$11m increase for Public Works upgrades in 2009
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-IT was announced in today’s (Dec. 16) reading of the 2009 budget that the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, Utilities and Posts would receive a significant EC $11 million dollar boost for the coming year.
Reading from his 2009 Budget Address, Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris said that Dr. Hon. Earl Asim Martin’s ministry would be receiving “an allocation of $99,843,441, including $27,624,417 for Capital Projects”.
“The total allocation for 2009 represents an increase of $10,933,234 over the 2008 allocation. During 2009 this Ministry will continue its work to provide our citizens with the high quality of infrastructure that they have come to expect.”
Included in the infrastructure updates outlined by Harris were a number of projects aimed at relieving St. Kitts of the rolling blackouts that plagued the island in 2008 due to an October generator fire at the Needsmust Power Plant and other factors. ~~Adz:Right~~
“The Ministry [of Finance] is currently fast tracking a project to complete in quick time the upgrades to the electricity distribution and power protection systems to address the outage problems and create a stable and reliable source of electricity,” Harris said.
According to the Minister, the specific areas for the funds to be allocated, such as human resources and technical problems, were determined by a comprehensive report from the management of the Electricity Department.
Though there will be a number of upgrades to the Electricity Department, Harris said that the government will be re-evaluating the traditional role of utility provider in the new year.
“We will also accelerate the programme for the corporatization of the Electricity Department with a view to overhauling the structure, management and operations of the Department and fostering a business culture at the new corporatized entity.”
Apart from upgrades to the electricity infrastructure, it was revealed that a new Post Office will begin servicing Tabernacle in 2009.
“A new modern Post Office will be opened in Tabernacle in 2009. The facility is already built and is only awaiting furniture and people to begin servicing our communities,” Harris said.
