Full statement of PM Dr Timothy Harris on "Leadership Matters"

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris addressed St Kitts and Nevis on "Leadership Matters" on Tuesday, where he discussed the arrival of the first two coronavirus cases in the country in 2020. He also talked about the vaccine strategy of the country.

PM Harris stated that the government's aim is to get everyone in the age cohort 18 to 80 years vaccinated as soon as possible. He said that he is optimistic that the country will overcome the consequences of the contagious disease.

• Almost one year ago, the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores with our first 2 confirmed cases – a mother and son. Since then, our people have come to understand that COVID-19 is a dangerous and existential global threat. So far, 2.7 million persons around the world have died as a result of COVID-19. Nearer home, Jamaica, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, and St Vincent have all recorded deaths. St Kitts and Nevis have had no deaths. My heart mourns for those who carry this grief and burden of COVID-19 deaths.

• The threat that COVID-19 poses to our health, our economy, and our future here in St Kitts and Nevis is very real. Working together, in our all-of-society approach, we staved off the worse of the virus and realized the distinction of being the independent country in the hemisphere with the lowest COVID-19 count—a tribute to the discipline, good sense, and resilience of the people of St Kitts and Nevis. I must thank everyone for their responsible behavior to date and urge all of us to continue to be circumspect and responsible in the battle against COVID-19. 

• Today we can be cautiously optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are not yet free of COVID-19. It is in our environment. I repeat, we are not rid of COVID-19 as yet. We all still have to play our part. Our role now is to get everyone in the age cohort 18 to 80 years vaccinated as soon as possible. Please encourage your family, friends, co-workers, and all with whom you interact not to hesitate, vaccinate.

• Our historic vaccination program is delivering real results. Yesterday we achieved a significant milestone of getting 20 percent of our target population vaccinated. Congratulations to the 6,717 plus persons who understood the urgency of the times and got themselves vaccinated by Monday, March 15, 2021.

• It is crucial that we do not wait any longer to get our Federation back on track. I want to put St Kitts and Nevis back on the prosperous path we were on before the COVID-19 pandemic. By March, we had the largest number of Social Security contributors, employees, and jobs on record.

• The entrepreneurial climate was very good, with the highest number of approvals for businesses ever recorded. I want us to seize that stronger and safer future that was within our grasp. Your Team Unity Government remains committed to delivering a better way of life for all the people of and in St Kitts and Nevis.

• During this pandemic, we have kept our economy going. We opened up our borders, but all of our export manufacturing plants back in operation. We have stimulated agriculture and fisheries. Our stimulus package boosted support to the fisheries sector. Our fishermen received fish trap wire, buoy, fishing rope, safety equipment, fishing line, hooks, and other supports. They delivered a significant comeback from an 83 percent reduction in fisheries output in April 2020 to a rise in fisheries output from May to December to 524,140 lbs, thereby realizing a 27 percent comparative increase in fisheries output in 2020 compared to May to December 2019. This feat was in spite of COVID-19. What a difference our stimulus package made. For the full 2019 calendar year, fish landings were 647,914 lbs versus 671,000 lbs in 2020, up 4 percent in St Kitts and Nevis. Thanks to our $3 million stimulus to the fisheries sector.

• Our Manufacturing Sector is showing signs of recovery with merchandise exports for the first two months of 2021 totaling EC $15 million, the same as in 2020 at this time.  

• Carib Brewery (St Kitts Ltd) is reporting that its exports are up, and it is on 24/7 bottling operation. The growth in demand has caused an increase in employee count to 156.

• Tourism has been the hardest hit. In spite of the borders being opened, air throughput has been low, and cruise traffic is at a standstill. The good news, even in this picture, is that we have successfully repatriated:

1. 649 Ross University students to St Kitts bringing incomes for landlords, car rental agencies, our restaurants and places of entertainment.
2. We have found a new niche for film tourism. The Below Deck movie is being shot in St Kitts and brought significant guests to the Park Hyatt – the Federation’s host hotel. Equally important for our Federation are the movies being produced by MSR on the island of Nevis and St Kitts. Some 6 movies will be run by MSR in our Federation boosting favourable acclaim about St Kitts and Nevis.
3. Interest in our Country as a premier hotel destination continues. Trinity Sunset Hotel, Sea View Hotel, and Hillsborough Suites on St Kitts all continue to work towards completion this year.
4. Work has started on the US $6 million luxury villa project at the Royal St Kitts Hotel. All these projects mean real jobs, real incomes for our people and a stronger economy for St Kitts and Nevis.

• We have to try harder to defeat COVID-19, to protect our health, our jobs and our way of life during these times. We want to keep our streets safe. We want to build more and bigger homes. We want to create more jobs and more opportunities, especially for our young people. In sum we are moving on the path to the stronger and safer future.

• This is the path I want us to get back to. This is the path our vaccination programme will lead us to.  

• Some countries do not have the vaccine yet and others are yet to begin their roll out. But we here in St Kitts and Nevis are ahead of them.

• We took a phased approach to the vaccine roll-out so we can prioritize and protect the most vulnerable people in our society.
• I am pleased to announce tonight that we have surpassed 20 percent of the target population – a huge achievement for our Federation. At the end of day today Tuesday we had 6,903 persons vaccinated out of target of just over 33,000. 

• By comparison it is reported that the European Union – one of the world’s most powerful blocs with billions of dollars at its disposal – has an average vaccination rate of 10.6 percent.

• Our success is a testament to work being done by my Team Unity administration. I have had strong support of my Cabinet and all senior functionaries of my Government in particular those at the front line.  

• I must again thank everyone who has come forward and had the vaccination. You have acted to protect yourself, your family, your close circle and your country. 

• You are leading the way and you are the reason we will be rid of this virus quickly.

• The more people we vaccinate and the quicker those vaccinations are administered, the sooner we can get back to our way of life. Now is not the time to wait. Now is the time to vaccinate.

• It is disappointing that some have sought to politicise this process and spread doubts on the vaccination process. Some are seeking to put their own political interests ahead of the nation. I want to thank you, the good people and residents of St Kitts and Nevis for seeing through these political stunts. Thank you for looking at the science. Thank you for listening to the health experts. Thank you for ignoring the doubters.

• Thank you for playing your role and supporting the vaccination programme so we can be rid of COVID-19. This issue is too important to play political games. For my part, as Prime Minister of this beautiful Country of St Kitts and Nevis, I will always put the people of St Kitts and Nevis first. Put their health first. Put our future first.

• We are not waiting. We are making good progress in winning the fight against COVID-19.

• But there is still so much more we need to do. I have made it clear that our ultimate goal is to have at least 70 percent of our population vaccinated.
• To reach this target we are in the process of expanding the storage capacities for vaccines at our hospitals. We have increased our public education process. Our health officials are taking vaccines to the workplace. Already they have vaccinated hundreds of workers at their workplaces including the Marriott Hotel, Royal St Kitts Hotel, KOI Hotel, Park Hyatt and UMHS. They will be taking vaccination sessions to the industrial site and homes of the elderly, our prisons, etc.  
• We will continue to take our all of society approach to ensure nobody is left behind. Our public education will continue. Indeed this Thursday we have a public education forum at Ottley's Community Centre at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Cameron Wilkinson will be our lead presenter. We will answer your questions about the vaccination programme. All are invited. After the question and answer session persons will be vaccinated if they so desire. Then on Monday, another education programme will take place in Old Road. Our churches are doing their part. Last Sunday the Church of God in Cayon had an information session. Dr Natalie Osborne was the lead presenter. I commend her and Pastor Ben Browne on this initiative.  

• Other churches are doing the same and I commend them.

• As our successful vaccination programme continues to roll out, we all have a responsibility to keep playing our role. We have cause to be hopeful, but we are not out of this yet. We all have a responsibility to protect each other – our families, friends and loved ones from this deadly disease. Continue to play your part. Continue to observe all health protocols.

• Working together will see us this through.