BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER a lengthy deliberation by Cabinet members, the Government last evening (Nov. 30) announced that public servants would be receiving their Christmas bonus in the form of a double salary.
Following Wednesday’s (Nov. 29) announcement by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris that Cabinet would meet to discuss the topic, it was revealed that all public servants would be granted the one-month payment.
“Cabinet today (Thursday, November 30th, 2017) deliberated at length over the matter of a Christmas bonus to be paid to all Civil Servants of the Federal and Nevis Island Administration, Pensioners, Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs), Skills Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP) Employees and Workers at all Statutory Corporations.
“Cabinet took account of the many challenges still being experienced by several households post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria and of the Government’s continuing efforts to bring relief to persons,” a statement from Government read.
Many people had speculated that since the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Government would be reluctant to give the one-month payment.
Others had called for the assistance, pointing out that it would benefit those public sector workers who were badly affected by the storms.
“Recipients of this extra salary are encouraged to spend their money wisely. Those who still have repairs to make to their homes are encouraged to take advantage of the duty-free concessions being offered by the Government. The bonus payment is indeed expected to bring cheer to all families in St. Kitts and Nevis and can be considered as the Government’s Christmas gift to our hardworking and deserving citizens,” the Government urged.
According to the statement, the fiscal performance of the Federal Government was also taken into consideration in making a final determination, as up to September the accounts “reflected a surplus on the recurrent account, the overall account and the primary account. All economic indicators also point to robust growth for 2018. Several capital projects are expected to come on stream and various private developments are anticipated”.
In recent weeks, the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party had been calling on the Government to pay the double salary to public servants, since it was managing the fiscal accounts properly.
