Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 17, 2019 (SKNIS): The formal meetings of the Cabinet took place on Saturday, April 27, Monday, April 29 and Monday, May 13, 2019. The meetings were chaired by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
Here are the salient matters that were discussed, and the decisions taken that are designed to advance the growth and development of the country:
• The Cabinet approved the provision of the Actuarial Services for the Severance Payment Fund, to be undertaken by the international firm of Morneau Shepell. Started in 1986, the fund is now 32 years old and covers two social protection schemes, which are the Severance payment Fund and the Long Service Gratuity Scheme. The Fund, which covers workers who have been made redundant, is provided for under The Protection of Employment Act, 1986. Since 2014, the Fund has been subsidized via capital expenditure, given that the previous Administration failed to capitalize the Fund. This gross failure has resulted in severe hemorrhaging of the Fund. The proposed actuarial review should provide recommendations to address these issues and ensure solvency and sustainability of the Fund.
• Cabinet approved the sale of Minority shares in Wireless Ventures (St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd) dba Digicel to Digicel Eastern Caribbean Ltd.
• Cabinet considered and approved a proposal to underwrite 50% of the cost of urgently needed repairs to the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies, The Gardens, Basseterre.
• The matter of a new home for the National Archives was discussed at length, given that the current location of the archives on the ground floor of Government Headquarters was grossly inadequate. A decision was taken to conduct a search for an appropriate location on which to construct a purpose-built facility to house the National Archives, space for up to 10 staff members, digitization services, climate-controlled storage areas, and public spaces, among other amenities.
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