BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE 2015 Budget Presentation made on Tuesday (Dec. 9) by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas yesterday has been criticised by Opposition Member the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris as an “imitation Budget” that plagiarises the ideas his political team has forwarded.
Dr. Harris, addressing the Parliament yesterday (Dec. 10), was the first Member of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition to respond to the Budget Presentation and indicated that he was not necessarily disappointed because he was not expecting much from it.
“This imitation Budget that has been put forth today by the Douglas Administration is filled with words and numbers. It is a document that represents a government that is out of gas and out of ideas. So out of ideas they are that after 19 years in government their special talent is to plagiarise from Team Unity’s agenda.
“Shamelessly and hopelessly they have been stealing our ideas and adopting them badly. Caught up in their fantasy land, they believe that they are fooling people by coming in the last year of election to undo the hurt and pain. Alas, our people will not be fooled.”
Dr. Harris said one of the ideas that the Government has stolen from Team Unity is the removal of VAT from specific food items.
“So, since November 2010 they against advice imposed the highest introductory rate of VAT in the region, and then you suffer the pain and hardship. Now, just before an election, the copycats on the other side have stolen Team Unity’s idea of VAT reduction. Team Unity VAT policy will result in zero rated VAT on all, not some; all food items. It will extend to medication, educational supplies, the necessaries for the disabled and we shall remove it from funeral expenses.
“So too they steal our idea of reduction of student loans, free access to pre-school education. This is a document that attempts to pacify a people instead of building prosperity for a people.”
The Team Unity Leader and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Seven said the Budget lacks vision and was designed by individuals who have given up on the people they were elected to serve.
“This Administration has turned its back on the people of St. Kitts and Nevis! This imitation Budget was not about the future of St. Kitts and Nevis. This document is filled with words and numbers that just fulfill the duty of the Government to submit a Budget. It does not reflect the hopes and dreams of a people who want prosperity for themselves and their families.
“It does not send a message to service providers that our Citizen by Investment Programme is being freed of illicit actors. It does not send a message to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that we are ready to enter the sunshine of transparency and accountability. This imitation Budget does not say to the local small businesses like Glimbaro, Annie Bakery, Fraites Bakery, Tota Restaurant and Williams Auto that we will help you grow and employ more Kittitians and Nevisians. It does not say to the single mother we will help you get on the pathway to prosperity so that you can provide for your families.
“This imitation Budget does not speak to the recent college graduate who wants to come home and start a business. It does not speak to the family who is barely getting by with minimum income. The imitation Budget does not speak to the people. This imitation Budget is presented by an administration which is trying to hold on to power by any means necessary. It was the last desperate act of an illegitimate government.”
