Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 21, 2021 (Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs): The Probation & Child Protection Services Department hopes to turn youth’s love of social media into a force for good, as they hosted a Camp called ‘The Positive Use of Social Media’ from April 6th to 9th at the CUNA Conference Centre, Fortlands.
The Easter Camp was attended by forty (40) adolescents who were nominated from various high schools across St. Kitts, based on their ability to become ‘positive social media ambassadors’.
According to Supervisor in the Probation Department, Ms. Tivanna Wharton, the Camp’s theme was chosen to help youth learn how to use social media channels, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok in a positive way. “We realize that social media and technology are central to their lives right now, and so we want to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary skills, tools, and information to use social media and technology to their benefit and to the benefit of those around them”.
Noting that the Camp was experience-based, Ms. Wharton informed that the teens participated in fun activities and listened to several presentations by impactful facilitators, including Ms. Markysa O’Loughlin, who presented on monetizing the use of social media, Mr. Enoete Inanga, who talked about the value of being positive, and Probation Officer Mr. Stephan Joseph, who gave youth tips on photography and professional self-presentation on social media channels. The Camp was also enhanced by a session on Substance Use by Drug Prevention Officer, Ms. Ichelle Huggins, and encouragement by residents of Her Majesty’s Prison, who cautioned the youth to “soak up guidance” so that they would not end up in jail.
“The children have been very receptive to the content, as well as the parents – they have been calling us daily to say that they are happy and that their children are excited and have been going to sleep early because they don’t want to miss the next day. It has been a success!” the Supervisor advised. She thanked the many officers of the Probation & Child Protection Services Department who were instrumental over the week in organizing and coordinating the Camp activities, including Probation Officer Ms. Trevicia Clarke, who rallied to have the Department restart its Youth Camp outreach.
“It is our intention to design more programmes in the future that are activity-based and would resonate with our children,” Ms. Wharton said, adding that the Department also hoped to host a Summer Camp this year and establish stronger partnerships with the business community for future youth activities.
For more information on upcoming events and to render your support and partnership, please contact Ms. Wharton at 467-1311 or via email at tivannawharton.govkn@gmail.com
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 21, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — While production of sugar on a commercial basis ceased in St. Kitts in 2005 to provide greater opportunities for expansion in non-sugar agriculture, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is pointing out the Covid-19 experience has solidified the realisation that the country needs to produce more of what people consume.
“Agriculture has seen a budding revival over the last several years,” said Prime Minister Harris. “The onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic has reminded us of the very important need to be able to feed ourselves.”
The Honourable Prime Minister made the remarks on Tuesday April 20 when he appeared on the popular Leadership Matters on ZIZ Television with four other panellists, where the topic of discussion was ‘agriculture and food security’, which he said was one of most important considerations for the country at this time.
Panellists with Prime Minister Harris on Leadership Matters were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture et al, Mr Ron Collins; Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Tracy Challenger-Clarke; Technical Specialist, St. Kitts and Nevis IICA Delegation, Ms Sharon Jones; and a longstanding farmer, Mr Winston Morris.
According to the Prime Minister, the Covid-19 experience solidified the realisation that the country needs to produce more of what it consumes. After the Government became cognisant of the fears of the people it responded to protect the population against supply chain being negatively affected by ensuring that it systematically diversified source markets for food including poultry, meat and fish while it aggressively worked to near self-sufficiency in those staples.
“This is why as part of the stimulus package my Government allocated ten million dollars to boost agriculture and agricultural production,” said Dr Harris. “Building on the commitment made to expand our agricultural base, we in our 2021 budget, allocated $5 million to continue the stimulus programme for the agriculture sector.”
The concessions the Team Unity Administration delivered to the sector are bearing fruit as there has seen increased production, and interest in crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries. He pointed out that fisheries output recorded a 3.6 percent increase in 2020 after an 83 percent reduction in output in April 2020, which was a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated curfews and lockdowns, which brought fisheries to a standstill.
“Over the past almost six years, my Administration has given much, and will further increase its support to the sector,” said Dr Harris. “Indeed the 2021 allocation of just over ten million dollars plus a further five million for the stimulus programme represents the largest budgetary allocation to the sector in a very long time.”
Prime Minister Harris said that he understood the vital importance of the sector to the country and economy, and also the challenges. He noted that he appreciated the vast potential of the agricultural sector to contribute to the country’s sustainable growth and development.
He however pointed out that for this to be achieved there must be a focused goal, and a cohesive strategy, and that way the country can produce more and better quality products for the population to consume domestically, and for export. He added that better quality foods lead to improvement in people’s health condition, which in turn should mean lower healthcare costs, as the population’s health is critical to the nation’s wealth.
According to Dr Harris, working together the farmers can create more jobs within the sector, wealth for the people and a source of foreign exchange for the country.
“Before concluding I must again encourage all farmers and fishers to get vaccinated,” said the Honourable Prime Minister. “Do it to minimise the risks of contracting Covid-19 or transmitting Covid-19 to anyone. Do it for yourselves, do it for your families and very importantly do it to put our country on a sustained path to recovery. Do it to facilitate our herd immunity target being realised, which in turn will lead to more business opportunities at our hotels and at other business places.”
]]>The dialogue among the senior officials was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, Ms. Kaye Bass and Director General, Central America and the Caribbean, Global Affairs, Canada, Ms. Sylvia Cesaratto,
In presenting opening remarks, Permanent Secretary Bass thanked the government of Canada for its unwavering commitment and assistance throughout the years and in particular, the recent assistance being rendered to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to assist in the fight against COVID19. The Permanent Secretary further underscored the importance of the historical relationship between the countries, while recognising that in these times of uncertainty, “we have a unique opportunity to jointly re-evaluate, recalibrate and re-imagine our cooperation and launch a roadmap for this new dispensation.” The COVID 19 pandemic has brought about a new era that has “forced developed and developing countries alike to come together to consider and design new paradigms for development” if we are to wholly subscribe to the many facets of the building back better agenda.
The discussion and views exchanged over the course of the consultation centered on shared priorities and explored investment and business opportunities for both countries through focused dialogue in the areas of economic recovery, trade, climate change, resilience and sustainability. Proposals for enhanced bilateral and multilateral collaboration inter alia in health, renewable energy, education, financing, agriculture, sustainable tourism, capacity building and continued advocacy for Saint Kitts and Nevis and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in global fora were also ventilated.
Ministries and government agencies including, International Trade, Agriculture, Environment, Finance, Tourism, the Saint Kitts Tourism Authority, and St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency and Nevis Investment Promotion Agency shared presentations. From the Canadian side, the agencies presented included Immigration Refugee and Citizenship, Public Health, Clean Technology, Climate Change and the High Commission of Canada in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The afternoon’s virtual event was closed with a commitment to explore and develop a roadmap for cooperation that would not only define but also chart a concrete course for tangible fruits of meaningful cooperation in the future.
St Kitts and Nevis High Commission in Ottawa also participated in the meeting.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 09, 2021 (RSCNPF): The efficiency of the detectives at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in preparing documents necessary for court will be improved with the donation of two laptops from the Social Security Board (SSB).
Officials from the SSB made the presentation on Friday, April 09, 2021, during a brief handing over ceremony at Police Headquarters. Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy explained that, some months ago, he approached the SSB to request their assistance with the procurement of laptops for detectives in the CID. Last year, Commissioner Brandy was informed by the Director of Public Prosecution that paper committals would replace preliminary inquiries in court. Paper committals require that all evidence be tendered to the magistrate in the form of typed statements.
“So we deemed it fit that the criminal investigation department should be equipped with some laptops so it can make their work much easier. If I’m asking my officers to produce in a given time, I think they should be equipped with the necessary equipment so they can work,” Commissioner Brandy said.
The Commissioner expressed his gratitude for the kind gesture. He added that SSB’s donation during this difficult and financially challenging period demonstrated the institution’s strong commitment to assisting the Police with its crime fighting efforts.
“Crime fighting is not just for the Police. Crime fighting is for the entire country and I’m very happy that Social Security can come onboard and show their generosity by donating these two computers this morning. It is always [good] when you have corporate institutions and private citizens donating to the organization. That means they have the interest of the country at heart when it comes to crime fighting,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the SSB, Chief Financial Officer, Marilyn Johnson, disclosed that they have supported the Ministry of National Security over the years in tangible ways.
“While we focus on the financial security of our members, we do recognize that the physical security and safety of our citizens are very important to the sustainability of our economy on which Social Security thrives,” Ms. Johnson explained. “So in recognition of our desire to partner with you, and support you in what you do, we have made this donation of these two computers. We wish we could do more, but we will continue to support you as time goes along.”
“We recognize that computers and laptops are necessary tools these days for you to be effective and efficient in what you do and so, on behalf of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, the Director, and senior management and staff, it gives me great pleasure to present to you these laptops, and we trust that they will help you in the execution of your duties in keeping our country safe,” said Ms. Johnson just before presenting the devices to the Commissioner.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 09, 2021 (SKNIS): Senior officials from the public sector and the private sector in St. Kitts and Nevis came together on Thursday (April 08, 2021) for an important dialogue on “The Nation’s Recovery from the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
The Federal Financial Secretary, Hilary Hazel, delivered welcome remarks at the event hosted at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel. She stated that the recipe for growth and recovery of the economy must include investments that will “help us to build forward, better.”
Mrs. Hazel noted that there are a number of investment gaps that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic that will need to be addressed to build resilience in the economy. To achieve this, several reforms were outlined.
“Some of the reforms that I speak of include building a nation of good corporate citizens; improving the business climate; looking at the education and health sector reforms; and labour market issues including pension reforms,” the financial secretary said. “Critical to the recovery as well, is how we will determine how best to use the investments made by the government to unlock even bigger investments in the national economy.”
Mrs Hazel added that the projected economic growth for 2021 was five percent.
“How do we achieve that?” she questioned. “Certainly, it cannot be public alone, and it cannot either be the private sector alone. We are in the same boat, and so we have to commit to working together.”
During the four hour meeting, the participants were updated on the latest local efforts to manage COVID-19, which included the Roll Up to Roll Out Vaccination Programme. The update was provided by the Ministry of Health.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris also shared remarks and engaged in a frank dialogue with the “Captains of Industry” during the discussion.
Giselle Matthews, President of St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, noted that the membership remains committed to the national effort to rebuild the economy.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 09, 2021 (SKNIS): Giselle Matthews, President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), made a clarion call for the private sector to educate their employees on the importance of being vaccinated as this is important for the successful management of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We need to direct the promotion and go straight to the source and I believe that it could be achieved with the right approach… It would assist us in the private sector in our own businesses and organizations in how we reach those employees, colleagues among us and become vaccinated,” said Mrs. Matthews at the government’s dialogue with the private sector on April 08, where the nation’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic was discussed. “Once information comes in, we can develop a programme that is relevant. No sense for us promoting something that is not reaching the people that we need to reach.”
Mrs. Matthews noted that the public and private sectors play a significant role in raising awareness, educating, and encouraging employees.
“The onus is on all of us private and public sector to work towards speaking to persons within our organizations and the Chamber is very supportive of the sensitization programmes taking place in some of the businesses right now,” she said.
The CIC President used the occasion to commend the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis on the progress of the vaccination programme.
“I would like to congratulate firstly, the government on the vaccination rollout programme and I think that is the most important thing we can think about right now,” she said. “That was the lifeline that we all wanted and spoke about. We all asked the Ministry of Health about when a vaccine comes. Well, a vaccine is here. The lifeline we needed is here and there is hope…”
She noted that there is positive news emanating from the vaccination programme. However, quite a lot of negativity have been circulating about people not vaccinating and the Chamber will “endorse working with the Ministry of Health” to reach those persons who need more public awareness.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 25, 2021) – – Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis continues to go without a salary, one year after foregoing his monthly pay in a show of solidarity with Nevisians who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Premier, who holds the Finance portfolio in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), gave up 100 percent of his salary, including allowances, in March 2020, with the onset of the pandemic in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
He spoke on the issue at his monthly press conference on March 24, 2021.
“In relation to me and salary, it’s now been over a year I have not collected a salary.
“I’ve still not collected a salary because I said that I believe that as Premier of Nevis I have to continue to show some solidarity with our people.
“I recognize that our people are still struggling and while this is a symbolic gesture I think it’s an important symbolic gesture, so my salary is still in abeyance,” he said.
Mr. Brantley made it clear that he has no intention of collecting any lump sum of back pay in the future.
He also indicated he was not in a position to say when he would resume getting paid as the island and wider Federation continues to struggle financially from the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.
“By abeyance I don’t mean I’m stockpiling it to collect it all at once- it’s gone. I’m not collecting it. I did say I would not collect it until we could say that this pandemic was behind us. So I’m hopeful that we can say that soon, but until then, the position remains the same.
“It’s certainly something to which I am entitled but something which I decided to forego at this time, over this period, because I think there’s real difficulty in the community.
“As Premier and Minister of Finance I can tell you there’s real difficulty in terms of government finances, and so I think that leadership must lead and that is what I am seeking to do,” he stated.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 29, 2021 (ZIZ News) In an effort to assist customers who are behind on their bills and may face disconnections The St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) will be offering a new feature to their deferred payment arrangements.
Right now the deferred payment plan allows persons to reduce the amount owned by paying on the mothly bill and the arrears in monthly installments.
However SKELEC’s Corporate Communications Manager Patrice Harris told ZIZ News that starting next week the company is adding a new option to make starting the payment plan easier.
She said this decision to begin disconnections is not sudden but customers who have owed large amounts have been repeatedly notified.
Miss Harris says customers will have a maximum of 3 years to pay off the balance while remaining up to date with their current bill.
The option to choose your initial payment will be offered from the 1st to the 14th of February.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 29, 2021) — A third international bank is set to open its doors on Nevis imminently.
This is according to Nevis Premier, Hon. Mark Brantley, Minister of Finance and Foreign Investment in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), during his January 28, 2021, press conference.
“As we seek valiantly in Nevis to try and rebuild our economy after the ravages of COVID-19, I’m pleased to announce that the Nevis Island Administration has been successful in attracting another international bank in Nevis, which brings us to three.
“This one I’m advised is called International Merchant Bank, and I’m advised that they are shortly to open their doors and have already started to hire persons,” he revealed.
The Premier said this is excellent news with respect to the additional employment opportunities that will be created in the prevailing constricted job market, as a result of the negative fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the established international banks, Nevis International Bank & Trust Limited, and Bank of Nevis International Trust Services, have over 50 employees on staff combined, and he anticipates the International Merchant Bank will hire a similar number.
In an interview with the Department of Information on January 29, 2021, Mr. Brantley spoke to the impact of this latest foreign direct investment venture on the Nevis economy.
“In this difficult economic environment globally, it speaks volumes that Nevis is still attractive to foreign investors. These institutions would have undergone a rigorous due diligence and vetting process before being considered.
“Their presence in Nevis adds to the appeal of Nevis as a growing financial services center, which is well regulated and compliant with all international standards,” he said.
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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 15, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris today, Tuesday, December 15, laid the Draft Estimates for the year 2021 before the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly as part of the final stage of the annual Budgetary process.
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.
This was followed by the tabling of The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020, in which the Team Unity Government is seeking Parliamentary approval for a total of $867,919,842 million dollars for the provision of services for the financial year commencing 1st January, 2021 and ending on 31st December, 2021. Total recurrent, capital and net lending charges against the Consolidated Fund come to $770,136,053 and the total provided by law is $97,783,789.
In his highly anticipated Budget presentation, delivered under the theme “Fortitude During the Pandemic: Resilience, Recovery and Transformation,” Prime Minister Harris said his administration has been careful over the last five years not to impose any new taxes on the people of the 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. Indeed, far from new taxes we have been subtracting, reducing and removing extant taxes. For example, we removed the onerous VAT from food, medicine and educational supplies in 2015…and in the 2021 Budget we have extended the reduction on the applicable rate of corporate income tax and unincorporated tax, reducing them by a significant 24 percent and 50 percent respectively,” Dr. Harris said.
The prime minister continued, “At a time when we could reasonably be asking for shared sacrifices for the greater collective national good by imposing new taxes as some countries have done, my Government prefers to waive them or waive some of them, apply moratoria and reduce others all to help our people and registered businesses successfully overcome the challenges of COVID-19.”
Looking ahead, Prime Minister Harris said his Government is encouraged by the positive economic projections for the Federation in 2021, notwithstanding the significant challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic.
“During the first quarter of 2020 the economy grew by just over 2 percent. The outturn was underpinned by positive growth in agriculture, financial services, transport, storage and communication, wholesale, retail and construction and even tourism was growing in the first quarter of 2020. Then COVID-19 happened and everything else took a nosedive. Our statistics department estimates that the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis is likely to contract by 12.5 percent for 2020. These estimates also project that the economy will rebound in 2021 with a positive growth rate of about 5 percent. These estimates of positive growth rate for St. Kitts and Nevis are broadly consistent in terms of direction with estimates forecast by the ECCB which projects a 6.4 percent growth for St. Kitts and Nevis and the IMF which projects an 8 percent growth for St. Kitts and Nevis,” the prime minister said.
Tuesday’s Budget presentation came during a special Sitting of the National Assembly held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Ballroom to accommodate the large number of persons in attendance, while adhering to the strict COVID-19 regulation of physical distancing.
The budget debate will continue on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the National Assembly Chambers, Government Headquarters, Basseterre.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (December 09, 2020) — The Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA) website is set to undergo an upgrade designed to improve and expand its services to attract more local and foreign investors to the island.
The announcement came during the Budget Address for 2021, delivered by Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Investment in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) on December 08, 2020.
“In light of the need to be more proactive in the investment market place my Administration is presently undertaking a project to revamp our main marketing arm, the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency.
“This revamping exercise will see the launching of a new interactive and user-friendly website platform, encompassing all the features which we hope will pique the interest of investors and have the effect of luring them to invest in Nevis.
“This new digital platform will form the basis for investment in Nevis, as all potential investors both local and international must first register on this platform, submit their project proposals and other pertinent documents which will then be reviewed and assessed by the competent staff at NIPA, before submission to the Cabinet for consideration,” he said.
The Premier said the need to step up the island’s investment marketing has become necessary in the face an increasingly challenging investment climate due to the COVID pandemic. He said it is therefore imperative that the NIA continue to promote Nevis as a viable place to invest.
“My administration intends to expand our investment promotion drive into such countries as a means to soliciting investment into Nevis by people seeking a stable and rewarding environment…
“My cabinet has already mandated NIPA to specifically target these countries with an enhanced investment pitch as part of our new strategy of looking beyond the traditional investment markets of the USA and Europe, focussing instead on Asia, the Middle East, Russia and other Eastern European countries. We feel that these are now the emerging areas with potential investors looking to expand their portfolios and opt for less stressful lifestyles,” he said.
Through this platform investors will be able to track the progress of their various applications which would have been routed to the various approval agencies of government.
Premier Brantley said the newly revamped NIPA will become the interface between the investor and the various departments of government, namely the Companies Registry, the Department of Physical Planning, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture.
“This revamping is all in an effort to enhance the investor experience as we seek to increase our ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index…
“One of the main features of this electronic investment platform will be our ability to list all the professional service providers, development concessions offered by government and the various procedures to be observed when doing business or submitting documents to any of the approval agencies of government.
“This, we feel, will expedite the approval processes and potential investors will be very clear about the documents to be submitted and the processes to be followed in order to obtain the relevant approvals,” he said.
Additional features of the improved NIPA website include the listing of professional services such as lawyers, architects, and surveyors; and the establishment of the Real Estate Database which will allow realtors the opportunity to list all properties currently available for sale.
The Premier informed that the upgrading of the NIPA website should be completed and launched during the first quarter of 2021 when it will become “the catalyst for increased foreign investment into Nevis.”
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (December 08, 2020) — Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration, presented a $237.2million budget free of new taxes, when he delivered the 2021 Budget Address in two hours at a sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly at Hamilton House on December 08, 2020.
With the theme “Rebuilding our Economy; a people centered approach to economic recovery,” the Finance Minister noted that the budget is tailored to rebuilding the island’s economy.
“The budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2021 is set at $237.2 million. We have allocated the amount of $174.9 million to recurrent spending representing 73.0 percent of the total budgeted expenditure,” he said.
Regarding the revenue collection, the Finance Minister noted that the effects of COVID-19 have been taken into account.
“Having considered the uncertain negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Administration is projecting collection of $128.2 million in Recurrent Revenue which represents a projected decrease of 8.0 percent, when compared to the projected revenue of $139.5 million for the fiscal year 2020.
“We expect our Recurrent Revenue to be augmented by the remittance of at least $45.0 million from the Federal Government representing our share of revenue from the CBI Program. Our combined total Recurrent Revenue is therefore projected at $173.2 million for the upcoming 2021 fiscal period and when compared to the projected Recurrent Expenditure of $174.9 million provides a deficit on the recurrent budget of $1.7 million,” he said.
For Capital Expenditure an amount of $62.3 million has been allocated which represents a 10.2 percent reduction, when compared to the amount of $69.4 million allocated for the fiscal year 2020.
The key areas of major allocation for expenditure are:
– The Office of the Premier – $7.7 million representing 3.2 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated to support the security services in the fight against criminal activities.
– The Ministry of Finance – $80.6 million representing 33.9 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated to meet Debt Servicing obligations.
– The Ministry of Communications and Works et al – $34.2 million representing 14.4 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated for infrastructure development programme, namely the upgrading of the road network, maintaining of government buildings and other structures, along with provisions for upgrading the water services.
– The Ministry of Agriculture et al – $12.6 million representing 5.3 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated for our food sustainability and security, disaster mitigation and upgrading of the processing facilities.
– The Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs – $35.6 million representing 15.0 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated for providing improvements in the quality and delivery of health care, an increase in the remuneration for nurses along with the completion of construction work under the Alexandra Hospital Expansion Programme.
– The Ministry of Education, Library Services and Information Technology – $34.2 million representing 14.4 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated for the delivery of quality education to the people of Nevis, executing work under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Enhancement Programme and general maintenance of educational facilities.
– The Ministry of Social Development, Culture, Youths and Sports – $16.1 million representing 6.7 percent of the total budget. Included in this amount are funds allocated for the delivery of the social protection agenda and improvements to sporting facilities.
The Finance Minister stated that funding for the capital budget will be comprised of loan funding where applicable from the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, the Sustainable Growth Fund from the Government of China (Taiwan), and other grant funding from regional and international partners. The NIA will also seek loan funding from other financial entities at concessionary rates not exceeding 4 percent per annum to complete the financing of Capital works.
He gave the assurance that the NIA would not be reckless in its spending.
“We will only seek to undertake projects if the funding is available or can be accessed at low cost in accordance with our debt management strategy.
“Where funding cannot be accessed at concessionary rates, we will curtail our expenditure programme and carry forward to the fiscal period 2022 any projects which were not executed due to lack of approved financing,” Mr. Brantley said.
]]>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.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 19, 2020) — Representatives from the Financial Services Regulatory Commission and Inland Revenue Department on Nevis have been named to a recently established International Tax Unit set up within the office of the Comptroller of Inland Revenue in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, Minister of Finance in the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, announced the establishment of the unit during the debate on the St. Christopher and Nevis (Mutual Exchange of Information in Taxation Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at the November 17, 2020, sitting of the National Assembly in Basseterre.
“The unit that we have set up comprises in the main three functionaries – Ms. Adiola Moore, the Assistant Comptroller, Head of the Unit; Ms. Fredericia Hodge from the Inland Revenue Department on St. Kitts; and Ms. Janesha Daniel from the Inland Revenue Department on Nevis.
“We have drawn upon the professional support from both the federal end the Nevis Island Administration to have a coordinated response for matters to do with international taxation,” he said.
Beyond the International Tax Unit, an interdepartmental team has been established to provide support to the government in matters of cooperation and international tax matters.
The team of eleven officials drawn from across the federal government and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) includes Ms. Heidi-Lynn Sutton, Regulator at the Financial Services Regulatory Commission in Nevis; Ms. Rhonda Nisbett-Browne, Senior Legal Counsel at the Legal Department in the NIA; Mrs. Joan Browne, Principle Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in the NIA; and Mrs. Neva Manners-Limonta, Deputy Comptroller of the Inland Revenue Department on Nevis.
The Prime Minister, mover of the Bill, described the group as “a professional team of persons working to assist the country forward”.
He said the team has day to day oversight of the government’s response to issues related to international taxation and the provision of information to the appropriate authorities in other jurisdictions.
“I gather that the team has been working very hard. There have been a number of meetings and the work has been advancing very well,” he said.
The International Tax Unit was formalized with the passage of the St. Christopher and Nevis Mutual Exchange of Information in Taxation Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2020, in the National Assembly on November 17, 2020.
The legislation saw a change in the competent authority on the mutual exchange of information with respect to tax matters from the Financial Secretary to the Comptroller of Inland Revenue.
Prime Minister Harris said the Act is one of the necessary legislative amendments that had to be made, as St. Kitts and Nevis seeks to maintain its commitment to promote international standards of transparency and the exchange of information for tax purposes.
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