By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Wednesday 16th November 2022)-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Terrance M. Drew has announced that in November 2022, there will be double salary plus one of three (3) VAT discount days. He made the disclosure during his monthly press conference with cabinet ministers held on Tuesday 15th November at the St.
Kitts Marriott Hotel in Frigate Baywhich highlighted the new administration’s 100 days in officein speaking about the government’s continued thrust to improve the lives of people. On the topic of the double salary to be paid on [Tuesday] 22nd November, PM Drew commented: “This injection of cash into the economy will indeed have all those domino effects.
Hence, after careful consideration, it was determined that the benefits to be derived from this action to be far more outweigh any negative – LOCAL NEWS – 3 ones.” He had pointed out that the day beforeNovember 14th marked 100 days in office for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party led administration, and recalled that in his speech to commemorate the milestone it was stated that “your government is off to a good start but that is only the start, and that it is our next 1700 days that we must focus on and continues towards making the lives of our people better.” He added: “Therefore, we are not here to celebrate the first one hundred days but to press on and to look forward to do the work of this your government.” The Finance Minister said the government understands the financial plight of people and continues its thrust to improve lives.
“Your government understands that the financial plight of our people and continues our thrust to improve the lives of our people as we navigate life after the pandemic, we continue to roll out our COVID-19 recover plan initiatives.” PM Drew continued: “In this regard and following consultation with the Ministry of Finance and others, Cabinet has approved discounted VAT rate days on Friday November 25th.” He said in the initial one, vehicles will not be included and that December Friday 16th and Saturday 17th which will include vehicles. The Finance Minister spoke further about the government’s decision to pay an extra month’s salary.
“Our first 100 days in office, your government has been methodical, prudent and pragmatic in carrying out the mandate you have elected us to undertake. I am therefore pleased to announce that after careful deliberation, an extra payment of one month’s salary or what is termed double salary will be paid on ; it just so happens that it is my birthday.
It will be paid to all civil servants and government auxiliary employees of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Island Administration including pensioners and step workers, and we’re asking all statutory corporations to make similar payments to their employees as well.
This injection of cash into the economy will indeed have all those domino effects. Hence, after careful consideration, it was determined that the benefits to be derived from this action to be far more outweigh any negative ones.”of Health; all truck drivers and field attendants at the Solid Waste Management Authority who handled garbage disposal during the period; officers of the Ministry of Health and Tourism who assisted with training and certification for the re-opening of borders; all members of the first cohort of the Compliance Task Force based on Nevis; and officers of the Social Services Department.
“The various departments have been asked to compile their lists. This is not an exercise that is being done by the Cabinet; the Cabinet exercise was really to come up with a policy. We would know already who the taxi operators and the water taxi operators were that stepped up to the plate, and so we will have all of that sorted by the Ministry of Finance that the payment should be made on or before November 30,” the Premier said.
He thanked these groups of dedicated Nevisians who rose to the call of duty, risking their own lives to ensure the protection of citizens and residents faced with a deadly virus. Hon. Brantley stated, “It was critical for us to ensure that the people who benefitted from an honorariumand the terminology is important because an honorarium means it is not something somebody worked for, it is not something that is owed to them; it is something that is being given as a token of appreciationwere in fact the people who were on the front line in the fight against COVID ensuring that we were kept safe.” The NIA Cabinet and technocrats agreed on the period March 2020 to October 2021 based on the consideration that the pandemic began impacting St.
Kitts and Nevis in March 2020, and COVID19 restrictions and protocols were eased, along with the borders being re-opened in October 2021.
