…Double salary and VAT Days announced
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DESPITE the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that the Federation is operating in the red, Cabinet has approved an extra month’s salary (double salary) for public servants, STEP and auxiliary workers.
Announcement of the popular double salary was made by Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew at a Post Cabinet media briefing yesterday (Nov. 15) afternoon, where he disclosed that after much deliberations it was agreed that the double would be paid to the thousands of workers.
“We are in the red, dependent heavily on CBI, and therefore we now have to chart a different course in order to make sure that St. Kitts and Nevis remains strong and viable,” the Prime Minister noted while speaking recently on Freedom FM.
It has become a tradition that the government gives these workers an extra month’s salary during the Christmas period to stimulate economic activities.
This year, the payment will be made earlier, in the month of November instead of December.
But it comes at a time when the Government claims that the Federation is operating in a deficit, which is expending more than its budgetary allocations.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also used the platform to announce three reduced Value Added Tax Days - highlighting November 25, December 16 and 17.
However, on November 25, the discounted rates will not apply to the vehicles, Dr. Drew noted.
