BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PRIME MINISTER of Kitts and Nevis Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has highlighted some challenges the Government he leads has faced since taking up office 31 days ago.
In a National Address aired last evening (Mar. 24), Prime Minister Harris indicated that people wanted to know what they found in the first month of governance and that a subsequent report would be made on those matters.
He however indicated that the behaviour of the previous administration had damaged the country’s reputation to the point where the USA and Canada had to put restrictions in place against the Federation.
“Suffice it to say that we inherited a government which was scandalous in its behaviour and had tarnished the reputation of our country to the extent that the two most important countries in the hemisphere in terms of our development, that is, the United States of America and Canada, took bold public acts of censure against us. The US Treasury Department issued an advisory in May 2014 and we lost our visa-free access to Canada in November 2014.”
Dr. Harris disclosed that he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mark Brantley had been in contact with those governments in an effort to restore relations.
“Since taking office, the Foreign Affairs Minister and I have been in regular contact with these governments and with the government of the United Kingdom in an effort to recalibrate our relationship and to assure these governments and stakeholders that the necessary reforms will be undertaken by us to accord with international best practices and to avoid any security risks to any country.”
He then highlighted challenges they faced thus far regarding the civil service and promised to change the culture of politicising every facet of that entity.
“The 20-year rule of a galloping dictatorship created a dysfunctional civil service over-politicised with some Permanent Secretaries, Senior Assistant Secretaries, the Speaker of the National Assembly playing the most political of roles, and the Chairman of the National Bank serving as party political organiser. Everywhere the party took paramountcy over the people and country. Under this Government of National Unity, we will change that culture because our people deserve better and will get better.”
Dr. Harris warned those civil servants who set out to undermine the Government that their intentions would not be welcomed and called on the political appointees to step down from the positions they hold.
“Let me be clear! My Ministers have also reported back and I know from experience that there are some great civil servants that work for this Government. To those that serve this country without bias and with distinction, we say thank you and please continue. However, we are also aware of individuals who would wish to sabotage the people of this great Federation because of their party loyalty. The Government of National Unity will not allow anyone to sabotage nor undermine the will of the people. You the people voted to change the direction of this country and this Government will give you the change that you voted for.
“As a responsible Government, we have asked all political appointees of the former administration to do the honourable thing and resign. As a new administration, we must be afforded the opportunity to decide whether we retain those political appointees or change them in the best interest of the people of this country. To date, we have taken a number of deliberate actions to have some of them reassigned and some repositioned.”
He added that they would complete the senior appointments in government and on statutory boards in due course.
“We ask for patience as we work diligently on your behalf. The former Government had 20 years; we have had only 31 days. This period of transition gives us the opportunity to look at each ministry carefully. There are those that want to serve their country by working for government. You know that you can make your country better. We applaud you! We ask you to apply. We also ask you to be patient as we go through this transition period together.”
Dr. Harris further indicated that his Government would not be vindictive in their approach but would not allow anyone to undermine it.
“We promised not to be a vindictive government. We will never be! That being said, we will not allow anyone to undermine and sabotage the people’s duly elected Government nor deny the people the prosperity agenda for which they so decisively voted.”
