Published 4 October 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Livelihood of plumbers, electricians, heavy equipment operators and food vendors will be affected says Dr. Martin
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 4TH 2017 – The Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF) option introduced by the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government has social and economic implications for St. Kitts and Nevis.
Deputy Political Leader of the opposition, St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and former deputy prime minister Dr. Earl Asim Martin said the introduction signals the death knell for the Real Estate option of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme.
He said the real estate option stands to suffer tremendously because persons seeking St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship will prefer to spend US$150,000 under the Hurricane Relief Fund option to get four passports instead of investing US$400,000 to buy property under the Real Estate option.
“On September 23rd when the Hurricane Relief Fund option was introduced, it has serious implications for the Real Estate option. Serious implications for the livelihood of those who make a living from a robust construction industry of this federation,” Dr. Martin said on the weekly “Ask the Leader” programme on KYSS 102.5 FM.
“Construction of real estate will be affected as there will be a significant reduction in the purchase of cement, concrete, lumber and other material from S. L. Horsford, TDC, Builders Paradise and Nichols for the building of homes and condos. There are several spinoff effects,” said Dr. Martin, who added that the livelihood of thousands of plumbers, electricians, heavy equipment operators, sub contractors, carpenters, masons, skilled workmen and unskilled labourers will be jobless as construction is significantly reduced or grinds to a halt.
“The local food vendors who go from construction site to construction site daily to sell breakfast and lunch, other food and drinks to the workmen will see their income drastically red cued as well as the number of large construction sites under the Real Estate option dwindle or evaporate,” said Dr. Martin, a former minister of public works.
“These income earners will no longer be able to provide and sustain the quality of life for themselves and their families. They have invested in homes, vehicles and transportation and with mortgages to meet with the banks and other financial institutions,” he pointed out.
Describing the Team Unity government as “reckless and self serving,” Dr. Martin criticised Prime Minister Harris’s action as an affront to the devastated nations of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
In an attempt to justify the decision to introduce the Hurricane Relief Option, the Government has issued several conflicting versions.
