BASSETRRE ST KITTS, 9 April, 2024 -- At its third quarterly media conference on Thursday 4th April, the People’s Action Movement took the time to offer some viable solutions to the government. Former minister of education and former MP for Constituency #2 Jonel Powell shared the suggestion that the Ministry of Education requires its own Maintenance Department. “It is clear to see that the Public Works Department cannot adequately address the myriad preventative maintenance issues in all the schools. They are already tasked with infrastructure oversight and that in itself is a major undertaking. We are proposing that the government seriously considers a Maintenance Department within the Ministry of Education to minimize the many problems with schools’ maintenance,” he advised. Currently one of the party’s Deputy Political Leaders, Mr Powell was responding to a question of the mold issue that has beset the Cayon High School and compared it to the problem experienced a few years ago at the Basseterre High School.
Meanwhile, in a question posed by a reporter to Political Leader Shawn Richards about what the government needs to do to stimulate more economic activity in the country, the MP for Constituency #5 set out a number of ideas. He stated that as a start, the government should look at its economic and financial policies. In this regard, he suggested that the government may consider giving businesses a tax break and offering concessionary funding via Development Bank to assist with business expansion. He added that although the reduced VAT Day may be a good idea, the government should also consider the temporary reduction of vatable items.
Against the backdrop of the downward trend in the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme and the so called reset of the social programmes, he observed that people can barely afford to make ends meet. “It is a known fact that the social programmes stimulated spending in the economy,” he asserted.
He pointed out that the country is 1200 homes behind the promised target of 600 homes per year and unless these can be completed by the end of this year, he foresees further economic stagnation. Referencing a list of projects which the Prime Minister recently listed as medium to long term he opined: “Projects of this magnitude must be properly conceptualized before they take root and have a trickle-down effect in the economy. Other than the recently commenced St Peter’s Road project, nothing has been seen to suggest that there is any imminent rolling out of a large project. There is no word on the Basseterre High School Project nor has there been any provision in the budget for the Molyneaux Primary school which was destroyed by fire,” he concluded.
As an alternative government, the PAM stands ready to engage in dialogue and offer suggestions in the interest of moving the country forward.
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