BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 8, 2020 (S.T.E.P.) — All Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP) workers will be paid early, Prime Minister and Minister of People Employment, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris announced during his address to the nation on Tuesday evening April 7 on new measures being taken by Government to stem the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
“The Cabinet has mandated that those who receive wages from the public sector, the Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs) and the STEP workers will be paid tomorrow (Wednesday, April 8) and Thursday (April 9) morning depending on your zone,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Earlier in his address, Dr Harris who is also the Minister of National Security, informed that to avoid congestion in Basseterre and Charlestown when the curfew under the State of Emergency is partially lifted, the country had been divided into four zones and the day one is allowed to come to Basseterre or Charlestown for shopping would be determined by the zone in which they live.
Zones One and Two will cover St. Kitts, while Zones Three and Four will cover Nevis. Persons in Zones One and Three will be allowed to go out today Wednesday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, while the Zones Two and Four will be allowed time for shopping tomorrow Thursday at the same times.
Zone One (East Side) will comprise all those areas east of a line through the centre of Fort Street, Basseterre, continuing north through Victoria Road and extending all the way to the roundabout on the FT Williams Highway at the RLB International Airport just west of Taylors Housing Development.
The area covered by Zone One will continue east along the FT Williams Highway to the Island Main Road and including all those areas traditionally known as the East Basseterre Constituency. Then continuing in a north-easterly direction along the Island Main Road from Conaree and Needsmust and extending all the way to Saddlers and Lavington.
Zone Two (West Side) will comprise all other areas on the island of St. Kitts, from Parsons Ground travelling via Sandy Point to Basseterre and including all other areas in the Basseterre Valley such as St. Peters, Central and West Basseterre, but excluding East Basseterre.
“In other words, those who live on the East Side can collect their payments on Wednesday, and those who live on the West Side will have the same opportunity to collect their payments on Thursday,” advised the Honourable Prime Minister.
In Nevis, Zone Three will comprise the parishes of St. Paul’s, St. Thomas and St. James. Persons in these parishes will be allowed to leave their residences on Wednesday, April 8 between the hours of 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Zone Four comprises the parishes of St. John and St. George in Nevis, and persons there will be able to leave their residences on Thursday, April 9 from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.
“I urge all residents of villages and settlement in the rural areas to utilise those establishments and village shops in your area and so reduce the congestion in Basseterre and Charlestown,” pleaded Dr Harris. “Many of these village shops have the identical items that you are travelling to Basseterre and Charlestown to purchase. This travel is not essential and you are likely exposing yourself and your loved ones to the virus.”
