Published 3 May 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
by: Media Source
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 3, 2018 – The harsh realities of a floundering St. Kitts and Nevis economy were highlighted Wednesday at the monthly press conference of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP).
Deputy Political Leader, Dr. Earl Asim Martin accused Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris of collecting millions of dollars from the Hurricane Relief Fund and has offered no assistance to hundreds of homeowners whose roofs are still covered in tarpaulins.
Dr. Harris is also being blamed for the economic downturn in St. Kitts and Nevis by demonizing the Citizenship by Investment Programme.
“Contrary to what he would have you believe, it was Dr Harris’ woeful incompetence and power-hungry drive that brought on the economic downturn we have been experiencing. While he was in opposition, Dr. Harris travelled far and wide to cast vividly descriptive aspersions on our then thriving Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. His myopic drive for the title and position of Prime Minister was at the crux of his failure to realise that by attacking the CBI, he was in fact attacking a significant contributor to the St. Kitts and Nevis economy,” said Dr. Martin.
The former deputy prime minister and minister of health, public works and energy, pointed out that under Dr. Harris’ leadership, the once thriving and top-notch CBI programme has deteriorated beyond even a mere shell of its former self.
“In the past three years, our citizenship product has been cheapened beyond description. Since taking office, Dr Harris has reduced our citizenship cost several times. Antigua and Barbuda has now gone miles ahead of us in their CBI programme,” he said.
Dr. Martin also pointed out that Dr Harris has abandoned an election campaign promise to place the SIDF money into the government’s treasury.
“He has now abandoned the SIDF completely and created a slush fund administered from his office by one of his brothers, a cousin and himself. There is no oversight board and no transparency. Only God knows where those millions of dollars end up,” said Dr. Martin.
Despite collecting millions of dollars from the Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF) residents across St. Kitts and Nevis still have roofs covered in tarpaulin because the promised money from the HRF has been channelled elsewhere
“If this were not damaging enough, Dr Harris has now terminated the Hurricane Relief Fund and established another fund. While some people in government continue to fill their pockets, programmes to help our students, home owners and the vulnerable have all been closed down,” he stated.
File photos of NHC homes that were damaged during Hurricane Irma
