CIC challenges government to keep Budgetary promises
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Mark Wilkin, President of CIC
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EXACTLY one week following the 2009 Federal Budget Address, the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) has challenged the government to clarify certain issues and maintain all promises made in the presented document.
The CIC report referred to the tax-free nature of the budget as a “sensible move” given the international economic and financial challenges which are expected to prolong into the next 12 months. The report however noted that there are a number of areas in the 2009 Budget, which the organisation intends to “seek clarification”.
“Some of these [areas] include the possible introduction of unemployment insurance, ‘billable services’ in Customs, and promised increases in the cost of certain Government fees for services and pensions paid by Social Security.
The level of these fee increases, and the sourcing of funds for the increased Social Security pensions and the unemployment insurance scheme are issues which [the Chamber] intends to raise with Government at the earliest opportunity. The Chamber also intends to seek clarification of those tax reform measures which have been proposed.
~~Adz:Right~~“Among the promises he noted was that of rationalising and cementing the role of the recently established St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA) and its Nevis equivalent, NIPA. Of equal importance to the Chamber is the establishment of the National Entrepreneurial Development Division (NEDD) within the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to handle local business development. We trust that the roles of these agencies will be clearly rationalised for the guidance of the private sector.”
The report applauded the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of National Security, which reflected a sum of EC$48.7 million and stated that the funds are “well-needed if our Police Force is to execute its mandate to protect and serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
The private sector organisation noted its trusts that Government will keep its word in refraining from the introducing Value Added Tax (VAT) until proper analysis and education is done. The Chamber also indicated their hope that the government would drop a number of taxes upon the introduction of this new tax.
