BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Government of St. Kitts and Nevis today (Mar. 30) received EC$16 million from the Venezuelan Government through the Petro Caribe and ALBA initiatives that would be used to complete the compensation package of former sugar workers.
At a ceremony held in the Cabinet Room at Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris stated what the money would be used for.
"The initiative to which I make reference had been the commitment we had made to assist the former sugar workers of St Kitts and Nevis who were deprived with respect to the management of the severance package to assist to deal with the resource to those who were disenfranchised.”
He then recalled some initiatives in which the Venezuelan Government had been involved in the past regarding assistance to past sugar workers.
"The Government of Venezuela had in the past been specifically associated with the agenda of support for sugar workers. You would recall they had been involved in the building of homes for some of the former sugar workers and they therefore had become interested in assisting the Government in meeting this very major policy initiative that we had announced. Because of their prior engagement in that area, it made it easier to appreciate the issue at hand since they had been involved with a number of policy initiatives, both in terms of agriculture and specifically to the sugar workers."
Dr. Harris assured that this would be the first of many initiatives between St. Kitts and Nevis and Venezuela.
"This just the first of several initiatives which we intend to peruse with the Government of Venezuela. And all these projects are made possible through our participation in the Petro Caribe initiative. They have provided for now 16 million to cover the short fall in the compensation package to the former sugar workers.”
The Prime Minister also indicated that on Thursday they would provide greater details on how they would be perusing this and other initiatives.
He credited the Hon. Ian 'Patches' Liburd for delivering this opportunity after having numerous talks.
President of Petro Caribe Bernardo Alverez Herrera highlighted the importance of Petro Caribe to its member countries not only in their energy security initiatives, but also through their social and economic programmes.
"I would like just to say that this is a moment to tell of the importance of Petro Caribe. Petro Caribe is an energy agreement between countries based on the vast natural resources that Venezuela possess, but has the idea not only to keep some important levels of energy security, but also be a tool for economic and social development. And that is why we can have these social programmes.
"Being here and giving the resources from our mix company…the company that belongs half to Venezuela and half to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis have decided to help this very important social programme."
The Hon. Liburd, who is the Minister with responsibility for Petro Caribe affairs, hailed the importance of the bi-lateral relations with Venezuela.
"The fact that we are here this morning shows the importance of our big-literal relationship with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. I can say with much optimism much more will come. Our commitments are going to come as time progresses. I too have met President Maduro and yourself and I will say that the fruits of our labour are hanging on the trees and they will drop in our favour."
During the campaign trail of the February 16, 2015 General Elections, Team Unity indicated that they would ensure that all former sugar workers who were denied or short-paid severance for which they had just entitlement would be compensated.
Former sugar workers are said to have been short paid EC$16 million in severance payout.
