BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – The opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) has lashed out at Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris for continuing to mislead the people of the twin-island Federation.
SKNLP Chairperson, Hon. Marcella Liburd said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Ms. Valencia Grant headlined: “GDP and employment keep growing in St. Kitts and Nevis” flies in the face of the thousands of persons who are unemployed and unable to feed their families.
“Timothy Harris continues to fool the people about what is happening in the country. Even when people are suffering Timothy Harris through Valencia Grant is saying that things are really good and she quotes him as saying ‘we is St. Kitts and Nevis are expecting to record a growth rate of just about 3 percent and this is in 2016. We continue to put in above average performance and in 2016 we are expected to grow at about three percent’,” Ms. Liburd noted.
The Central Basseterre Parliamentary Representative was quick to point out that however that under the astute leadership of former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, St. Kitts and Nevis registered a seven percent growth rate in 2013 and a seven percent growth rate in 2014.
“In 2015, with the continuing spill over from the good economy inherited, the PLP/CCM/PAM Administration had a decline in the growth rate of five percent. In 2016, it has gone from five percent to a further decline to three percent, but Timothy Harris is saying GDP and employment keeps growing. Harris has been trying to fool people. The growth rate continues to decline, it is becoming worst. I do not know how you can go from 7 percent, to 5 percent and call it growth. That is a decline and what Harris is doing fooling the people by saying the economy is growing,” said Liburd, who is of the view that Dr. Harris has failed in the area of finance as in national security.
