BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, July 22, 2024 (MMS-SKN) -- Prime Minister the Hon Dr Terrance Drew, who is also the Minister of Finance, has advised that qualified GAE workers will be paid their pension on Thursday July 25.
“The last one I want to talk about, because this is a Labour Party that cares about workers, is the Pension Programme,” said Dr Drew on Sunday afternoon, July 21, when he addressed members of Constituency Number Eight Labour Branch at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall.
According to the Honourable Prime Minister, who is also the Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Eight, for years GAE workers have been asking for their pension, but in the seven years of the previous administration, all it did was to take away two thirds of the gratuity due to the GAE workers.
He explained that if a worker was supposed to get 100 dollars, under the last government they only got 33 dollars. However, when the Labour Government came in, it took it from 33 dollars back to 100 dollars, because it had been reduced in 2020. He noted that it was the first thing his Labour Government did.
“The question of pension was still being asked, and we decided that we must get the pension plan going,” explained the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Drew. “And so on the 25th of July, 2024, which is this week Thursday, the GAE workers who would have contributed at least fifteen years of service, and who would have attained 62 years and they would have retired after 2012 - that is a lot of people - you will finally get your pension.”
Those who will be paid on Thursday will receive pension covering months January to July in one lump sum. Explaining that is how the Government will deliver the money to the people because they worked for it, he observed that he saw a number of people in the meeting who will finally get their pension.
“Those who are GAE workers now, you will get your pension when you are retired,” assured Dr Drew. “And so it took a Labour Government to make it happen and so hundreds of people will benefit, and over time thousands of people will benefit.”
The meeting was chaired by Ms Avonelle Martin, Chair of Constituency Number Eight Labour Branch Executive, who was accompanied by members of C8 Labour Branch Executive who were recently elected. They were introduced to the general membership.
When the meeting opened and called to order, a minute of silence was observed each for two members of the Labour Party family, Ms Nicole Arthurton who died recently, and Mr Delbert Samuel who died in May.
The meeting was held under the theme ‘Keeping Connected’, and writing on his Facebook page on Sunday evening July 21, Prime Minister the Hon Dr Terrance Drew, who is also the Leader of the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party, said that he had the opportunity to discuss and share with “our people critical information dispelling the propaganda and setting the record straight.”
Issues he raised and discussed at length based on what the Labour Government has delivered in the less than two years it has been back in government included making sure that all children in primary schools and high schools have a laptop or I-pad, and the establishment of a Children Health Fund, which makes St. Kitts and Nevis the only country outside of Cuba in the Western Hemisphere that has a health fund like that.
“While we look after the children, we also took the chance to look after the adults,” observed the Honourable Prime Minister. “We have the highest minimum wage in CARICOM. We have passed Barbados, and we have passed the Bahamas, and the minimum wage is going up next year - so more security for the workers.”
In health care he said that the Government will be building a climate smart hospital, and that the first public consultations would be held on Monday July 22, while in education he advised that plans are finalising on the matter of the new Basseterre High School.
Updating the meeting on the Children’s Savings Financial Education Initiative, Prime Minister Dr Drew advised that the Government has put out an advert for somebody to come out with a nicer name instead of that long one, and the winner will receive $1,000.
“That programme is going to give every child in St. Kitts and Nevis a thousand dollars,” reminded Dr Drew. “They are going to have, this year in September, five hundred dollars in savings and they are going to have another five hundred dollars investment. They can invest either in the National Bank, the Cable, or the Water Department. Only Labour can deliver things like these. It is for all children in St. Kitts and Nevis, irrespective of their parents’ party affiliation.”
The Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Eight had earlier thanked the constituents for having stood with him and giving him support since 2013 when he first appeared on the political scene.
“I look around and I see that you are still with me, in difficult times and in the hard times you are always there,” said Dr Drew. “That means a lot for me, and to me, and therefore means that I will also be with you, and I want you to know that from a constituency level, personal level as your Labour Representative, as your Parliamentary Representative, and as your Prime Minister, it is because of you why I am here, and I will never forget that, nor will I ever take it for granted. I want you to know that from the depths of my heart. Without you, there is no me here.”
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