BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — WITH a new president taking office in the United States, there are growing concerns about how some of his decisions could affect the global community. From Donald Trump's tariffs to proposed mass deportations and the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, these policies may have significant economic implications for small island states.
Locally, discussions persist about the potential fallout from such policies and whether the government is prepared to address the resulting challenges.
SKNVibes News posed a question to the Deputy Leader of the People's Action Movement (PAM) Azard Gumbs about the government’s readiness—particularly given the recently approved budget—to handle these potential economic shocks.
“I believe that the Labour Party led by Dr Drew hardly takes into consideration many things that are happening, I doubt that they are taking into consideration what is happening globally,"he said.
He added: “Because as far as I am of the opinion, I don't even think they're being aware of what is happening locally. If you are not aware of what is happening locally on the ground, I find it hard to believe that they are aware of what is happening globally and how that global change would affect us here.”
As a frequent critic of the current administration, Gumbs accused the government of falling short in addressing key issues over the past two years, claiming this negligence has negatively impacted the lives of citizens in St. Kitts and Nevis.
He asserted: “The Labour Party over the past two years have shown itself a party that has really not been in tune with the people of St Kitts and Nevis, not been in tune with what is going on, what is happening.”
Gumbs further questioned the administration’s capacity to safeguard the Federation from external shocks, noting that “it hard to believe that they are making consideration to ensure that St Kitts and Nevis is buffered from whatever external effects from the North.”
Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has acknowledged that many of the challenges facing the Federation are external in nature. The government has reportedly been working to alleviate their impact on citizens.
Among the most pressing concerns is inflation, an issue long affecting the Federation due to its dependence on imported goods. The global rise in inflation—aggravated by pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and increasing food prices in the United States—has severely impacted the local economy.
To address these challenges, the government introduced a new initiative starting this month. However, Gumbs remains skeptical about the administration’s ability to effectively lead and serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
