PM Harris stays away from IMF, World Bank meetings

St Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris, who has been blocking the publication of the IMF Article IV Consultation on the economy of the twin-island Federation, stayed away from the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings this week.

The Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.

Prime Minister Harris, who has been absent from some international and regionals meetings stayed in Basseterre and his office gave no reason for him not attending these very important meeting, which were attended by approximately 2,800 delegates from the countries like St Kitts and Nevis that are members of the World Bank, 350 observer organization representatives and 800 members of the press. Approximately 550 accredited civil society members also participated in the Meetings held on April 10 and 11.

For the past seven months, Prime Minister Harris has been blocking the publication by the IMF of the Article IV Consultation Staff Report on the economy of St Kitts and Nevis.

“The authorities (Government of St. Kitts and Nevis) have not consented to publication of the Staff Report and the related press release,” the IMF said in a statement posted on its website in September.

An IMF Team led by Mr. Arnold McIntyre, Deputy Division Chief in the Caribbean Division at the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department visited St. Kitts and Nevis late June early July and submitted its report to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion. The Board’s views are subsequently summarized and transmitted to the country authorities.

The IMF said that on September 14, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the consideration of the Article IV consultation with St. Kitts and Nevis but “the authorities have not consented to publication of the Staff Report.”