“2016 A Year of Wonderful Possibilities and Promising Opportunities” By Dr The Hon Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis January 1, 2016
My Fellow Citizens and Residents of St. Kitts & Nevis:
My family joins me in extending sincerest wishes for a prosperous New Year. New Year’s Day should always be a period for new beginnings and a Fresh Start. It should also witness the continuation of those good things at which we have excelled. The start of a New Year should also be a time in which we make adjustments in those areas where we have noticed underperformance and room for improvement.
New Year’s Day 2016 should be a time for rejoicing, and for giving thanks to God for His mercies and providence in the past 12 months. New Year’s Day 2016 is also a time for renewed hope and optimism for our people and our Country. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis have so much to be thankful for.
In the past 10 months we took great strides towards restoring democracy and good governance following the February 2015 General Elections that resulted in the Team Unity Administration assuming office. History would recall that Election Day 2015 was a watershed moment for our Country, as it brought to an end a protracted, 26-month election campaign that witnessed steel-belted resistance to the tabling of the December 2012 Motion of No Confidence by the Douglas-led regime that has now been ousted from power. In the end, justice prevailed. Through much prayer and intercession our omnipotent God facilitated justice from the Privy Council. For all this, we must never cease in proclaiming “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”
2016 – Year of Prosperity
The year 2016 promises to be a bright and prosperous one for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. It is expected to be a period marked by continued growth, development, continued advancement, and general improvement in our domestic affairs, our human condition, our placement on the world’s stage, and our overall competitive advantage realised through trade, investment, knowledge management and national productivity.
The International Monetary Fund has predicted that the St. Kitts and Nevis economy is expected to grow by at least 4.6 percent in 2016. This forecast will therefore place the Federation among the best performing economies not just in CARICOM but in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the wider global community. Such consistent levels of growth provide the resources and fiscal space for us to have provided a tax free budget for 2016 - a situation which we ought not to take for granted and rather should celebrate. Recent tax measures imposed by Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago only a few days ago point to the stark contrast in the strength of our fiscal situation.
One may recall that in my 2015 Christmas Message I addressed the highly anticipated improvements in health care delivery. These included the long overdue renovations to the Mary Charles Hospital in Molineux, and the establishment of an Oncology Unit at the JN France General Hospital for the benefit of our cancer patients. The poor in our Federation will benefit most from the considerable improvement in our budgetary allocation for medication. Our public health centres and pharmacies will be better stocked with prescription drugs. Our Team Unity Government is excited about these and other upgrades in health care since our advancement as a people is measured largely by the health and well-being of our citizens and residents. This realization led us early in our tenure to remove the burdensome 17 percent VAT on medication.
A highlight of the New Year 2016 is going to be the start of construction works on a brand new Basseterre High School. This project has been long in coming, and the parents, teachers and students at that school deserve to have a return to normalcy. Our Government is heartened by the fact that the start of the new school term will see the teachers and students of Basseterre High School move into their temporary location at Taylor’s while construction commences on their permanent, modern educational complex. It is a firm promise made, and a firm promise that will be kept by my government.
Growth Poles
2016 should be a bumper year for the Federation in terms of tourism development. Such improvements should be evident in terms of infrastructure, destination marketing, sports tourism and improved airlift. Two weeks ago, our Nation welcomed the inaugural touch-down of United Airlines. This new North American flight adds to the range of international aviation access for the Federation. United now joins British Airways, US Air, and American Airlines that currently provide weekly linkages to the North American and European markets.This is indeed good news, as improved airlift facilitates increased stay-over visitor arrivals. Golfing tournaments and excursions also will witness increased activity.
It is expected that the New Year will witness the completion of a major construction project at Windsor Medical School, and the start of construction work to expand the existing physical plant of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. It is no secret that such construction activity will put new money into the local economy through the creation of jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for service providers.
The stimulation of activity and expansion in the SME sector are high expectations for 2016. This is being made possible through the "Fresh Start" loan programme recently launched by the Development Bank via the provision of a US$5 million loan facility from the Government of Venezuela. The public's response to these small business loan funds - for business start-up and expansion - was overwhelming, as is evident from the fact that the programme was oversubscribed within a relatively short period of time. This says to us that the SME sector has confidence in the current economic and investment climate under the new Team Unity Administration.
Spin-offs to be expected from the utilization of these loan funds include job creation, increase in the number of entrepreneurs operating in the economic space, expansion in the local services and general trading sectors, and a widening of the tax base as these SME beneficiaries generate sales and pay their fair share of business taxes applicable to their levels of operations. We are committed to facilitate additional tranches of resources to this programme.
Our Agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors are critical to our forward march to development. In the New Year new initiatives will be announced.
A major 2015 accomplishment of the Team Unity Administration was the recalibration of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme that was seriously under threat of collapse as a result of (a) the Federation’s loss of visa-free access to Canada for our citizens and (b) the US FINCEN Advisory against our Country. Similar sanctions from other major jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom were coming fast on the heels of these two injurious body blows, due to the Douglas regime’s sale of passports to certain foreign nationals of questionable repute.
The Team Unity administration brought a Fresh Start to the CBI programme by making quick work of corrective steps to co-operate with the Governments of Canada and the USA in revamping the programme. We hosted two service providers seminars here in the Federation. These were the first of their kind to take place in the region. We attracted top level representation from the governments of Canada, the UK, the USA, and the EU. They have commended us on our leadership and our taking steps in the right direction.
The improvements to the CBI programme will continue into 2016. Our Team Unity administration will support all CBI-related projects, and also support the work of SKIPA’s Technical Committee. In 2016, efforts will be sustained to ensure that close working relations are maintained with the UK, the USA, Canada, and the European Union. We rescued our CBI from the valley of dry bones and scorn to which the ousted regime took it. It is now more respected, better managed and supported than ever before. For our reward the programme brought in a 42.5 percent increase in the revenue projections for 2015 set by the former regime. Far from being dead, our CBI programme is alive and well – but this time opened only to the discerning investors. The Team Unity Government will do all in its power to restore premier status to our pioneering CBI programme.
People’s Empowerment
It is no secret that the Department of Constituency Empowerment and its financial resources were being used as a political vehicle to assist the Douglas regime in desperately holding on to power. The time has now come for the unit to be re-engineered and re-purposed as the Department of People’s Empowerment, within the Office of the Prime Minister. Part of this restructuring demands the incorporation of the affairs of our Diaspora community under the Department. This new Department is to be headed by Mr Duncan Wattley. Mr Wattley, a lecturer at CFBC, cultural artiste, community activist and radio personality, requires no detailed introduction to the public.
The Department will be designed to inter alia:
- Facilitate and hone leadership from the community level;
- Trigger and guide renewal of our rural and urban communities;
- Accommodate public and grassroots development education and awareness on all national development matters where the people’s voices must be heard and advanced;
- Facilitate engagement across ministerial portfolios on matters germane to the development, health, wealth and safety of all community residents;
- Create a forum and focal point for returning nationals who have much to contribute to the development of their homeland.
Law and Order
The safety and security of the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis, have been a major focus for the Team Unity Administration in 2015. Overall major crimes are down however, our homicide rate is still high. The most troubling reality of this social scourge is the fact that our young men are participating in retaliatory violence associated with turf warfare, drug dealing, and gang culture.
Crime and criminal behaviour must be reduced and stopped wherever possible. It is for this reason that the Ministry of National Security would have received in the 2016 Recurrent Budget the largest ever allocation to facilitate ongoing investment in training, re-tooling, science and technological investment, and crime-fighting applications. Government has also taken the step to increase risk pay for security forces, something that was overdue for more than 20 years. During the first quarter of 2016 determinations will be made regarding new leadership in the Police Force, including installation of a new High Command for our security forces. Whoever leads the Police force – whether he or she is appointed or acting in the post – must embrace the synergies, the development of intelligence, the consistent application of investigative techniques and science. Reliable reporting and record-keeping that are also paramount in bringing the right persons to justice and obtaining appropriate convictions and sentencing.
Coupled with the foregoing imperatives necessary for better results at crime-fighting and crime reduction are the ongoing plans of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs in addressing court backlogs and poor prosecutions. Efforts are being made to add a second high court judge, create a new courtroom, and improve prosecution procedures in order to have a higher success rate when matters are brought to trial.
Public Sector Reform
The call for a new public sector culture was articulated time and again in the debate on the 2016 Budget. The evidence is clear that there is much room for improvement in the public service in the areas of productivity and performance. While the historic civil service model is one based on the award of increments, it stands to reason that such increments are dependent on satisfactory performance appraisals. Yet, what has been allowed to fester is a culture of entitlement among some ranks within the public service where increments are being viewed as earmarks rather than a deserved reward for performance. This has to stop. It is a mindset that has to be changed. We will promote a Fresh Start.
The reality of our national situation is that we are heavily invested in a services economy. Simply put, top quality service is required in both the public and private sectors. By extension, salaries and increments must be tied to productivity and performance – with promotions being based on merit. In 2016 there will be heightened efforts to advance our public sector reform programme, beginning with the completion of job descriptions where none currently exist, and the development of matching performance appraisals to accurately determine execution of assigned duties.
PEP
Since its inception some three years ago, much has been said throughout St. Kitts and Nevis about the ill-conceived People’s Employment Programme (PEP). Our Team Unity Government inherited the programme which, for the most part, appeared to have been a knee-jerk reaction to the filing of the Motion of No Confidence, as a means of solidifying political traction among young voters.
While there may be merit in some aspects of PEP, the following facts are indisputable:
1) The programme is unsustainable as is presently formulated.
2) It has cost the country over $165 million to date.
3) A recent productivity and performance assessment of the programme by the Caribbean Development Bank has revealed that of the more than 4,000 workers on PEP less than 140 benefitted from sustainable training.
4) Most workers have been on PEP since its inception. Full-time, permanent employment is still very much out of the reach of most persons in the programme. We want PEP workers to be fully employed by their employers in 2016 and their wages to reflect the fair value of their work. We also want persons on the PEP Programme to be assisted in the setting up their own businesses. In this regard we shall provide a tranche of resources to the Development Bank to extend the FRESH Start to PEP workers.
Better days are coming to workers on the PEP.
5) Government cannot continue to subsidize the labour pool of private sector firms. It stands to reason that if any business intends to remain viable it cannot have its workforce being paid by PEP. Such businesses need to confirm the employment of their PEP workers in 2016.
In 2016, PEP will be re-vamped and re-purposed. In this regard, we solicit the cooperation of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Hotel and Tourism Association. The re-designed programme should be multifaceted, and be inclusive of a training and recruitment mechanism that facilitates measured entry into and graduation out of the programme on a consistent basis. We seek the support of our private sector partners as we re-organize and recalibrate the PEP Programme.
As the people of St. Kitts and Nevis tie the ribbon around 2015 and embrace the wonderful possibilities and promising opportunities of 2016, we must pause to give God thanks for the graces that we have received over the past year. We have been a fortunate Country, in that we were spared from the ravages of natural disasters. We experienced unparalled economic growth in 2015 under the competent hands of Team Unity. Such achievements must never be taken for granted.
New Year’s Honours: Awardees
I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has graciously consented to the following awards to four of our nationals.
They are as follows:
- Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) ~ Bishop Kelvin C. Jones~ (for services to the community in the field of religion. The members and friends of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church are smiling at this well deserved honour bestowed on Bishop Jones).
- Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) ~ Ms Clarita V. Richards ~ (for services to education, music and public administration).
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) ~ Mrs Ruperta P. Richards-Leader ~ (for her contribution to health care service)
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) ~ Mr Keith I. Scarborough ~ (for cultural and community service)
On behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, I also salute them for their sterling national service which has resulted in the royal recognition now being bestowed on them. We trust that the example and legacy of all awardees will serve as a model for our younger generations to emulate.
Conclusion
As we look towards the future and prepare ourselves to face the challenges that may confront us, we should do so as a people of faith.
Constitutionally, ours is a Christian Nation given to us by God. We do these things by educating our people, by protecting our vulnerable citizens, and by raising a generation of young people with greater coping skills, emotional maturity, and respect for the dignity of others. Country above Self also calls for self-sacrifice. Each of us has it within us to give for the good of Country, and for the securing of a future for generations yet unborn. Let us therefore greet the New Year 2016 with open arms, assured that every move that we make is done with prior consultation and guidance from Almighty God.
In deciding on the theme for this New Year’s address “2016: A Year of Wonderful Possibilities and Promising Opportunities” I was inspired by and have taken to heart, the words of Jeremiah 29 verse 11 which are:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
On behalf of our Team Unity Government I humbly ask you to constantly keep our land, our people and our national leaders in prayer. This is our Nation to love, to treasure, to develop, and to defend. This Team Unity administration assumed office based on prayer and intercession, and upon the faith and courage of countless individuals who have put our Country above partisan politics. That being said it is my intention to consult with our religious leaders through the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Hon Vance Amory, to convene a week of prayer early in this New Year. We are mindful that we need God's guidance and protection as we embark on this New Year, and that holding fast to our spiritual and moral values is an imperative for taking us forward and upward.
Our tripartite Government system has begun to shift the paradigm of our historical political constructs. This Fresh Approach to governance has resulted in the best relations between St. Kitts and Nevis ever seen since our tiny islands were thrown together by Great Britain over a century ago. What is necessary now is for us to build upon the bridges that are being formed and under-pinned, and then take our twin island Federation to the next level.
Together we can make it as a Nation…but it starts at the individual level. Let us continue on that journey now for the good of the people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis...and for generations yet unborn.
On behalf of the Federal Government I again extend sincere best wishes to every citizen and resident of our Federation for a bright, prosperous and bountiful New Year 2016. Thanks for listening and may God bless us all.
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