War of words over St Kitts-Nevis Hurricane Relief Fund continues

Last updated: October 3, 2017 at 06:36 am

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FOR THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The political row in St Kitts and Nevis over the new Hurricane Relief Fund rumbles on in the twin-island nation.

The purpose of the fund, which the government says is designed to take money from the citizenship by investment scheme and set it outside for disaster management and aid packages, has been questioned by the opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP).

And in a statement on Sunday, Prime Minister Timothy Harris’ administration described the statements made by opposition leader Denzil Douglas on the federation’s relief efforts as “unfortunate”.

Douglas – who was prime minister from 1995 until 2015 – was accused of “shamelessly” creating division within the Caribbean region and harm the country’s image.

[caption id="attachment_2521" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Denzil Douglas, leader of the opposition and former prime minister.[/caption]

But the veteran politician hit back as he described the government’s action as ”unconscionable, unfriendly, selfish, uncaring and reprehensible”.

Instead of helping, it is aimed at undermining the “desperate recovery efforts” underway in Dominica and Antigua-Barbuda, he added.

Funding for hurricane repairs

The establishment of the Hurricane Relief Fund came after two hurricanes – Irma and Maria – left devastation across large parts of the Caribbean.

Under this initiative which will be for only six months, foreign investors under the CIP can make a non-refundable contribution of US$150,000.

Hurricane Maria: Damage and clean-up in St Kitts and Nevis https://t.co/iqK6DFNKYV pic.twitter.com/dBLBvmyxcZ

— WIC News (@WIC_News) September 21, 2017

When it was first revealed it appeared that it would replace the existing options for buying citizenship, although the government have now said it is an additional option to the original two.

The government is hoping that money raised will help pay to repair infrastructure damaged by recent hurricanes, and have now announced that if enough money is raised it will be used to help Caribbean neighbours.

“The Team Unity administration is hoping to raise sufficient funding to provide additional support for disaster relief efforts in nearby islands which suffered far greater damage,” a government statement said.

[caption id="attachment_4270" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Timothy Harris, prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis.[/caption]

“In an address to the nation last weekend, Prime Minister Harris announced an initial monetary contribution of EC$2.5million to support disaster relief efforts in Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and St Maarten.

“The largest single amount — $1 million — is going to Dominica, which was devastated by Maria last week.”

But Douglas and the SKNLP dispute the cost of repairs in St Kitts and Nevis, and believe that the prime minister is being “dishonest and extremely selfish” by portraying the federation as being as badly hit as Dominica and Barbuda.

Douglas added that Timothy Harris is attempting to “raise money on fake news” instead of painting “an honest picture of the state of affairs” in the federation.