CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - AS the Federal Government in Basseterre has taken the position to increase public servants’ salary by 10 percent, retroactive from January, the same will not be accorded to their counterparts in Nevis.
In fact, those in the siter isle would be accorded a 15 percent increase over a three-year period, with a five percent retroactive from January this year, according to an announcement made by Premier Mark Brantley during an address to those on the island last evening (May 16).
“The Cabinet of the Nevis Island Administration, in an effort to avoid further significant borrowing at this time, has determined that with effect from the next pay day, public servants and pensioners in Nevis shall receive a five percent increase in their salaries and wages retroactive to January 01, 2022.
“On January 1, 2023, we shall give a further five percent increase to our public servants and pensioners. On January 01, 2024, we shall give a further five percent increase to our public servants and pensioners,” he announced.
That position was taken due to the financial constraints the local government is facing following the economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will enable the NIA to better manage the increases and allow for better management of the finances of the G[overnment.
Brantley was quick to point out that the increases would not be extended to Cabinet members on the island, as the payment represents the largest ever financial commitment to public servants and pensioners in island’s history, while allowing the Government to implement the increases in a “fiscally prudent and sensible manner over time, whilst our economy recovers”.
Since the start of the pandemic, the local economy has been hard hit, and the NIA was hopeful of a significant increase from the Federal Government from the CBI programme that was reportedly agreed upon in the Charlestown Accord.
But with the struggles continuing, and no discussion was had between the Governments in Charlestown and those in Basseterre, despite three of the five ministers sitting in the Federal Cabinet, no agreement was made to pay the public servants in Nevis.
“We also know that it is the usual practice to coordinate efforts between Basseterre and Charlestown so that our public servants and pensioners on both islands are kept on par with each other. This practice, even though not enshrined in law, had developed over the years because we had responsible leadership in Basseterre which understood the need to discuss these matters and coordinate approaches so that the far-reaching fiscal implications could be understood and budgeted for,” Brantley said.
But with infighting among the Leaders of the three parties that had made up the Team Unity Government which resulted in the termination of three ministers from the People’s Action Movement and a similar amount from the Concerned Citizens Movement, no discussions could be had.
“Sadly, I am to advise that while the issue of salary increases for our hard-working public servants had been the subject of discussions within the Federal and NIA Cabinets, the announcement made by Dr. Harris as to the percentage and the retroactive payment was done without any discussion with the Nevis Island Administration or with my office as Premier and Minister of Finance for the island of Nevis,” the Premier added.
Referencing the CBI programme, the outspoken Premier lamented that Dr. Harris is aware that the local Government would have to borrow money in order to pay salary increases “whilst he uses Nevisians’ money that he has vindictively withheld to fund increases to public servants, pensioners and STEP workers on St. Kitts”.
Brantley stated that the island did not receive its fair share of proceeds from the Citizenship By Investment programme.
“Even more cynically, Dr. Harris is well aware that he has absolutely refused to send to Nevis its equitable share of national revenues from our Citizenship by Investment Programme. Our analysis shows that since 2008 the island of Nevis with 25 percent of the population of the Federation has received only seven percent of CBI receipts. During that period more than EC $5 BILLION has been kept in Basseterre for the exclusive use of the Federal Government, whilst less than EC $400 million has come to Nevis.”
