COVID-19 affected workers to get $1000 assistance every month

Wednesday, 25th March 2020

St Kitts and Nevis government announced on Tuesday that the people who have been affected by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) would get income assistance of $1000 per month from April 1, 2020, under social security benefits scheme. Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris in his economic response speech, said that the government has established an income assistance fund to support workers whose income will be impacted by COVID-19 with $1000 for each person. This fund support will also include registered self-employed people – taxi operators, tour guides and all other employees whose been suspended from jobs due to downfall of tourism in the country. For this purpose, the government has injected the sum of $15M to provide assistance. Lauding government for an efficient economic system, PM Harris said that they do not have a capital issue in the nation. He announced the Economic Stimulus package worth $120M to overcome the economic crisis due to COVID-19. WIC News published an article on government’s lack in providing economic relief to the people of St Kitts and Nevis, the national government took immediate action on it and announced significant reliefs. Click here to see article PM Timothy Harris outlined the government’s economic response amid COVID-19 crisis in 18 points.

St Kitts and Nevis’ borders are being closed to all commercial airline flights from midnight March 25 to April 7.
An additional $16.9M for the health system of SKN.
Postponement of property tax payments from June to September.
Removal of VAT and import duties for six months on specific hygiene items.
Removal of import duties and customs service charges for six months on vegetables, fruits, juices, cough and cold preparations and vitamins.
Water payments will be waived for consumption from April to June.
Reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 33% to 25% from April to June. (Businesses who retain at least 75% of their employees)
50% reduction of the unincorporated business tax rate from 4% to 2% from April to June.
$10M to boost production in the Agriculture Sector.
Farmer’s water payments will be waivered.
$5M to support Poverty Alleviation Programme.
An income assistance fund to support workers with $1000 per month. (will also include self-employed persons)
$12M to capitalize Severance Payment Fund.
SKN Development Bank will facilitate a loan repayment moratorium for six months.
NHC will implement a moratorium on mortgages for three months.
SKELEC and NEVLEC will implement a moratorium on payments for electricity services.
$5M for Fresh Start Programme.
Funding to be provided for mortgage loans worth $30M to SKN citizens
Reprioritize and accelerate the implementation of approved capital projects.

Prime Minister, in his statement, expressed that this stimulus programme offered by the government of St Kitts and Nevis is on the top of all other Caribbean countries. The enthralling announcements are easy to make but very had to keep. Concerning this, local taxi driver Darius Harris termed it as a political stunt to gain popularity for the upcoming general elections. “We will reach out to social securities office to collect our $1000 on April 1, and lets see if the government can keep its promise.”