Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 09, 2016 (SKNIS): During her maiden speech on the second day of Parliament for Budget 2017, on Thursday, December 08, the Honourable Senator Akilah Byron, said that the Budget empowers all, while noting that it is imperative to empower a country, as doing so accelerates growth and builds resilience.
“This Budget seeks to ensure that it empowers the neglected and the marginalized individuals within our society and it guarantees that their quality of life will improve,” said the Honourable Senator. “This Budget seeks to use the empowerment of our people as a means of strengthening our profile as a country internationally and ensure that we continue to play a substantive role in the international financial market by having a robust legislative system that will in turn allow our nation to be able to prosper and grow.”
Senator Byron further added that the Budget empowers citizens and residents alike at so many facets and levels within society, referring specifically to the law enforcement body.
“I note from the empowerment Budget Mr. Speaker that our police force will be given the support they need in order for them to be empowered to fight crime,” she said, while adding that the EC $71.7 allocated to the Ministry of National Security will allow the Police Force to be able to meet its objectives. “And I quote, to deliver proactive intelligence-led policing service to our Federation. Mr. Speaker, this would not be possible without having trained personnel within the Police Force and I am delighted that this Budget seeks to ensure that our fine men and women of the law enforcement body are encouraged to seek further education and training.”
She said that officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (SKNFRS) will be empowered through the incentive of being able to pursue higher learning in their respective fields. She added that once complete the said officers will have the opportunity to be paid for the higher education obtained.
Senator Byron said that she holds the country in high regards and as such it was very important to lend her support to the 2017 Budget.
“Of great importance to me and the one thing that keeps me fighting in service is being able to leave a St. Kitts and Nevis that my children will be proud of and one that would allow them to be able to meet their greatest potential and in turn be able to contribute meaningfully to its continued success and development,” she said. “I do believe that this Budget is placing our Federation on that path.”
