Rewrite the content with HTML tags and structure it with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, etc.). Retain existing tags. Include a conclusion and FAQ section. Former Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris
By Loshaun Dixon
“We must fight for our freedom. This government is waging a war against the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. We must not allow tyranny to take root here. Our country deserves better. Our people deserve better. And we must be determined to fight to the very end to reclaim it.”
In a fiery and impassioned address, former Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris levelled a sweeping indictment against the current administration, accusing them of betraying the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Speaking at a People’s Labour Party press conference, Dr. Harris painted a bleak picture of governance marked by corruption and gross mismanagement across multiple sectors of the country.
Dr. Harris highlighted what he viewed as incestuous relationships between government officials, law firms, and private interests. He pointed to what he described as the “family tea party” nature of governance, where connections, not competence, dictate decisions. Citing instances where prominent legal representatives had ties to the government while defending controversial figures, he questioned whether public resources were being captured for private gain.
The former Prime Minister criticised the government’s decision to award themselves a 36% salary increase, implemented immediately without phasing.
“One of their first acts of betrayal, was to take that whopping increase while taking away benefits from the people, including the $500 PAP support programme that sustained thousands during the hardest times.”
He accused the government of cutting crucial support to mothers, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, while simultaneously enriching themselves through increased per diems, land purchases, and acquisitions of businesses through fronts.
“Our people are becoming poorer while ministers and their agents flaunt their sudden rags-to-riches stories,” Harris declared.
Dr. Harris pointed to the failed $613 million smart housing programme intended to deliver 2,400 homes, but which, he claims, has only produced two.
“They brought in a foreign company with no track record to build homes,” he said. “A simple Google search would have told them they had no credibility. Why didn’t they do it? Because it suits their personal agendas.”
He questioned the decision to back these housing deals with public funds, raising alarms about where the money has gone, and warning that the nation’s debt trajectory is on a dangerous upward climb.
The former prime minister turned his focus to the healthcare sector, describing conditions at the JNF Hospital as “scary” and lamenting an increase in avoidable deaths.
He recounted a tragic case of a young man who, after being turned away from the hospital with a suspected stroke, suffered devastating consequences due to delays and poor care.
“Our country is losing its best people,” he warned, citing the departures of top police officers, medical specialists, and forensic heads, all frustrated by what he said was rampant political victimisation and incompetence.
Dr. Harris also outlined a dire situation in the tourism and business sectors. Merchants are struggling, malls are in decay, and no meaningful government support is forthcoming.
“The government ministers behave like professional tourists,” he said. “They are constantly travelling abroad while businesses here wither.”
Mocking a recent government delegation’s trip to Nigeria, Harris contrasted it with the real economic gains being made by other Caribbean leaders in Barbados, where a $1 billion African Export-Import Bank hub is being established.
“Our Prime Minister goes off chasing fantasies while the real opportunities pass us by,” Harris asserted.
Declaring that “integrity is not for sale,” Harris urged citizens to stand firm against what he characterised as corrupt and undemocratic acts. He concluded his address by appealing for vigilance, solidarity, and a recommitment to democratic principles.
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