Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 6th 2010 (PAM Secretariat Press Release) - “The economic and crime crisis that our countrys is currently in the midst of is as a result of 15 years of gross mismanagement of the country’s financial and other resources,” said St. Kitts-Nevis opposition party People’s Action Movement leader Lindsay Grant.
Speaking at his People’s Action Movement’s 45th annual convention on Sunday, Mr. Grant said the government was bankrupt as a result of year and years of mismanagement and corruption. He said the present administration is not only financially bankrupt because of a record $3.5 billion national debt forcing the introduction of a VAT tax but also bankrupt of ideas in the fight against crime.
Grant said “The VAT will seriously affect the cost of living for the ordinary man, for the ordinary woman in our society. It will make our poor poorer; it will make more persons indigent and will force those living below the poverty line which now stands at 33 percent to increase even further.”
Mr. Grant also raised much concern over the fact that at just a few months before the Value Added Tax or VAT is scheduled to be implemented, the government has to date remain tight-lipped on the rate. The dynamic leader said that given that the country imported most of its food, it was the People’s Action Movement’s position that the government should consider making all food tax or duty free as outlined in the 2010 manifesto.
The PAM leader also expressed sadness about the current crime situation in the country. The charismatic Harvard-trained lawyer said that not only has criminals robbed our banks, delivery trucks, women and tourists but they have also robbed residents of their peace of mind. He said that the government was simply not serious about tackling crime, highlighting the fact that the Ministry of National Security has been led by the the Prime Minister, former Minister Dwyer Astaphan and more recently the Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor.
The PAM leader said that he and his party have called for a national response in the fight against crime . The leader also pointed out that since 2001 the party presented a comprehensive 16 point crime-fighting plan to the government with an updated version presented in 2008 . He lamented that despite the presentation of both plans the government has yet to respond or implement any of the suggestion outlined in the plans.
Grant expressed outrage at the recent incident at the Cayon Police station and said that not even the Police stations are safe or beyond the bounds of the criminals
“We cannot even run to the police stations, because the gunmen are holding up the police stations,” Grant said.
“The security and safety of ordinary residents of St. Kitts and Nevis will forever be under threat if we continue under this Labour government,” Grant said.
