NATIONAL BUDGET: A CRITICAL TOOL FOR DELIVERING THE STRONGER, SAFER FUTURE, SAYS PRIME MINISTER HARRIS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 03, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris used his appearance on the Tuesday, November 02 edition of Leadership Matters to share with citizens and residents his Government’s plans to put the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis back on track, and deliver on its promise of creating a stronger, safer future for all.
 
These plans, according to Prime Minister Harris, will be thoroughly laid out in the upcoming 2022 National Budget.
 
The honourable prime minister said the Budget will be delivered against the backdrop of signs of an emerging recovery, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is projecting 2022 to be a year of very high economic growth for St. Kitts and Nevis.
 
“Our Budget will be one important instrument which will propel that growth and keep St. Kitts and Nevis moving in the right direction with visible improvements in our people’s standard of living – that is more jobs, higher incomes, better homes, and more opportunities,” Dr. Harris said.
 
Prime Minister Harris, who is also Minister of Finance in the Federal Government, stated that the country is already realizing favourable results in key economic drivers such as the agriculture and fisheries sectors, in manufacturing, tourism, and construction.
 
Dr. Harris added, “Our Budget will be a decisive tool in our efforts to protect the poor and vulnerable, consolidate our gains in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing and construction to name a few. It will also advance our efforts in new sectors such as entertainment and medicinal cannabis. It will provide for programmes and capital projects that will lead to more jobs, higher incomes, as well as more and better homes for our people.  These new jobs will provide hope and more opportunities for our young people to reach their full potential right here in our beloved Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. That is why this upcoming Budget is so important.”
 
Prime Minister Harris went on to describe the upcoming Budget as a strong plan that will help lead St. Kitts and Nevis out of the shadow of COVID-19.
 
“The 2022 Budget will provide for infrastructure in several housing projects. It will provide for our pensioners, public servants, Government Auxiliary Employees (GAE); it will provide resources for continuing the build out of a resilient health system particularly at a time when COVID-19 will become endemic,” said the prime minister.
 
The Budget for the financial year 2022 will be delivered in December, 2021.