisions within the people-centered 2021 Budget, it is clear that his Team Unity Government is focused on delivering a better quality of life for all the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“This Budget gives primacy to education, giving it its largest allocation ever of $100-plus million. This Budget, Mr. Speaker, bolsters security services, sustains health delivery, allows for work to continue on an historic programme of national health insurance for all. This Budget above all tries to secure the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in the fight against the global pandemic of COVID-19. This Budget, Mr. Speaker, proposes the largest capital programme in recent history as we work to grow the economy out of a challenging battle with COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Harris, who is the mover of The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020.
The honourable prime minister further noted that the 2021 Budget is designed to boost economic growth by supporting critical growth drivers such as the agriculture sector, tourism, manufacturing and construction.
“It provides the impetus in areas of marijuana production and cultivation and entertainment as potential new drivers of socio-economic activity in our country. It is a Budget, of course, of fiscal expansion but we have not done it in the reckless Douglas way. It takes into account the capacity of our people to deliver, in an orderly manner, a finite number of projects successfully,” Prime Minister Harris said.
The 2021 Budget has provided for, inter alia, the construction of the new state-of-the-art Basseterre High School, the construction of the new health centre in St. Peter’s, the continued build out of the comprehensive CCTV Surveillance Project, upgrades to a number of sporting facilities and the rollout of Phase 2 of the Traffic Control System.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (SKNIS): The Management and Staff of the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) has been commended for its tremendous effort to keep St. Kitts and Nevis clean.
Minister responsible for Solid Waste, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, said the agency is a key component to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ waste separation programme based on the three Rs – “Re-use, Reduce, Recycle.”
The aim is to transform the twin-island Federation into a zero-waste nation.
Plastics are a key part of this strategy as Cabinet has agreed in principle to ban single-use plastics in the near future. Scrap metals are also being removed as part of an arrangement with Enclave Resource – a full serving recycling and waste management company operating in the Caribbean.
“So far Madame Deputy Speaker, they have bailed out of the country over 10 million pounds of metal,” Minister Hamilton said in the National Assembly Chambers on December 21, 2020, during his presentation to the Budget Debate.
The minister stated that the absence of vector-borne diseases in the country is testimony to SWMC’s efforts to promote a healthy and sustainable environment.
He noted that efforts need public support and urged persons to stop littering and refrain from illegal dumping practices that have become an issue in the Federation.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (SKNIS): Banning single-use plastic reduces pollution and the demand for plastic production. As such, the move to ban single-use plastics in St. Kitts and Nevis will be further pursued in 2021.
“In 2021, we will be doing a lot of work in terms of the banning of single-use plastics because plastics are a major concern here in St. Kitts and Nevis and around the world. The huge amount of plastics that we are using they are creating so much pressure on the landfills. They are ending up in our oceans and they are causing problems for marine life that we will in turn consume,” said Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, on Friday, December 18, day four of the Budget Debate. “So, I want to give a warning to persons who like to throw their plastics all over the place that eventually you might be eating some of these plastics that are not good for you.
Minister Evelyn said that a public awareness campaign will be carried out in 2021 to continue to educate the general public and keep them updated on the plans.
“We are going to be going on a campaign to eventually ban single-use plastics. It will be a phased-approach and it will be a consultative approach as well,” he said. “Eventually, we will be banning the importation, the sale and distribution, the use and, of course, we will be banning the manufacture of plastic bottles here as well in St. Kitts and Nevis. And so, I want to sound it here and just to have our folks in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis be aware that we will be trying to ban single-use plastics.”
He noted that a survey was conducted in 2019 and that over 90 percent of persons were in favour of banning single-use plastics. Also, over 60 percent of the respondents were in favour of using alternatives in place of plastics.
Minister Evelyn solicited the support of the general public when the campaign and consultations are rolled out. He noted that banning of single-use plastics yields several benefits and it is a means to change people’s daily habits by eliminating and reducing waste from single-use plastics.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (SKNIS): The widespread transmission of the novel coronavirus has devastated economies around the world including that of St. Kitts and Nevis. Despite a shortfall of projected growth for 2020, Minister the Honourable Eugene Hamilton said the government remains focused on introducing a key health programme.
“We are not going to lose sight of implementing Universal Health Insurance,” Minister Hamilton stated on Monday (December 21, 2020) during the ongoing Budget Debate.
He recounted the steps already taken since 2015, which included the creation of a national commission to explore varying details including costs, benefits and other matters. The commission hosted several public and private consultations with the population and key stakeholders. The process was assisted by experts from the Health Economics Unit of the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, who made recommendations on the implementation of the national programme. An actuary was also engaged, and projected costs of the initiative were outlined.
The minister said that the programme will be costly and must be shared with residents, possibly through salary deductions. However, he added that the benefits of this significant programme would be “better for all of us.”
“The concept of pooling all of the resources of a large number of persons will make it easier for everybody to get care,” Minister Hamilton stated. “The law of large numbers will ensure that there is equality in benefits as well as payments.”
He added: “Think about it, when your mother tells you she went to the doctor and the diagnosis is that she has breast cancer and what she has to raise is $90,000 and, you don’t have it, it can rip the heart out of you. That is why we need Universal Health Insurance. And let’s face it, I talked about your mother but, it also can be you.”
Minister Hamilton said that more information will be shared in the new year. However, he indicated that government was at the point where it is looking at the legislative framework for the implementation, the time for commencement whether 2021 or 2022 and how to raise the money to pay for universal healthcare ensuring that it is sustainable.
‘In 2021, we are going to cover all that ground and be ready for when the Cabinet and the country say go then we will go,” the minister indicated.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, during his maiden Budget Presentation in the Federal Parliament on December 18, 2020, said that all government primary schools in St. Kitts and Nevis now have Junior Savings Cooperatives.
A Junior Savings Cooperatives is a saving programme where children can bank monies. Minister Evelyn said that young people are the future and it’s important to teach them about saving and how to grow their money.
“We want to encourage thrift, savings and trust and community among the young people and that is why we want to start it down there at the primary level and then, of course, we want to take it to the secondary level as well,” said Minister Evelyn.
The minister noted that work had already begun with the Epworth Maurice Hillier Primary School to get them officially registered. He added that they held meetings with parents, staff and students, as well as done some work with the by-laws. However, COVID-19 came and halted the progress. Minister Evelyn said that the aim is to resume in 2021 and get them registered.
Important to note, the minister said that financial institutions managed by cooperatives play an important role in any country.
“…We can realize that cooperatives make an important and significant contribution to the development of the country. And so, we are working diligently with the cooperatives that are there to strengthen them,” he said.
Currently, there are 13 cooperatives in St. Kitts, to which the minister said he is very proud of. These include but are not limited to the Gideon Force Agricultural Cooperatives; the St. Kitts Farmers Cooperatives; the Sandy Point Agricultural Cooperatives; the St. Kitts Bee Keepers Cooperatives; the St. Kitts Taxi Cooperatives and the St. Kitts Schools Apex Cooperatives.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Plans for the construction of the new state-of-the-art Basseterre High School (BHS) at Pond’s Extension in East Basseterre will begin in early 2021, says Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, during the continuation of the Budget Debate on December 18.
Minister Powell noted that the construction has taken longer than anticipated. However, he is satisfied that the delays were for a good reason.
“We must ensure that in building an institution of this magnitude that it is done properly, that all the I’s are dotted all the T’s are crossed and at the end of the day what we have is a school that will last for a very long time and that would set a new standard not just in St. Kitts and Nevis, but across the Caribbean Region,” he said.
The Education Minister said that despite political naysayers “we are satisfied that this is the right thing to do and we will do it.”
The Minister stated that the designated location is an ideal place to build the school.
“I’m satisfied that it is a safe place to build it,” he said. “I’m satisfied that the economic benefits will be tremendous not just to that area but to the whole country. I’m satisfied that all who have tried to play politics to the building of that school will benefit from the same school and will revel in the successes of that school.”
Minister Powell said that he is looking forward to the support of the Cabinet and the Education Sector to ensure that the school becomes the new standard and that he hopes to propel other schools across the Federation to that level.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): A Reading Intervention Programme is being implemented in schools across the Federation, says Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, during his contribution to the Budget Debate on December 18.
The programme is designed to boost the development of reading and literacy skills in low achieving students for whom regular classroom instruction is insufficient so that their level of progress and achievement improves thus increasing their ability to access the curriculum and work independently, he said.
The Reading Intervention Programme is being implemented in a total of 18 schools, that is, 17 public primary schools, as well as the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School.
There is a total of 25 reading intervention teachers. One will be stationed in smaller schools and two in larger ones.
Minister Powell said that the lowest achieving students in grades one to six are enrolled in the programme. Approximately 435 students are currently enrolled.
He added that the reading intervention teachers are working with classroom teachers to develop an individual education plan for each student who is enrolled.
Students are taught individually or in small groups depending on their needs. Sessions are generally 30 to 60 minutes long depending on the need of the students, he said.
In terms of training, the reading intervention teachers completed a 12-week certificate course in the teaching of reading undertaken with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and funded by the OECS Early Learners Programme, said the minister. They were also trained to administer the Caribbean Assessment Battery Reading, which is a diagnostic assessment to identify students reading levels, their strengths and their weaknesses.
The minister stated that additional training in the form of professional development sessions were held twice monthly and will continue to further enhance the teacher’s ability to cater to the student’s needs.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The people-centered Team Unity Government of St. Kitts and Nevis this week continued what has become a longstanding tradition when Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris presented his administration’s sixth consecutive tax-free budget.
The Team Unity Government was able to accomplish this feat, even during a time when all the world’s economy has been crippled by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the strong fiscal measures adopted over the last five years.
In presenting his sixth tax-free Budget on Tuesday, December 15, Prime Minister Harris said, “Mr. Speaker, the good news is that the Team Unity administration has been careful over the last five years not to impose any new taxes on the people of this Federation. This is a remarkable feat. For five years in a row, my Government would have managed this country, fulfilling our mandates and increasing the range of support to the social sectors including education, health, national security, the poor and indigent, our women headed households, and at-risk groups. We have done all these things and more without adding one new tax.”
The prime minister continued, “At a time when we could reasonably be asking for shared sacrifice for greater collective national good by imposing new taxes, my Government prefers to waive some of them, apply moratoria and reduce others, all to help our people and registered businesses successfully overcome the challenges of COVID-19.”
Rather, since assuming office, the Team Unity Government has made a concerted effort to remove and reduce a number of existing taxes.
“For example, we have removed the onerous VAT from food, medicine and educational supplies in 2015. You have heard in this Budget what we propose to do with respect to personal protective equipment of removing VAT and Duty. In our 2021Budget, we have extended the reduction on the applicable rate of Corporate Income Tax and Unincorporated Business Tax, reducing them by a significant 24 percent and 50 percent tax rate respectively,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Dr. Harris noted that through this initiative, St. Kitts and Nevis is now among countries in the region with the lowest corporate tax rates.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 16, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris delivered his 2021 Budget Address on Tuesday, December 15 to a packed hall of senior government officials, representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps and business leaders at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
The much anticipated address highlighted, inter alia, the St. Kitts and Nevis Government’s plans and programmes that will help to stimulate the Federation’s recovery efforts and minimize the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
Among the interventions listed by Prime Minister Harris was the Government’s decision to extend a number of offerings first outlined in the $120-million stimulus package, originally announced in March 2020 to help cushion the economic and health fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the stimulus measures that were extended to June 2021 are the removal of VAT and Import Duty on hygiene items; the removal of Import Duty and Customs Service Charge on vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, cough and cold preparations and vitamins; waiver of payments for the consumption of water for individuals who have been laid off or have experienced a reduction in earnings as a consequence of COVID-19; 24 percent reduction of the Corporate Income Tax rate from 33 percent to 25 percent for businesses that retain at least 75 percent of their employees and the reduction of the unincorporated business tax rate by 50 percent.
This decision is being welcomed by the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Chamber President, Mrs. Giselle Matthews, in a post-Budget address interview hosted by ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation, said, “I think the [Budget] presentation spoke to regenerating the economy and in doing so, one of the private sector on a whole and the business community would be pleased with is that the Government was able to continue the reduction in the tax breaks that they’ve given to businesses. Unincorporated tax to 50 percent extended down to June of 2021, so that’s part of the stimulus package which will continue. A reduction in corporate tax rate from 33 percent to 24 percent which is also extended to June 2021.”
Prime Minister Harris stated that his Government is of the view that “the extension of these measures would help to advance the recovery process and, most importantly for my people-centered administration, is the fact that it would extend important lifelines to families and businesses.”
President Matthews also pointed to other positive indicators outlined in the prime minister’s Budget Address such as the increase in the application for new business licences this year.
“I think they have had many applications for new businesses which shows that even with COVID there is still some sort of activity taking place and that people are encouraged to open new businesses, and a real thrust towards supporting those businesses and individuals on a whole with the stimulus package that can allow people to spend some money and put money into the economy,” Mrs. Matthews added.
President Matthews was also encouraged by the Government’s added interest in the development of the agricultural and fisheries sector.
The waiver of payments for the consumption of water by farmers was also among the stimulus measures extended into 2021.
Furthermore, the Government intends to inject an additional $5 million over two years to boost production in the agricultural sector to ensure greater food security for the Federation.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (December 16, 2020) — Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister of Labour in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), said an estimated $1.2 million has been disbursed in severance payments since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevis.
The Minister spoke on the matter during his presentation during the 2021 Budget debate in the Nevis Island Assembly on December 10, 2020.
“All across the various sectors we see there is that claim for severance payment and to date approximately $1.2 million has been paid in severance,” he said.
At the time of his presentation the Department of Labour had received about 717 severance payment claims.
Mr. Brand said while $1.2 million has so far been paid from the Consolidated Fund to honour claims, he is hopeful that there will be significant movement in the settlement of existing severance claims in time for Christmas.
The Minister pointed out that the economic fallout from the pandemic has resulted in a stark increase in unemployment in almost every sector of Nevis’ economy. Hardest hit was the tourism sector, which ground to a halt in March when the borders of St. Kitts and Nevis closed.
“The statistics as it regards the labour market on the island of Nevis, the data for our review period January to September 2020 showed that the number of jobs on Nevis ranged from 6137 in February to 4706 in September, with an average [of] 5384 jobs per month.
“For the same period 2019 we saw there was an average of 6072, which gives an indication of approximately 11.3 percent decline or 688 in the average number of jobs in 2020 as it relates to 2019…
“It is clear that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the job market here on the island of Nevis, with percentage ranging from 5 percent all the way up to 33 percent, but I believe there is certainly hope on the horizon,” he said.
Hon. Brand highlighted the fact that although the top five economic sectors saw some measure of decline in the number of jobs available, the Nevis Island Administration has maintained its workforce.
“Public administration and defence sector accounted for an average of 1827 or 33.9 percent of jobs this year. This sector however saw a decline in just one percent or 14 jobs in 2020 versus 2019.
“This is significant because it continues to be the policy of this government as far as possible not to do any retrenchment as it regards labour. We want to ensure we keep as many of our people working as possible, and one per cent in this climate is indeed commendable,” he said.
The Minister thanked Chief Labour Officer Mr. Gary Liburd and his staff at the Department of Labour for their yeoman’s service to the people of Nevis. He said they have been working under significant pressure during this difficult and trying time.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, December 15, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis is likely to contract by 12.5 percent for 2020, according to the Statistics Department, but the estimates also project that the economy will rebound in 2021 with a positive growth rate of about five percent.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, made the revelation on Tuesday December 15 at a sitting of the National Assembly held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Ballroom where he tabled The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020, in which his Team Unity Government is seeking approval for $867.9 million to meet the business of the country for the coming year 2021.
“Our Statistics Department estimates that the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis is likely to contract by 12.5 percent for 2020,” stated Prime Minister Harris. “These estimates also project that economy will rebound in 2021 with a positive growth rate of about five percent.”
The estimates of positive growth rate for St. Kitts and Nevis, asserted the Honourable Prime Minister, are broadly consistent in terms of direction with the estimates forecasted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) which projects a 6.4 percent growth for St. Kitts and Nevis, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which projects an eight percent growth for St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Indeed the IMF is saying that St. Kitts and Nevis will be the fastest growing country in the OECS and indeed the second fastest growing country in 2021 in relation to the hemisphere,” said Dr Harris. “Mr Speaker, this is really good news coming from international organisations, not just our own Statistics Department. But of course there is something on which everything else is contingent – Covid-19.”
Prime Minister Harris who presented the Budget Address under the theme ‘Fortitude During the Pandemic: Resilience, Recovery and Transformation’, had earlier observed that 2020 will long be remembered for many things, but of everything else 2020 will be remembered for Covid-19. It is a year that will go down in the annals of history as an exceptional and memorable year where people experienced mixed fortunes around the world, and also in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“At this time we should really give thanks to Almighty God for seeing us thus far through what has been a very challenging year,” said Dr Harris. “On the positive side of the events that would memorialise 2020, will be our resounding victory at the polls and the return of the Team Unity at the helm of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. My Team Unity Administration is humbled by the overwhelming support and confidence that our people demonstrated in us by the tremendous victory we secured at the polls on the 5th June 2020.”
With the clear and stronger mandate given to the Team Unity Government to ensure the continued development of the Federation and to secure a stronger and safer future for all of the people, Dr Harris noted that his Government has already begun to deliver on that mandate and pledges to work even harder to improve its delivery.
“This is our pledge to our people, to all who choose to live, work and do business here in our Land of Beauty,” said the Prime Minister. “As we seek to honour this pledge we commit to working with the citizens and residents to build out exciting plans for the stronger and safer future to which the budgetary allocations would allow us to fund.”
According to Dr Harris, who is also the Federal Minister of Finance, in the context of the Budget 2021 the Government has used the most conservative estimates of growth of five percent in determining the budget predictions, “and in 2021 we expect principally the same sectors that were driving the growth in 2020 first quarter will again assist us – construction, wholesale, transport, real estate etc.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 15, 2020 (SKNIS): In the area of Social Development, the government will continue to provide support through its social safety net programmes, says Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, during the 2021 Budget Address on December 15, 2020.
Dr. Harris noted that COVID-19 has brought fundamental changes to the way in which persons have managed their lives, and how they operate as a community.
He stated that the government has strengthened and expanded the number of social safety net programmes to lend a “hand up” required by struggling families during this very difficult period of time.
“We have spoken before about the lifesaver that the PAP programme has been to many people who without this would not have been in receipt of any income from a legitimate source,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that he was advised that St. Kitts and Nevis has the largest number of safety net programmes in the Caribbean.
“We have voucher programmes, programmes targeting our womenfolk, we have programmes targeting our fathers and the range continues in terms of the full range of support services that this government provides to the vulnerable in our community,” he said.
Prime Minister Harris said that the government gives its assurance that the 2021 Budget Estimates provide for the buildout of the support to the various programmes.
“In particular, we propose to spend $27.8 million to continue to assist our people who are in need,” he stated.
Dr. Harris added that in 2021, the government will take proactive steps to review the procedures for accessing the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) in particular to ensure that only persons deserving and who meet the strict criterion of a household income of less than $3000 will be able to benefit from the programme.
“Indeed in the context of the pandemic now, we have been a little bit more liberal. We have made it a little bit more facilitating,” he said. “This is part of the caring government that we have and in times when times are hard, we have to ensure that the policies provide some sense of scope and opportunities for those who have a genuine need to be able to benefit from these programmes.”
Dr. Harris said that next year the programme will be reviewed and that the government will ensure that the goals it had set earlier with respect to the PAP and other programmes, that they will be adhered to.
“We will want to ensure that we will review the beneficiary list so as person’s income would have improved and they go beyond the threshold of $3000, then they are excluded from the programme and those who may have fallen now into the $3000 maximum household income, they will now have the opportunity to benefit,” said Prime Minister Harris
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): The 2021 Budget presentation will provide greater insight into the key functions and operations of the Ministry of Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Talent Development, which was established in June following the general election.
The Budget Address will be delivered on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris in the Federal Parliament.
The Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett holds the portfolio for the Ministry of Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Talent Development. In August, on the Leadership Matters: Virtual Forum Series, the minister said that the ministry aims to provide support to persons, especially innovation to creatives such as musicians, artists, videographers and others. This support will include helping creatives and entrepreneurs to grow and market their respective business.
At the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on December 01, 2020, Financial Secretary Hilary Hazel said that specific details about the new ministry will be shared next Tuesday.
“We look forward to the exciting array of support that that ministry would put in place to support our creative and talented persons who would need assistance in terms of building that type of business,” Mrs. Hazel stated.
The financial secretary added that skilled persons will be assisted to provide income for themselves.
“If these persons have gone out and trained how can we develop those skills and transform them [the persons] into entrepreneurs who can then not only provide jobs for themselves but employ other persons,” she added.
Other priority areas to be highlighted in the 2021 Budget Address are support for law and order, bolstering social safety net programmes, and strengthening relations with international partners.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 01, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, will outline his Team Unity administration’s plans and programmes for the upcoming financial year when he presents the highly anticipated 2021 Budget in the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 15.
The honourable prime minister will present the annual Draft Estimates for 2021 as laid out in The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020.
At today’s (Tuesday, December 01) press conference, Prime Minister Harris noted that the presentation of the 2021 Budget is a major matter on the Government’s national calendar.
“We are advanced in our finalization of the 2021 Budget. As we have done since 2015, it is our intention to deliver the 2021 Budget way in advance of the statutory deadline which is 60 days after the commencement of the financial year, to which the Budget relates, there should be the laying of the Estimates. In this regard, I am hopeful that with the grace of God I will be able to deliver the 2021 Budget Address on Tuesday, December 15, 2020,” the prime minister said.
The Finance Minister indicated that the programmes that will be outlined in the upcoming Budget presentation are all designed to deliver on the brighter and safer future for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Harris added, “In this year’s Budget Address, I will outline programmes to chart the recovery effort made necessary by the impact of COVID-19. COVID-19 is still with us. The entire world has been scarred by it. Its impact has been brutal on health systems and people around the World.”
The Draft Estimates allow for the financing of the activities of the State that will bring benefits to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis through the delivery of improved healthcare services, providing quality education, enhancing safety and security, as well as upgrading public infrastructure.
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