No double salary for St Kitts public servants

Sunday, November 23, 2003

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Denzil Douglas has announced that, although public servants will not get a double salary in December, Government will exert every effort to generate the necessary resources to increase their salaries during the course of next year.

Dr Douglas said that his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Administration has initiated several capital projects that will not only provide opportunities for the unemployed, but will result in additional job creation and revenue generation.

"These are initiatives to help to bring more money into the economy that our people can benefit and have greater spending power for the Christmas Season," said Prime Minister Douglas last week.

Dr. Douglas said his Government wants to ensure that number of social services will continue including the payment monthly salaries on time.

"There are other countries where civil servants are paid weeks late. Here we have a tradition of paying almost a week before the end of the month," said Dr. Douglas, adding: "It will only be seriously politicking for anyone who is trying to demand of this Government, that a double salary be paid at this particular time."

He noted that the St. Kitts Marriott Royal Beach Resort is expected to be enjoying full capacity from Thanksgiving and throughout the entire season. The Angelus, which is also doing well, is working rapidly on the opening of its lobby, new restaurant and swimming pool and room expansion of 120 rooms. 

Dr. Douglas said work has also started on the EC$13 million 18-hole La Valle Golf Course, an initiative of the White Gate Development Corporation and the Frigate Bay Development Corporation. "There were many who poop-pooed the White Gate project saying it will never happen," said Dr. Douglas. He said the first set of holes has been laid. The project will generate employment and bring money into the economy so that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis will benefit.

He said construction of the new Head Office of Caribbean Star Airlines at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport has also started.

Dr. Douglas said government's investment in tourism is also bearing fruit with over 220,000 cruise ship passengers expected to disembark this season.

Work has also started on the infrastructure of the Potato Bay Housing Development Project under the auspices of the Frigate Bay Development Corporation.

Work has also begun on the 400 Super-low starter homes under the direction of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) with the small contractors in the communities building the homes. Dr. Douglas said 50 of those homes will be built in each of the eight constituencies in St. Kitts.

Dr. Douglas said that the decision not to pay a double salary in December will in the long run be a "wise decision that will find full support in this country."

He said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government is committed to the civil servants. "The time for the increase in salary is coming up and that is one important factor that we will not fail to deliver on because that is also critically important," said Prime Minister Douglas.

The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) has blamed hurricanes Georges, Lenny and Jose and the September 11th terrorist attack on the United States for interrupting the economic growth of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Financial Secretary Mr. Wendell Lawrence said that despite the economic downturn, several projects and activities planned over the next few months should help considerably in boosting the rate of real economic growth, creating job opportunities and generating additional foreign exchange. 

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