CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - WHILE the Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry remains tight-lipped on the time and cost of the envisaged Commission of Inquiry, Chairman of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Stedmond Tross said the government has the right to institute the inquiry.
He however declared that the inquiry should be allowed to cover the period since CCM took office up to present day.
The response by CCM was sparked by a caller’s question when Premier Parry was the special guest on the “Let’s Talk” programme broadcast on Voice of Nevis (VON). The Premier had admitted that the Commission of Inquiry would be instituted but he did not specify when and how much it would cost.
Speaking from his office in Charlestown yesterday (Mar. 19), Tross told SKNVibes that CCM did nothing wrong while in office.
“What we have said is that the timing is a matter of concern because, as you all know, the world is going through an economic downturn. Things are hard; they are harder here in Nevis! The Premier has said over and over again that we should tighten our belts and he goes ahead and institutes a commission of inquiry. It is just ridiculous.”
Tross continued: “He was on radio and someone asked him what it gonna cost. He said he does not know. What kind of a planner would go into something without any idea of the cost? What will the inquiry cost...one million, 10 million?”
The CCM Chairman made reference to the inquiry called by the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party in 1999, noting millions of dollars were spent but until now the outcome is unknown.
“We are saying if this government is so bent on having an inquiry, have an inquiry but do not limit it to the time CCM has been in office. Let us have it until today, for there are a lot of questions.”
According to Tross, “We have questions regarding the housing and land development. We have questions regarding agriculture. We have questions regarding the geothermal project.
We have questions regarding the road project – the third phase of the road project. Let us have one big inquiry and let us get to the bottom of what they perceive. CCM does not have a problem, but it is the people of Nevis who will pay for the cost of the inquiry. It could be in millions of dollars.”
“Mr. Parry said in April we have to pay the full cost of the surcharge because the government is not able. Over 600 people have lost their jobs after being laid off by the Four Seasons.
The government keeps saying they should go for employment at the Brown Hill Communication. The government is not able to engage even one of them but, yet still, they are prepared to pay millions of dollars for the inquiry. People of Nevis ought to reject this government. They have not been accountable, they have not been responsible and they have not been good managers.”
The Labour induced Commission of Inquiry in 1999 ended just before the 2000 Elections which resulted in defeat for the opposition People’s Action Movement.
