Last Updated on July 26, 2019, 3:26 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Former St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas is of the view that St Kitts and Nevis needs a government that has the courage and boldness to propose new ideas and reforms that may challenge the existing status quo.
Dr Douglas referred to the Land for Debt Initiative undertaken by his St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government in the interest of the future social and economic development of the twin-island.
He noted that the Vesting of Certain Lands Act was implemented despite the challenges that his St Kitts-Nevis Labour Cabinet faced even on the side of the government benches in the National Assembly.
“We believed then and we still believe now that it was the best decision for moving our country forward and which was implemented with success,” said Dr Douglas.
“Sometimes in order to find solutions you have to think outside the box and take the road less travelled to get to your destination,” said Dr Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Leader.”
He said this is what his Labour Administration did back in the period 2010 to 2013 following the international economic and financial challenges.
“Today the leaders and the misfits in government are scrambling and trying to take credit for what they themselves opposed, but which with the boldness, conviction and courage was pursued by the leadership of the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party in Government,” said Dr Douglas.
The Team Unity administration headed by Prime Minister Harris promised to reverse the Vesting of Certain Lands Act initiative as one of its major manifesto pledges leading up to the 2015 general elections is yet to do so although four years in government.
The Land for Debt Initiative was one of the measures in the successful locally-grown structural adjustment programme which saw the Federation’s GDP registering 6.2 percent in 2013 and 6.0 percent in 2014.
Available data indicates that the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis under the three-party PAM/CCM/PLP headed by Dr Harris has decelerated registering 1.2 in 2017, 2.2 percent in 2016 and 3.9 in 2015.
Prime Minister Harris continues to block the release of the 2018 Article IV Consultation on the economic performance and outlook by Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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.
