By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th December 2018)- After weeks and months of speculation and anticipation, civil servants now know to expect a double salary this month along with an update on the $500 details of Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP).
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Timothy Harris made the announcement yesterday (Thursday) in a special address to the nation.
“The Cabinet of Ministers, of which I have the privilege of being the Chairman, has considered and determined, based on the excellent assessment of our fiscal health, that Government employees will receive, for a third year in a row, a double salary on December 14th,” he disclosed.
Dr. Harris also informed that the double salary will apply to all employees of the Federal Government, including the Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) or non-establishment workers; persons on STEP; pensioners; CFBC, and the NIA.
The Finance Minister said statutory corporations such as SKELEC, SCASPA, NHC, the Tourism Authority, etc., have also been encouraged to make payments to their employees.
Notably, double salary will be paid on the first of two VAT discount days; the second being Thursday 20th December.
In relation to the PAP, he said such will be launched on Friday 21st December “when the initial payment of $500 will be made to the responsible person in those households that qualify for this support.”
According to him, the programme is designed to provide this special stipend of $500 every month to vulnerable households that earn less than $3000 per month across St. Kitts and Nevis.