Published 6 May 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
By: Media Source
Douglas Wattley: STWEP and PEP put more people to work than any other programme
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 6, 2018 – Douglas Wattley, former chairman of Prime Minister Timothy Harris’ People’s Labour Party (PLP) is hailing the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) as the party that provided more jobs for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“I just want to remind you all that the Labour Administration of the recent past was the real jobs government. It had two of the largest and more impactful jobs policies and programmes in the history of the Federation,” said Wattley, who added: “The Short Term Work Experience Programme (STWEP) and the People’s Empowerment Programme (PEP) put more people to work than any Programme at any time in this Country.” Wattley said the PLP/CCM/PAM Team Unity Government “has lacked the entrepreneurship to match even one of these programmes.”
Figures show that more persons were employed in St. Kitts and Nevis under the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party administration than under the Team Unity Government.
Known for not telling the truth, Prime Minister was slammed for misleading the nation over employment figures for 2015 and 2016.
Harris’ Press Unit quoted the Prime Minister as stating that in 2016, there were 24,539 employed, up from 24,308 in 2015, ‘making 2016 the best year for job seekers.’
But figures from the St. Christopher Social Security Board showed that more persons were employed in the years 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013 under the previous St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) administration of the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas. The SKNLP left office in mid-February 2015.
In fact, there are more than 2,500 less persons employed under the Harris-led Team Unity in 2016 compared to 2013.
“In 2007, total employment was 24,801; in 2008, total employment was 25,454; in 2009, total employment was in 2010 was 25,854; in 2011, total employment was 24,823; in 2012, total employment was 24,471 and in 2013, total employment, was 27, 025,” Dr. Terrance Drew, the SKNLP caretaker for St. Christopher 8 disclosed.
“How can the Prime Minister mislead the people of the country by saying 2016 the number of persons employed were the best ever in the history of St. Kitts and Nevis. Again, every time Dr. Harris opens his mouth, he blatantly misleads the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Drew said.
“Dr. Harris cannot be trusted with giving information. He is lying,” Dr. Drew reiterated.
