by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Appropriation Bill (2022) 2021 was passed during the night of December 20, on Day Four of Budget 2022 presentations.
After four days of robust debate and concerns from the members opposite the EC$952.2 million budget, presented under the theme “Investing in our People: Putting St. Kitts and Nevis Back on Track”, is now the expected expenditure allowance for 2022, which according to government ministers’ presentations is a budget focused on investing in the people of the Federation.
In his closing address, Prime Minister the Hon Dr. Timothy Harris reaffirmed that the budget is focused on the advancement of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“This budget, of course, Mr. Speaker, will advance the quality of life for all of our people. EC$952 million to be spent in our small economy of St. Kitts and Nevis. This will mean more jobs for people, as some of those capital projects, EC$180 million in capital projects. The NHC will start their housing program again, building bigger and nicer homes… and I want to make the point, it is perhaps the first time in the last 30 odd years that a budget allocation is being made to housing.”
Apart from advancement, the Prime Minister also said that the people of St. Kitts should look forward to the reduction of VAT post-pandemic.
“We, once you get out of this pandemic, it’s a down road reduction. We’re going south on VAT, not north because we believe we want people to have more spending power and to make the kinds of decisions that will impact their lives positively,” said the Prime Minister.
