BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 30th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - Parliamentarian and Deputy Political Leader of the Peoples Action Movement, the Hon. Shawn Richards said that despite the Government’s report of purported growth, this has been negated by a 10% rise in the cost of living over the same period.
Richards pointed out that the Federation continues to be severely challenged economically, as the man initiatives and projects that Government has boasted about have not translated into any benefit for civil servants. “In fact,” he said, “a research conducted by the People’s Action Movement has shown that the cost of living for civil servants has increased more than 10% over this period of purported growth while it is in fact way below the level of inflation, which was stated as 9%.”
Further, Richards noted that the standard of living of workers and the population at large have been eroded to the extent that there is increasing poverty, with many not being able to satisfy the basic requirements to sustain life at an acceptable level. He added that the resulting developments have a negative impact on society, particularly the workers and consumers of services offered by the public sector.
He stressed that the migration of qualified personnel as a result of unsatisfactory remuneration packages has consequently left a void that could not be filled with the lesser qualified personnel that remain. The PAM Deputy Political Leader declared that “the situation here in St. Kitts and Nevis is being exacerbated by the strong conviction that even in the civil sector, preference in appointments and promotions is being extended to persons on the basis of political considerations, which is directly opposed to the provisions of professional ethics and decency which the Labour Government should commit itself to”.
The Parliamentarian stated that as “complete and blatant lawlessness continues to exist as a problem in our society”, his party is disappointed at the apparent indifference of international funding agencies to malpractice especially in matters pertaining to corruption, lack of transparency, accountability and integrity in which “they should have an interest as financiers, and therefore as stakeholders”. Additionally, Richards said that constitutional provisions and legislation pertaining to these matters are routinely ignored and evidently treated by the international funding agencies as of little or no consequence.
He accused the government of capitalizing on the situation “because of its ability to exploit political differences that pervade the society”. He declared that in the process, the Kittitian and Nevisian society as a whole would always be the losers and politicians and their adherents, the victors.
Richards stressed that “this would only change if and when the population recognizes the negative aspects of the perpetuation of political and other divisions, which continue to divide us and retard our development as a people.”
He noted that “we should therefore try feverishly to heal wounds and strive for unity and harmony in the society, and this can only be fully achieved with the immediate calling of elections so that the public can decide who they want to lead them”.
He added that the PAM has already begun putting in place strategies to confront and address obstacles to its supporters and the Federation’s development and improvement in the quality of life, and invited all to be a part of the effort as it seeks to bring about change thus ensuring that all within society regardless of one’s political affiliation could see growth and development.
