Last Updated on December 15, 2019, 1:58 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The former Prime Minister of St Kitts-Nevis and political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), the Rt Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas told the National Assembly in his response to the Appropriation Bill (2020) that the nation with his Next-Gen SKN Vision 2020 Plans.
The leader of opposition laid out his Party’s plans in several areas including a reduction in VAT, housing, education and agriculture on Friday.
Douglas said that the SKNLP have always been an excellent steward of economy and every progressive step forward that the Nation has ever made has been taken under the Labour administration.
“NextGen SKN Labour administration’s 2020 Visio is designed to take St Kitts and Nevis yet again to an even higher-level. At center of our vision is our abiding and deep commitment to do all the good that we can do and put the people first,” he told the national assembly.
With general elections to be held in 2020, Dr Douglas further said the new Labour Administration would allow one duty free vehicle for every adult over the age of 18.
Douglas said that traditionaly the duty free vehicles are automatically provided to the Ministers of government, senior civil servants, diplomats and selected friends. “Now we are saying this is the time we extend this privilege to all our residents and citizens so that you are able to receive one vehicle in your whole lifetime duty-free,” he said.
“The new Labour administration will also extend the full discounted VAT-day package not just on Christmas, but to three times a year – Summer, Easter and Christmas. The days are aimed to alleviate the hardships felt by our single mothers and large families to accommodate back to school shopping with spin-off effects on stimulating our small businesses and large retailers. The package will be designed as follows: two-Discounted VAT Rate Days, three times a year where all VAT registered businesses are allowed to charge VAT at a rate of 5 percent on the sale of goods only and all tangible items that are presently subject to 17 percent VAT qualify for the discounted VAT rate; For vehicle purchases, VAT will be exempt on the first EC$50,000, with VAT at the standard 17 percent charged thereafter; Barrels/container or containers of foodstuff up to 400 pounds in weight will be allowed free of duty and taxes, and travellers and non-commercial importers will receive a duty-free allowance of EC$540 or US$200 off the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of goods,” Dr Douglas disclosed, adding: “all VAT on taxes will be eliminated and VAT will be reduced from 17% to 13%.”
A new Labour Government will also implement a “Start from zero tax package to stimulate small businesses that will include: duty-free vehicle for all small business start-ups, duty free on all equipment and furniture for all start-ups within the first year until the business is fully operationalised. We will “Start from Zero” – “Zero hassle. Zero duty. Zero application or application fees”. No longer will our small entrepreneurs have to endure the hassle to receive these benefits. This would be an entitlement. We will establish a Ministry of Small Enterprise, similar to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The Ministry will be created to give small businesses a voice and equip them with all the tools necessary to survive and thrive in a competitive environment.
“Right now the large businesses have representation through the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The labour government will be the champion of the small businesses and will review of the Unincorporated Small Business Tax by increasing the tax exempt threshold from EC$6,000 to EC$12,000 for all service providers and EC$37,500 to EC$50,000 for all retailers,” Dr Douglas said.
He also disclosed that it will be automatic that all producing and registered farmers and fishermen will receive duty-free concession on seeds, vehicles, boats, insecticides, agricultural inputs, agricultural implements, pesticides and tools. “This will no longer be provided on a discretionary basis. We will re-introduce our Small Grants Scheme for the farmers,” said Dr Douglas and also added that the present Agriculture Minister, Hon Eugene Hamilton “has virtually destroyed farming in St. Kitts and Nevis. Our aim is to encourage a second agriculture revolution that would guarantee food security in the Federation and stimulate the production of value-added commodities such as tonics, soaps, candles and beverages as part of new industry of Health and Wellness.”
With a record of housing in St Kitts-Nevis, former PM said that the new labour government will construct 2,000 affordable and modern houses powered by solar panels that will accommodate all the latest appliances.
He said that in an effort to provide assistance to the people in middle class as well as those in the lower income brackets, they would offer diversified housing solutions using NHC as a co-ordinator, working with private contractors to build as well as the finance construction on land already owned. He said that a special unit will be established to assist middle-income earners directly,
Education, which is one of the most important sectors for development of young generation, will see extension of universal, free education to the tertiary-level.
“There will be no tuition fees to attend the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. We will construct a new advanced level college in Nevis. Every student wishing to pursue under-graduate or graduate studies in a field necessary to national development will receive a grant of EC$25,000. With an aim to get lower the financial burden from students the interest rate on student loans at the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis would be reduced from 9% to 5%. We will also provide debt relief to reduce the burden of student loans,” said Dr Douglas.
All the primary and secondary schools in the Federation would be modernized and ipgraded to offer the high quality teaching and learning experience for children. A new Basseterre High School will be built at the Victoria Road location to provide quality education. The government will also implement a maintenance policy for all schools to ensure that the present mold crisis never happens again.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
