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, October 21, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – As the Team Unity-led Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues the process to finalize the 2021 Budget, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris reaffirmed his administration’s intention to ensure the continuity of its large array of social safety net programmes going forward.
Prime Minister Harris said that during this budgetary process his Government is focused on cost containment, as well as the efficiency and efficacy in the delivery of services. He noted however that the protection of the poor will remain a priority in 2021.
“We shall preserve our PAP [Poverty Alleviation Programme] with strict compliance to the household criteria. We shall preserve our support to parents through the stipend to each child in early childhood. We will continue our social services support with the voucher and other programmes. We will protect our women and girls from abuses of all types. Our school children will receive support from the SELF Programme, free dental care, the waiver of examination fees, etc., and certainly, for those with the entrepreneurial zeal we will provide through our Fresh Start programme support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises,” Prime Minister Harris said on Tuesday (October 20) during the virtual forum series Leadership Matters.
Earlier this year, the Government made provisions to accept an additional 940 persons who lost incomes due to COVID-19 onto the Poverty Alleviation Programme. Up to September 2020, the Government had paid out $23 million under this programme.
Prime Minister Harris said it is evident then that St. Kitts and Nevis boasts one of the most comprehensive social safety net programmes in the Caribbean, “and we can add the vital contribution of Social Security in supporting over 800 persons with non-contributory benefits, that is, benefits for which they would not have contributed.”
Dr. Harris said going forward greater attention will be placed on the management of these critical programmes to ensure that only those who are most in need and who meet the necessary requirements benefit from them.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 21, 2020 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris lauded several key public servants and entities for playing an integral role in keeping the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis functioning during the peak period of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“As we look forward to this important milestone in the opening up of our country with a view to sustain recovery in the COVID-19 era, I want to place on record the Cabinet’s deep appreciation to several outstanding public officials for their work to date,” said the prime minister on October 20 edition of ‘Leadership Matters’, a virtual forum on ZIZ TV. “I especially want to thank those of our public servants who went beyond the call of duty to ensure the continuity of Government at the onslaught of enduring the difficult period of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Dr. Harris reflected on the stay at home order that was implemented under the COVID-19 Emergency Powers Regulations to keep citizens and residents safe from the virus. He said that despite the lockdowns and curfews, “during the difficult first months April to June 2020”, the performance of various departments were exemplary.
“Allow me then to recognize the work of the leadership of the Ministry of Finance who took the lead role in devising the plan for keeping Government functioning and for their outreach efforts to various economic actors at a time of high uncertainty and fear globally, regionally, and right here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said. “The unveiling of the stimulus plan led to a calming of the waters. Our COVID-19 stimulus package is to date the largest and the best one to be unveiled anywhere in the Caribbean region.”
He also recognized the Accountant-General Levi Bradshaw and the Treasury Department for “ensuring that every week, over 4000 weekly-paid public sector workers were paid on time.” Mention was also made of the Head of the Payroll Unit and the Chief Personnel Officer, as well as the Chief Executive Officer of STEP and their staff for their excellent work and outstanding support.
The health care sector also came in for commendation. Dr. Harris noted that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Delores Stapleton-Harris and the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) “worked very hard to ensure the readiness of St. Kitts and Nevis by organizing the procurement of essential personal protective equipment, vehicles, the Cuban medical brigade and much more and indeed for putting in place an effective public education and outreach programme to inform and educate the public about the dangers of COVID-19.”
The Ministry of Sustainable Development ought not to be forgotten as it continues to play an important role in “ensuring the continuity of payment” under the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP). The prime minister indicated that to date $23 million have been paid over the period January to September 2020, with an expected $31.1 million by year-end.
Equally important, the prime minister also recognized the Labour Department for being critical in processing just over 700 severance claims to date; the Office of the Attorney General for its work with the Emergency Powers COVID-19 Regulations that has kept citizens and residents safe and secure from COVID-19 over the last seven (7) months; the Government Printery for going beyond the call of duty to get SROs gazetted; ZIZ for delivering real-time updates on COVID-19, as well as the HEOC and NEOC for their tremendous work.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14th , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris says persons who have been unfairly applying for and possibly receiving payments while working on the Skills Training Empowerment Programme, and receiving payments from the Poverty Alleviation Program as well as the COVID-19 Stimulus package will be thoroughly investigated in aims to ensure that the most needy are receiving the assistance.
Prime Minister Harris was at the time responding to the concerns of a caller on the October 13 edition of Leadership Matters on ZIZ.
During the call, the concerned citizen hinted that there were persons currently taking advantage of the three social safety net programs and requested that due diligence is taken to resolve the issue.
Dr. Harris revealed that the government is aware and is in the process of downsizing the list of persons receiving multiple payments.
“This is something that we are paying attention to and we began the process of rationalizing, of re-examining the list of beneficiaries on the PAP, on the STEP and the Stimulus package to see where there is any element of someone benefitting in circumstances where they ought not to and we will correct any matter that requires correcting. The idea is to ensure that the largest number of persons would benefit from these programs”, the Prime Minister stated.
He reminded listeners that those persons earning an income of over 3 thousand dollars do not qualify and should not be receiving payments under the Poverty Alleviation Program.
“If your income is under $3000.00 per month which is what we established as the threshold for the PAP, you can benefit under the PAP once you meet the criteria. Certainly if the STEP and the other things that you’re getting, income flows over the $3000.00 then you should not be on that program”, Dr. Harris explained.
He said a special unit has been tasked with the responsibility to make the necessary inquiries and conduct investigations to track multiple payments.
“The unit that deals with this matter, the statisticians etc are doing the necessary inquiries. They are liaising with other government departments and in due time we will have those lists appropriately downsized to reflect the fairness and that the most needy are the ones benefitting”, he said.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 14, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – On the Tuesday, October 13 edition of Leadership Matters, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said his caring Team Unity Government continues to provide the necessary financial and social assistance to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis during this difficult time.
This range of support includes the comprehensive $120-million stimulus package introduced by the Government in March of this year to help cushion the economic impact from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To help our employees keep their heads above water, my Government provided several relief and social safety net measures including the waiver of water payments for 6 months (April to September) to those who suffered loss of income as a result of COVID-19; we instituted a moratorium on electricity payments for some six months, a moratorium to those with mortgages with commercial banks. To date, we are advised that over 2,000 holders of mortgages valued at over $400 million have benefited from this programme,” Prime Minister Harris said in his remarks.
The prime minister stated that the Government has also facilitated an additional 940 persons – who lost incomes due to COVID-19 – on the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP).
Dr. Harris said, “The PAP beneficiaries count peaked at about 5,800 as more households lost their breadwinners and applied to the Ministry of Sustainable Development to become enrolled as a recipient of the PAP programme. Up to September 2020, my Government has paid out $23 million for the year so far in Poverty Alleviation stipends to assist the poor and vulnerable in our midst.”
Prime Minister Harris, who also serves as Minister of Finance, noted that further assistance came to the people through the Severance Payment Fund, after his Government injected $11.1 million into the fund to cover the cost of COVID-19 related redundancies and long service payments.
“So far 1,855 claims have been made for severance payment and 620 have completed the necessary processing requirements and are ready for payment. Significant claims have been processed from the Marriott Hotel, OTI Hotel, Park Hyatt Hotel, Four Seasons Resort, Nisbet Plantation, TDC Airlines, Caribelle Batik, Delisle Walwyn – particularly Kantours, Vacation Tours and SKI Safari to name some of the entities in the tourism sector. Of course, claims have been received and are being processed for workers in the manufacturing and construction industries,” the prime minister added.
Prime Minister Harris said the Government has engaged the services of an actuary on how it can improve the Severance Payment Fund and make it more sustainable. The Government is currently awaiting the actuary’s report, which will be discussed with the Tripartite Committee – specifically the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the workers’ representatives – and the public before action is taken.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS July 15, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration)– Hon. Mark Brantley, Minister of Foreign Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis, is underscoring the importance of foreign direct investment to the development of the islands’ economy and the positive impact it has on the lives of every citizen.
In a recent interview with Yuri Bender, Editor-in-Chief of the Professional Wealth Management Pan-European and Asian magazine, Mr. Brantley noted that foreign direct investment from the CBI programme benefits citizens on a national and personal level, and can be seen across every facet of the economy.
“We have the Hurricane Relief Fund now called the Sustainable Growth Fund which provides direct income to the government through the CBI (Citizens by Investment) Programme, and when that happens the government then has resources to do a host of social, infrastructural and development projects for the country, and we look around St. Kitts and Nevis and you see the DNA of that all over.
“We’ve just launched for example, a Poverty Alleviation Programme where poor households are given a supplemental cheque, so it really has real, legitimate impact on the ordinary lives of our citizens and that’s what makes it so important to us,” he said.
St. Kitts and Nevis is one of five Eastern Caribbean territories which offers CBI programmes, where foreign nationals can invest substantial amounts of money in order to become economic citizens.
However, Mr. Brantley, who is also the Premier and Minister of Foreign Investments in the Nevis Island Administration, stated that St. Kitts and Nevis is not relying solely on CBI money to keep the economy turning. He said the government continues to look to diversification of various sectors of the economy to ensure the Federation’s economic survival.
“We have tried here to diversify in different ways through our Citizenship By Investment programme, through our Financial Services offerings that we have on both islands, predominantly on Nevis, light manufacturing, agriculture and other areas that we are now trying to get into, such as renewable energy. I think that all of these are very important to us and our future,” he said.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 25, 2020 (SKNIS): Appearing on Wednesday’s (June 24) edition of Working for You, Abdias Samuel, National Disaster Coordinator stated that disaster mitigation is critically important if the federation was to be impacted by a hurricane.
“Mitigation is the aspect of putting the necessary structures and policies in place to be able to reduce the impact because we know every year, we are going to face a hurricane,” said Mr. Samuel. “Therefore things like strengthening our building codes, looking at enhancing our drainage system, ensuring that they are clean, ensuring that persons build their roof to the standards, having proper insurance for our properties and belongings such as our vehicles. These are some of the things we can do to mitigate.”
The National Disaster Coordinator stated that having policies in place is important. He added that social safety networks are also critical.
“For example, let’s say that the $500 Poverty Alleviation Programme, these are mitigating measures that help us to reduce the impact,” he said. “In doing that, it leads us to the phase of preparedness because we already have the necessary policies and infrastructure and then we now have the ability to prepare.”
Mr. Samuel said that to prepare, families should plan what they are going to do in case of a hurricane.
“If this (hurricane) impacts us, what are we going to do. One, know where your shelters are, two, know the emergency numbers, three, know exactly who are the volunteers for the various non-governmental organizations and also the district managers so that they can assist you if you need help,” he said.
The National Disaster Coordinator said that persons should have a “go bag” or “quick bag” in case they need to go to the shelter.
“These are some of the critical things that you have to sit down with your family and discuss,” he said. “I want to encourage and appeal to the general public to take ten minutes and sit down with your family and speak with them. If we reach to a situation whereby, we are displaced, where do we meet, where do we go.”
Mr. Samuels said that persons should also speak with their contractors to determine what type of shutters are needed for their home.
“Do I buy some boards and have them so that I can board up or do I buy the fabricated one that I can have year-round. That is critically important,” he said.
Persons should have cash on hand in case of a hurricane, added Mr. Samuels.
“Also, important to note is that it is good to have some cash on hand. We saw situations whereby banking institutions and their accessories such as ATM machines would have gone faulty during these times. It’s also good to have some cash at home,” he said.
“We also go to the discussion of perishable items. It’s very good to have them during the hurricane season and extra cache of perishable item in case you have to go to the shelter,” he said
“Also, medication. If you suffer from any underlying illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure or some heart condition make sure you have some extra medication that you can walk with or put in your go bag in the event that we come under the threat of a tropical storm or impacted by a hurricane. These things are very important to have,” Mr. Samuel added.
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