Published 11 May 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
By: Media Source
Douglas Wattley: STWEP and PEP put more people to work than any other programme
Douglas Wattley, former chairman of Prime Minister Timothy Harris’ People’s Labour Party (PLP) is praising the former St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP)-led government for their major contribution to the decrease of unemployment in the Federation.
Wattley referenced a number of key programmes implemented by the former government, to address the issue of unemployment and citizen empowerment.
“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,” Wattley said, adding that “Labour’s 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.”
Meanwhile, the coalition government has failed miserably at empowering persons of the country, and assisting them with jobs and opportunities, according to Wattley.
“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,” Wattley argued.
In light of this, Prime Minister Harris is under fire for misleading the nation over employment figures for 2015 and 2016.
Recently, the Prime Minister’s 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.” The figures from the St. Christopher Social Security Board however, 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 figures indicate that there are more than 2,500 less persons employed under the Harris-led Team Unity in 2016 compared to 2013.
Dr. Terrance Drew, the SKNLP caretaker for St. Christopher 8 disclosed that “In 2007, total employment was 24,801. In 2008, total employment was 25,454. In 2010, total employment 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,”.
“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.
