BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH it was not the surprise declaration many expected him to make, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas still energised the crowd at yesterday’s (May 4) Labour Day March by announcing several new initiatives meant to ease the strain on workers of this country.
While addressing marchers at the Patsy Allers Playfield, Douglas revealed these initiatives would include the reduction of land prices for minimum wage-earners, the introduction of a short-term unemployment benefit scheme and the creation of a gratuity programme for private sector workers who have been employed for over 10 years.
Persons earning the minimum wage of EC$320 per week will now be able to buy land at the reduced cost of $2.95 per square foot. Stating that the decrease represents “fundamental, positive change”, Douglas assured appropriate adjustments would be made for those who fall into this category and have already been given land at a higher price.
He however noted that some persons would still be unable to afford land and pledged to consult with commercial banks to identify a solution.
“I know some persons are having difficulty raising the funds for the purchase of the land, and I will therefore arrange a meeting with the banks with a view to considering any incentives that can be provided to the banks to encourage them to provide the necessary funding to our people. For those who cannot afford the mortgage payments based on the terms established by these banks, my government will arrange for a line of credit of $10 million to be provided to the Development Bank for lending on soft terms for the purpose of acquiring land under our enhanced Special Land Initiative,” said the Prime Minister.
In other relief-inducing measures, Douglas informed of an impending short-term unemployment benefit scheme to bring relief to workers during temporary periods of unemployment and the creation of a gratuity programme for private sector workers.
Calling it an “unfair and unjust practice” for workers to walk away empty-handed after years of service, he revealed that Parliament was considering legislation to reward private sector employees who had worked for 10 or more years.
“We have put the appropriate legislation before the National Assembly for first reading. This legislation will ensure that workers are entitled upon retirement to a gratuity after serving a minimum of 10 years of service. We have done it for workers on the government payroll and we are determined that all employees in our Federation should enjoy similar benefits,” said Douglas.
His speech capped the annual Labour Day celebrations which saw hundreds marching through the streets of Basseterre in their traditional red.
Several hi-fis provided music for the marchers, who sported shirts in support of their respective parliamentary representatives and carried placards with messages boasting the accomplishments of the Labour Party administration in housing, agriculture, health, education and tourism.
The marchers, who included Dr. Douglas, his Parliamentary colleagues and representatives from the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, travelled from the Patsy Allers Playfield through Basseterre to Newtown before returning to the starting point for the PM’s address and the subsequent picnic.
