BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - OPPOSITION Parliamentarian and leader of Team Unity Dr. Timothy Harris is criticizing the government for a recent move which he says will add to the debt burden on the people of St Kitts and Nevis. However, a government official has countered Dr. Harris’ take on the matter.
Harris is of the opinion that during the last Parliamentary sitting held two weeks ago, the Government passed resolutions that will see the government borrowing close to $500,000,000.
In an interview with SKNVibes, Harris stated that the Opposition - as well as the organization he leads – is completely opposed to the move on two grounds.
“We are opposed, strongly opposed, to the borrowings by this government and those are matters which will be reviewed by a Team Unity Government.
“The Government has no legitimacy and therefore this government and this Prime Minister - who according to the judgment by Justice Ramdanhi… - the government’s authority to govern has been invalidated which means they should not bring any measure to the Parliament less it is the Motion of No Confidence.
“We also find repugnant that such a government could bring matters that will add to the burden of poor people who repay for all Government debt.”
The former Minister of Finance stated that all stakeholders should be made aware of the resolution passed by government.
“We are saying in that case we want all the parties, the commercial banks, the IMF, the Cruise Port Development Limited need to be aware that the government has no right to provide the guarantees that it purports to get from Parliament.
“Another problem we have is that this government has shown a tendency to borrow and spend. It is not controlling its appetite for ‘sqandermania’ and waste of the public funds.”
On the other hand Financial Secretary Hilary Hazel, in a recent interview with FreedomFM, said it is incorrect for one to state that this constitutes new borrowing by the government.
She also explained that there is legislation which provides for the control and management of public funds among other things.
“We must also start from the premise that this is a modern piece of legislation which provides in a comprehensive manner, the legal basis for operating the financial management system in the public sector in a modern global information age. Most specifically we should take a look at part 8 of the Act (the Finance Administration Act of 2007) which provides for public debt and guarantees because the short term resolutions 2014 are actually authorized by this Act.”
