Published 24 January, 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 24, 2018 – The Timothy Harris Government in St. Kitts and Nevis continues its onslaught on the young people in the twin-island federation.
Five young persons with families to feed were forced to join the long unemployment lines when their right to work and engage in employment were taken away by Prime Minister Harris.
Five officers at the Excise and Customs Department received letters terminating their services.
A letter to Osmond Williams, Customs Officer I/II informed him that he is to proceed on vacation with immediate effect.
“According to our records, you have accumulated 30 days’ vacation and with your vacation beginning now, the 30 days will be expended by Tuesday 6th March 2018.
I am to advise you further, that at the end of your vacation, the Government of the Federation (St. Kitts and Nevis) will not have any further need of your services,” said the letter signed by Torfrida Rochester, Chief Personnel Officer, Human Resource Management Department, Office of the Prime Minister.
Similar letters were sent to Keifer Johnson, Jusila Henry, Danielle Huggins and Trevor Hendrickson.
The continued victimisation by the Timothy Harris government flouts their rights to work which is not only enshrined in the Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis, but also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law through its inclusion in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, where the right to work emphasizes economic, social and cultural development.
Article 23.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states (1) – Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition and National Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas accused Prime Minister Harris of lack of care and commitment to the country.
“Instead of turning their focus to the crime which continues unabated into the new year; instead of focusing on the myriad of failures marring our healthcare system; instead of focusing on increasing jobs and job opportunities for the youth this year, the government continues to focus on me,” Dr. Douglas said in an official statement critical of his ejection from Parliament on Tuesday morning.
The expulsion has been widely condemned with persons accusing Speaker Michael Perkins of “gross incompetence” and Prime Minister Harris of “colluding with the Speaker to stifle democracy in the lawmaking body.”
