PM Timothy Harris responds to Brantley, Richards' letter, rejects misuse of govt resources

Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Timothy Harris responded to the concerns laid out by Deputy PM Shawn Richards and Premier Mark Brantley. Notably, a letter by these two leaders was delivered to Prime Minister on 20 April 2022. In the letter, PAM Leader Shawn Richards and CCM Leader Mark Brantley asserted that there is a misuse, as well as inequitable distribution of government resources. The duo had demanded the Prime Minister to immediately re-assign the Ministry of Sustainable Development. Giving his response, Prime Minister Timothy Harris denied any misuse and inequitable distribution of government resources in St Kitts and Nevis. He emphasized that there is no enough evidence provided by Richards or Brantley regarding such practices. Prime Minister said the process which of allocating the utilization of Government resources begins in the first half of every year as part of the Budgetary Process. He said the process also includes several meetings and discussions of Permanent Secretaries and Accounting Officers of every Ministry. "They meet with the Budget Analysts of the Ministry of Finance, with the PSIP Team managed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development. The Team is one in which the technical people of your Ministry and every other Ministry put their case to the Team," said Prime Minister Timothy Harris.Furthermore, he stated that following those meetings, the Cabinet meets later in the year with the Estimates Committee. A Team from every Ministry participates in this meeting is questioned by the Cabinet members. He said every person is aware of all the matters that are discussed in the meeting. Prime Minister questioned that the entire process could be termed as "misuse". Furthermore, he stated that St Kitts and Nevis would continue on the path of excellent fiscal management, growth and socio-economic development.