Labour Govt makes major strides in various sectors within 18 months, recalls PM Drew

St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew recalls achievements since assuming office 18 months ago in August 2022. He said that the Labour Government made major strides in every sector including education, healthcare, tourism, infrastructure, and national security. According to PM Drew, a number of decisions were taken while keeping in mind people first. He said that the government paid two $500 cash CBI Dividends, a $500 Christmas bonus and $1000 cash Independence Bonus to workers. The Labour Party government also increased the National Minimum Wage to $430 per week which will further increase to $500 per week in July 2025. They also paid the GAE retired workers their well earned gratuity and ensured that they will start receiving pensions in 2024. [caption id="attachment_65073" align="aligncenter" width="500"] PM Drew announces weekly minimum wage increase to EC$430 (PC - Facebook)[/caption]

The country also saw a 40% increase in Funeral Grant Benefits and other increases to minimum age pension benefits of social security. There was also an increase in the Christmas Duty Free Allowance which amounted to $675.

A new law named the Consumer Affairs Act was also passed to protect people from high supermarket prices. The electricity, cooking gas, car gas and water was also subsidized by the Labour Government to save people money.

In the education sector, the Labour Party government introduced free tuition at CFBC for the students, reduced student loans from 9% to 5% at Development Bank, removed import duties on school supplies, gave $250 voucher per school child, secured scholarships for St Kitts and Nevis nationals to attend Southern University in the USA and started the design process for a new Basseterre High School.

While talking about achievements in the Healthcare sector, Prime Minister Drew said that government was able to save the lives of over 30 sick children by paying for Emergency Overseas Medical Care. The government also secured financing for a brand new Climate Smart Hospital to begin construction in 2024.

In addition to this, the government ordered an MRI machine and installed a CT Scan and other essential medical equipment for the JNF General Hospital and started the process of accreditation. The roof at the JNF was also fixed, with the beginning of general renovations including the installation of Air Conditions in the wards.

[caption id="attachment_41882" align="aligncenter" width="500"] St Kitts: Health Ministry assures there is no shortage of oxygen at JNF Hospital[/caption]

Talking about the tourism sector, PM Terrance Drew highlighted that the Labour Government brought JetBlue, InterCaribbean and Caribbean Airlines to St Kitts with an increase in airlift for international carriers for a longer tourism season.

St Kitts and Nevis also welcomed Icon of the Seas for its first visit to any destination and also broke ground for the new Hotel Indigo in Frigate Bay. [caption id="attachment_67327" align="aligncenter" width="500"] World's largest cruise ship docks in St Kitts, PM Drew shares images[/caption]

PM Drew highlighted that the government also refurbished the apron at the RLB International Airport and hosted the biggest ever music festival and National Carnival in the history of the Federation.

In a major development, the government was able to bring back visa free options to travel to Canada and introduced visa free access to more countries.

Moreover, the government has also worked to develop the country’s infrastructure. They partnered with the NIA to secure funding from the CDB for the Geothermal Project in Nevis and also constructed the Model Affordable Hurricane-Resilient Smart Homes using local contractors.

The construction of St Peters Main Road and FT Williams Highway Rehabilitation Project was also began under the Labour Government. PM Drew said that his government also drilled and found water in Cayon and negotiated 400,000 gallons more of Desal Water from Marriott and agreed to build 2 million gallon Desalination Plant in Basseterre.