By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 26th July 2018)-The opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) has called out the Team Unity Government for allegedly breaking details of the $500 liveable wage promise made on the campaign trail leading up to the 2015 general elections.

“According to Dr. Harris, you are only qualified if you are living in a household in which the combined income of every adult in the home is less than $3000. That’s not what he said [leading up to elections]; he said that you were going to get $500 to ensure that you have a liveable wage. I ask the people who are now in STEP [formerly PEP]…to remember that promise to give you $500, a liveable wage.”

So said opposition leader Dr. Denzil Douglas while speaking at the Party’s monthly press conference held yesterday ( Wednesday 25th July) at the Koi Building Conference Room located at Airport Road.

He further criticised the timeline of the liveable wage saying “During the run up to the 2015 elections, this $500 hand out was touted as a main priority of the Team Unity Government that really should have been handled within its first 100 days in government but instead it has taken the government three and a half nearly four years to finally roll out this plan of an addition $500. Not only that, they have done so after running the economy nearly into the ground and therefore life has become so much harder for the people of St.Kitts and Nevis and the cost of living has become so much higher than it has ever been.”

He added: “This really means that $500 back in 2015 would have not have the same impact as $500 today in 2018. What has happened to the cost of living adjustment that was promised? In fact, persons are now saying on the streets-and the people-are very wise- that it should be retroactive and others are saying that there should be a back pay, and they are going to demand a back pay from Dr. Harris.”

An official update on that social assistance programme on St.Kitts “for economically challenged households”- as disclosed by Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris at his recent monthly press conference last Tuesday (17th July)- has been summed up by Dr. Douglas as being Dr. Harris’ “latest scheme which he hopes would provide significant political advantage.”

According to opposition leader: “The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party finds it very interesting that Dr. Harris has chosen now to fulfil a campaign promise that he made with elections just around the corner. Our people would not be fooled.”
Dr. Douglas called on members of the public to examine the helpfulness of the promised money.

“We are not telling people not to take the money; it is your money and you deserve it but what does this hand out really mean for the people in terms of dollars and cents. How much will it actually help you when you are trying to make ends meet when you have less disposable income than you ever had? How does it help you when you are losing everyday your electricity supply and your water supply? How much can this help you?”

The SKNLP opposition is of the view that thousands of people would be disqualified.

“The $500 assistance would only be given to some persons who qualify he says. And many persons will be disqualified. Mark my words-many people will be disqualified; thousands of persons will be disqualified from receiving this $500 that had been promised by Dr. Harris to bring into being this liveable wage that he promised in nearly four years ago.”
Dr. Douglas also questioned whether the information about the liveable wage has been publicised sufficiently.

“In addition to this the window to apply is only eight days. This is way too short a time period for the general public to take advantage of. Has this been properly advertised meaning has the message gone out to the poor and indigent who may not have access to a television or a radio much less social media. What about people who may be sick in hospital? The government must ensure that all persons have knowledge about this and are given enough time to gather their documents and their plans.”

Dr. Harris outlined at his recent press conference that the registration process for the assistance programme would run from 1st to 15th August 2018.