Last Updated on April 16, 2026, 4:14 PM AST by Anthony Morris
The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew has urged the businesses across the island to allow the people of the country to take benefit from the tax cuts and allowances that the government has announced. Dr Drew made this call after announcing a series of tax slashes and allowances to provide economic relief to the people,
The allowances have been made keeping in mind the state of international economies which are functioning across the globe. The cost of living relief items include a reduction of taxes on the fuel and the cuts to the Customs Service Charge on gasoline.
In addition to this, the government has also removed the Value Added Tax and duties on alternative energy equipment and excluded shipping surcharges from customs calculations
The Prime Minister announced these initiatives with the aim to support the people of the country in the midst of global price rise. After making all the announcements during his national address on Tuesday, Dr Drew took the platform to urge the businesses to allow the households across the country to take benefit of these reductions and cuts.
He said that this will help in ensuring ease of operational costs across sectors and provide meaningful financial relief to households. The Prime Minister noted that the success of these initiative does not depend solely on the government of St Kitts and Nevis. It also hinges on the businesses engaging in fair practices.
If businesses will let the cost reductions and duty cuts reflect in the reduction of their retail prices, the people will be able to buy more. This will help in the stimulate and strengthen the economy of the country.
In his words, Dr Terrance Drew urged the businesses across the federation: we ask not for charity but for fairness. When Government reduces taxes, let those savings reach the people at the counter/
The interventions which were made by the government will allow the businesses to run with reduced overheads. This should also have a positive impact on the growth of the people of the island on the counter.
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.
