BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 10, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The prudent approach taken in the management of the country’s fiscal resources by the Dr. Harris-led Team Unity Administration is leading to the further advancement and development of St. Kitts and Nevis, with the benefits trickling down to the ordinary citizens of the twin island Federation.
That view was expressed by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris on Friday, April 6, during a special contract signing ceremony with small contractors for Special Capital Road Projects in St. Kitts. Under this project, five local small construction businesses were contracted to undertake road work as part of phase one.
“The road rehabilitation project is estimated to cost us in the region of EC$69 million, and that is a lot of money. It is a significant investment and we are doing it not by borrowing one cent; we are doing it from savings and revenues realized because we have managed our country well,” Dr. Harris said.
The Finance Minister continued, “On top of that EC$69 million over time for the road rehabilitation programme, $27 million more will come as we do expanded work at the Old Road Bay to ensure that each time a hurricane comes we don’t have to, as it were, shut down the network between the western end of the country and Basseterre.”
During his March 14, 2018 press conference, Prime Minister Harris stated that an updated forecast indicated that St. Kitts and Nevis’ economy will grow at 4.5 percent in 2018.
This growth, according to the prime minister, will be driven by several capital projects that are being rolled out this year at a significant pace.
“We are expecting to realize this ambitious goal of [nigh] five percent growth because of the strong private sector investment that is taking place in the country, which is now going to be complemented by the most significant public sector capital project ever implemented by any administration in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“What this means is…jobs for people, jobs for people within their communities, jobs for persons outside of their communities and importantly because we are a government that puts the people first we have ensured, and we have been careful to ensure, that the contractors who are participating in this project are all locals,” the honourable prime minister stated.
Other capital projects currently being undertaken include the construction of the new Tabernacle Health Centre, renovation work at the Coast Guard Unit base at Bird Rock and the relocation of Vehicle Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department (PWD) to the compound of the St. Kitts Sugar Manufacturing Corporation (SSMC).
The relocation of the PWD facilities will effectively pave the way for the start of construction on the East Line Bus Terminal at the division’s present location on Wellington Road. That project is expected to commence in May.
