ST Kitts PM presents goodies for citizens

Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has announced a number of goodies that may help citizens deal with the impact of the global economic crisis. He also blamed the opposition for a delay in the presentation of the national budget as well as for naming the date for the general election,according to a report on www.cananews.net.



Douglas, in a nationwide radio and television address on Monday night, said that electricity rates would be reduced and that taxes and duties had been waived with regards to the importation of paint.



“This concession would take effect immediately and continue until the end of the year,” the Prime Minister said, as he also announced a bonus to public servants who “have worked particularly hard in this time of global economic malaise to implement the stimulus programmes of the government...”



He added that pensioners and workers at public corporations will also benefit.



“Of course, our workers are the immediate beneficiaries of the bonus but we expect that the payment of the bonus will boost economic activity throughout the Federation and bring benefits to our retailers, traders and other businesses,” Douglas said, adding that he hopes the private sector would also “be as generous to their employees” this Christmas.



The Prime Minister said that while the preparations for the national budget have been completed, it will be presented in the New Year and that one of the major highlights will be the establishment of a programme in 2010 that will put a laptop computer in the hands of every school child.