BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 17TH, 2018 (PRESS SEC) – The Good Governance and Prosperity Agenda of the Government of National Unity continues with The Prime Minister’s Open Forum. Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris will be hosting the open forum this Sunday, May 20th, 2018 from 5:00pm at the Edgar T. Morris Primary School in Tabernacle, St. Kitts.
The Prime Minister’s Open Forum is coming on the heels of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority’s Seabed Breaking Ceremony for the construction of the US$48 million-dollar second cruise pier at the Port Zante Cruise Terminal. The second cruise pier is expected to be a great boon for the tourism industry, which is gearing up to welcome a record 1.5 million cruise passengers per annum to our shores.
It is also coming on the heels of the 2018 Caribbean Investment Summit in St. Kitts, where Prime Minister Harris announced today that, effective Friday, June 1st, his Government of National Unity will be launching the first tier of a $30 million-dollar housing programme for Government employees.
“The first tier of EC $15 million would be invested in the Development Bank for on-lending at five percent, the lowest rate in the Federation. The aim is to facilitate property ownership in the country and the upgrading of homes up to a maximum of EC $300,000. Beyond this amount, the excess will be negotiated on the Bank’s applicable terms,” the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis said this morning at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, where the Caribbean Investment Summit is being held this week.
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis also announced that his Government will be making $2 million available in an Agricultural Fund, “to assist our farmers and fishers to contribute to our food security.” Prime Minister Harris explained that this fund is also going to be operationalized from June 1st, 2018.
The Honourable Prime Minister said, “There is more good news,” as he went on to reveal that the Caribbean Development Bank has approved some $8 million of support to small businesspersons.
“This will add to the pool of over 650 beneficiaries that had secured affordable financing from the Development Bank under our Fresh Start Programme,” Prime Minister Harris said. Fresh Start provides concessionary loans and technical assistance to entrepreneurs so that they can either start or expand their micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
“Because our fiscal house is in order and our Citizenship by Investment Programme is expected to do much better going forward under my administration, we can do more for our people who have always been our first and only priority,” Prime Minister Harris said this morning, addressing some 300 attendees of the Caribbean Investment Summit.
