BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Premier of Nevis, Hon. Vance W. Amory, is accusing Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas of allowing politics to be the determinant in whether or not funds procured by the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme through the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) are disbursed to the people of Nevis through their local government.
In a statement disseminated to the media last evening (Dec. 15), the Premier addressed a number of issues which he said could prove to be dividing forces between the people of St. Kitts and the people of Nevis.
Addressing the issue of double salary that is to be paid to all civil servants within the Federation by December 19, 2014, Amory explained that he is in support of it and in an effort to secure the funds to cover the cost, a request was made to SIDF for monies to be released to the NIA but the response was not favourable.
“You would also be aware of my call for some SIDF resources, which is derived from the proceeds of the Citizenship By Investment programme, to be transferred to the Nevis Island Administration to cover the coast of the extra month’s salary. I believe all of us know that my request was reasonable and justifiable but I was told that the NIA would have to secure a loan to make that payment.”
According to Amory, the previous Nevis Reformation Party-led Administration received sporadic disbursements from the SIDF, but under the current leadership (Concerned Citizens Movement) that financial support is not forthcoming.
“My Fellow Citizens, we are fully aware that the Federal Government receives significant resources as a result of the fees from the CBI programme, estimated in 2013 to be in excess of $240 million to fund its day-to-day expenditure of government. Nevis, on the other hand, receives none despite numerous promises. It is also interesting to note that prior to my Administration’s coming to office in January 2013, Nevis, under the former NRP Administration, received budgetary support albeit in an irregular manner.
“In January 2013, the very month of the election, an amount of $3.5 million was received by the former NRP-led NIA. In 2012 the amount of $11.2 million was also received by the former Administration. This was abruptly stopped once my government assumed office. The only amount received from this pool of funds in 2014 is $4 million for the CDB/NIA Water Enhancement Project, and you would remember that in September of 2013 we received a grant from the SIDF of $4.7 million to cover the cost of a double salary at that time.”
Amory expressed his view that “Nevis’ access to the SIDF resources is not based on any sound policy, but instead it appears to be based on the Prime Minister’s own decision as to which party he would wish to have occupying the seats of government in Nevis”.
He added that the inequitable manner in which CBI resources are being disbursed results in some benefitting “in great amounts and the people of Nevis, through its NIA, seems as if we have to scramble and scourge to get recognition and support”.
The Premier said he categorically rejects “this approach to governance of our country” as “it is a recipe for division” and “a recipe for engendering hatred and strife between the citizens of our country”.
