Published 3 August 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
Drop in the standard of living, high unemployment, trauma stalk St. Kitts and Nevis
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 3RD 2017 – The deteriorating economic climate in St. Kitts and Nevis has led to suffering and a drop in the standard of living, high unemployment and restlessness among the youth deceived by the current Timothy Harris-led PLP/CCM/PAM administration.
“Our people can no longer afford the basics to continue living decently, our young people in particular are languishing and becoming more and more restless as they recognize that they have been comprehensively by a government that used them to and now it has appeared has abused them to get into office in order to enrich themselves and turn their backs on the people,” said Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil l. Douglas.
With the Federation, previously leading in GDP in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union and now listed as number six, the former minister of finance said “nothing seems to be happening in the country.”
“There is a downturn. The unemployment level is standing around 25 to 30 percent and it may be higher among the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis. People are losing their utilities on a regular basis because of their inability to pay their bills. Our children have graduated from universities, colleges and high schools and there is an air of uncertainty that hovers over our land because they do not know whether they are going or staying, nether they would be employed or unemployed and this air of uncertainty is not good in building the confidence of our young people who are our future leaders and nation builders.
Persons who have slaved to go to universities, colleges or high schools are now not certain as to whether their parents would be able to send them off to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College or other institutions although they might have done well, because the support that was being provided by my Labour Party administration in office has been withdrawn from them and their parents by the Team Unity Government.
Dr. Douglas said the women, most of them single and heads of households have not escaped the trauma imposed upon this nation by the Timothy Harris regime.
“They were promised a rosier future. They were told that if their household income was EC$3,000 or less per month, it would have been supplemented. Today not one household headed by a female can hold up her hand and say ‘count me because I have been assisted by this administration based on the promises made to us during the period of campaigning,” he said.
Dr. Douglas said that prospective investors are concerned about the dwindling opportunities to move forward as those who are only affiliated with the Harris clan and who are part of the practice of nepotism, and cronyism are able to find opportunities for investment and better living conditions,” said the former prime minister.
