Last Updated on October 24, 2019, 2:25 PM AST by Anthony Morris
More businesses in St Kitts and Nevis may soon close their doors, increasing the number of unemployed persons, bringing hardship to families and further impacting negatively on the social and political fabric of the twin-island federation.
A longstanding retail Basseterre company in Basseterre, seems to be on the brink of closure as it appears to be winding down its operations one week after the St Kitts outlet of Subway, a US restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads closed its doors, removed its sign and left nearly 10 persons unemployed.
Less than a month ago, it was disclosed that the German-owned manufacturing plant, Electrofab, on the C A Paul Southwell Industrial Park, may soon cease operations putting approximately 98 persons out of work.
The closure of several businesses in St Kitts and Nevis in recent months and the laying off of workers in some enterprises, are a stark indication of a declining economy with the result of loss of jobs, a decline in real income, a slowdown in industrial production and manufacturing, and a slump in consumer spending. Job losses also lead to loss of pay checks and non-payment of bills.
The C A Paul Southwell Industrial Park has seen the closure in March this year of the U.S.-owned Lutron Liamuiga, which left nearly 100 persons, most of them single mothers and head of households, unemployed.
In September, the call centre, Brown Hill Communications, which operated out of Nevis, closed its doors leaving some 140 breadwinners unemployed and creating economic hardship for the displaced workers.
This year also saw the downsizing of Domus, manufacturers of doors and windows, which saw a transfer of a major portion of its operations from St Kitts to Trinidad. Several local employees were made redundant.
2019 also saw KOSCAB (St Kitts and Nevis) Limited, formerly the St Kitts Bottling Company, closing its production line making some 15 workers redundant.
Other recent business closures on St Kitts over the past months and years include Island Hopper Exotic Furniture, Tek Dat Bar, Exclusives Shoe Store, DeJoynt Ice Cream Parlour, Scoops, the Colombian-operated night club on Wellington Road, Stonewalls, Ballahoo Restaurant, Nichols Trading Limited, David Coury & Co. Ltd, C&C Super Foods with closure of its George Street and Bay Road outlets, May Way Delicacies, Comptec Solution/IT, Radio St Kitts-Nevis, Scruples, Church’s Chicken, Kantours Travel and the Embassy of Brazil.
Business closures on Nevis include Bargain House Main Street Grocery, Super Foods, Hunkins Variety, Marva Store, Simon’s Contempo, Eye Care Express, Bata Shoe Store and Erm’s Fancy Store.
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.
