PM Douglas says “Labour Day March a sure sign of political, industrial support!”Labour Minister to begin consultations for minimum wage increase…
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief, SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – UNDER the theme “Changing St. Kitts and Nevis for the Better”, hundreds turned out Monday to march with the Labour Party in recognition of Labour Day.
Led by the ‘Pom Pom Girls’, Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, Ministers of Government, officials of the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union, workers and supporters of the Labour Party marched through the streets of Basseterre and culminated the event with the traditional ‘end-of-march-jump-up’ at the Patsy Allers Playing Field.
Asked for his views on the day’s event, Dr. Douglas said, “Today has been a very wonderful day for the workers and the Labour Movement of St. Kitts and Nevis as thousands of people marched in solidarity with the Labour Movement; a very sure sign for political and also industrial support for the Labour Movement.”
In comparing this year’s march with that of 2007, the Prime Minister said it was bigger and supporters sensed that the Labour Movement is organised and ready.
“This has been much, much bigger than last year’s march. I think as we get closer and closer to the prospect of a general election the Labour supporters are sensing that the Labour Movement is getting organised and ready, and they have come out to show their support.”
In his address at the Patsy Allers Playing Field, Dr. Douglas thanked the marchers and supporters of the Labour Party for going out in their numbers, with emphasis on all those “who have already identified with Glen Phillip…to all who have shown their support from Constituency Number Five for Dr. Norgen Wilson and also those who came from the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic”.
Dr. Douglas told the gathering he believes the country deserves a government that has been working hard and tirelessly in the interest of the nation over the last 12-plus years.
“Comrades,” he declared, “no other government has done what this government is doing for the ordinary workers of this country, and you therefore cannot afford to gamble with a brighter future of prosperity. Your government will continue to improve the quality of life for all of the citizens of this our fair land…we will continue to change St. Kitts and Nevis for the better.”
Addressing the rise in cost of living, the PM told the gathering that it was not only a national or regional issue, but one that is affecting the entire globe and they must take cognisance of the fact of what his government has recently done to impact this condition.
“You must listen to the radio, look at the television news, there are riots taking place in several countries around the world because of the high cost of living; and we are doing what we can to ensure that it does not impact us negatively.
“We are doing what we have to do while there is a leader making all kinds of promises, all kinds of misinformation and misleading. Lets us recall it was in January this year when we put some 29 basic items under price control.”
~~Adz:Left~~He also noted that the government recently removed the consumption tax on 10 items that are consumed daily by the ordinary workers and people of the Federation. Dr. Douglas also noted that his administration is encouraging small farmers to increase their production while more land is being distributed to them and the former sugar workers.
The PM said his government has reduced the fuel surcharge on electricity bill by 50 percent; given permanency to non-established workers who could look forward to retiring in confidence; and a retroactive increase of five percent to civil servants in December 2007 which would be further increased by July on completion of the two studies.
“Comrades, two weeks ago Cabinet gave instructions to the Hon. Minister of Labour to begin the process of consultations with the relevant stakeholders with a view of increasing the minimum wage so that the domestic workers and our ladies at the Industrial Estate can better cope with the rising cost of living,” he added.
Dr. Douglas also informed the gathering of a recent decision to make better the lives of women working at the Industrial Estate: “I have given instructions to the Attorney General to seek advice as to how we can provide the young ladies on the Industrial Estate with some form of gratuity payment when they would have ended their working life there after serving for 10, 15 and 20 years.”
“That time,” he intimated, “has now come for those who want to leave the Industrial Estate after working there for several years and cannot leave without a gratuity.”
The PM said his administration is implementing mechanisms to protect the ordinary workers since the country’s economy has changed to one of services, and warned listeners to be wary of those who have been encouraging the populace not to march.
“Those who are encouraging you not to march will do no such thing, for they are against you, they are against working class people, they are against trade unionism whose main focus is to protect the workers of this land.”
Dr. Douglas said crime and violence would not do the country any good, and declared that a contract was awarded for the construction of a Co-Ed Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre to replace the Harris’ Home for boys and girls to assist them through difficult adolescence years and provide them opportunities to develop socially acceptable behaviour.
“The Co-Ed Juvenile Rehabilitation centre will assist in dealing with criminal activities among our youths and help to decrease the number of young offenders who are currently locked behind bars at Her Majesty’s Prison, causing our prison to be overpopulated.”
He urged the gathering to prepare themselves for hard work “for the great victory that is now ahead of us. You asked us for a sign…you have given us the sign over four weeks of public meeting and today over three hours you march in your thousands through the streets of Basseterre giving the last significant sign and signal that Labour is ready again to rumble in our country”.
Prime Minister Douglas concluded by telling the gathering to listen for the toll of the bell, “because when the bell rings and school calls in, every man must find his class”.
