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St Kitts & Nevis PM Harris 'reconnects' with his people in VI

- gets good feedback @ Town Hall style meeting on October 22, 2016
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris is greeting by St Kitts and Nevis nationals residing in the Virgin Islands following his public meeting on October 22, 2016. Photo: Dorian Hodge
Interacting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris. Photo: Dorian Hodge
Interacting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris. Photo: Dorian Hodge
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: Dorian Hodge
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: Dorian Hodge
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: Dorian Hodge
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: Dorian Hodge
Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, said the meeting at Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium with St Kitts and Nevis nationals residing in the Virgin Islands, helped him to reconnect with his people in the disapora. Photo: VINO
Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, said the meeting at Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium with St Kitts and Nevis nationals residing in the Virgin Islands, helped him to reconnect with his people in the disapora. Photo: VINO
Mr Duncan Wattley, Director of the Department of People's Empowerment in the Office of the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis. Photo: Dorian Hodge
Mr Duncan Wattley, Director of the Department of People's Empowerment in the Office of the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis. Photo: Dorian Hodge
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris addressing St Kitts and Nevis nationals residing in the Virgin Islands on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris addressing St Kitts and Nevis nationals residing in the Virgin Islands on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
A section of the crowd that turned up for the meeting with Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School auditorium on October 22, 2016. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris said, following his first meeting with nationals of the twin island state residing in the Virgin Islands (VI), he is now better positioned to broaden the policy scope to meet their needs, particularly when they return home to stay.

Dr Harris told this news site, following the over two-hour long meeting at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School’s auditorium on Saturday October 22, 2016, that it was a very constructive and productive discussion. He noted that it assisted him to reconnect with his people, to get a better understanding of where they are at, and how they as policy makers needed to ensure that their policies are broad enough so that all of their citizens, irrespective of their location, could have equal opportunities in their homeland.

Issues such as benefitting from scholarships while abroad, housing, lands, duty-free exemptions, were some of the questions posed by the audience. The Prime Minister also updated them on the present state of affairs and what he referred to as the impressive report card that the Team Unity led administration has already been able to accomplish since it was sworn into office in 2015.

“I think these are important policy questions which now have to be addressed by the government and coming here helped to put them in focus,” he noted.

“The concerns that the people raised would be typical concerns raised by our citizens in New York and everywhere. So if we can resolve some of these issues raised then we are resolving it for a broad cross-section of our citizens. How do we ensure that as citizens they get their fair share? That is an important policy question and although I don’t have all the pieces, certainly by understanding we can get our policy advisors to begin looking at what we have,” Hon Harris added.

Helping the diaspora community to settle when they return

He said presently, returning St Kitts & Nevis nationals can get duty-free exemptions on household items and vehicles, however, the country may now need to take another look with a view of broadening that scope.

Scholarship opportunities

Another question was posed, regarding applying for scholarships while living abroad, and whether one had to be residing in St Kitts and Nevis to benefit from it. The Prime Minister informed that once the applicant provides the requisite information, that person receives a fair chance for a scholarship as another residing in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

Feedback

Following the meeting, Virgin Islands News Online questioned a few persons on their thoughts of the town hall meeting.

One gentleman, who preferred to be anonymous, said the meeting met his expectations.

“Well, of course, it met my expectations because a lot of people were oblivious of things going on home and they were clarified by the Prime minister,” he said. “I think the meeting was fruitful, I think it was a good town hall meeting and the Prime Minister made it known that the country is moving on and is the number one country in the Caribbean economically.”

Another gentleman, Franklyn Caines, remarked that the meeting for him was two-fold.

“The meeting was really good, some discussions on the economy, land, housing and agriculture I think they were really good and it was the first chance I had to meet the Prime Minister. I learned some things,” he remarked.

Mr Caines has been in the Virgin Islands (UK) for the past 42 years.

Prime Minister’s schedule

So far Dr The Hon Timothy S. Harris has met with the Acting Premier Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), where a number of matters were discussed, including looking at the VI’s experiences in terms of its Cruise Pier since it is about to begin construction of a second one in St Kitts.

“So we compared notes about that and other avenues,” he remarked.

Those other avenues include the state of the financial services sector and its challenges to the banking sector in the region, as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme since the twin-island state is also planning on doing something similar.

Furthermore, he informed, he had an opportunity to speak to a few potential investors who showed some interest in his country and he was able to be part of a meeting of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) which was facilitated via teleconference by the Office of the Premier.

On a lighter note, he graced the wedding ceremony of a young Police Officer from St Kitts and Nevis, who has been serving in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for a number of years.

This was his first visit since taking up the reins as Prime Minister and described his stay as a “busy” one.

“So I think overall it has been a very productive stay. I think we did [meet our target], we were able to connect as you see from the variety of questions that there were concerns and issues that people have,” he surmised.

7 Responses to “St Kitts & Nevis PM Harris 'reconnects' with his people in VI”

  • ... (23/10/2016, 11:58) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    good job Team Unity
  • LABOUR (23/10/2016, 14:04) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Harris again
  • son of the soil (23/10/2016, 18:32) Like (10) Dislike (15) Reply
    Who is responsible for he flying that flag on our soil?
  • Well Sah (23/10/2016, 23:22) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The whole ah st.kitts here?
  • Hmm (24/10/2016, 12:30) Like (2) Dislike (20) Reply
    Interesting... I don't see the Premier going St Kitts or other Islands to reconnect with his people. Oh, that's right, none of us wants to go those places to live.
  • and now (24/10/2016, 16:45) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    St. Kitts dirty and full of flies. I love Nevis. Anyways, he will give them all the things mentioned because they come out from their country to live abroad be it tortola or wherever and whatever they make or scrape they send it home. So he see the profit so to speak in that. The US dollar coming in in abundance. So, let me give them something in return or so he say. Them politricikcians say all manner of things regardless to who they are to make themselves sound good. Yes BVI Landers travel to make a better life but they don't behave so (and we know what i mean by that statement). And, and, let me say it's not only the kitties do it. The entire Caribbean ppl do it. They come, they cuss us out about this little place of ours, disrespect us to the max but yet the won't leave and won't stop coming. Anyways, they (all Caribbean) are of use and I for one thank them for coming don't mind what I've said before. I just don't like ungrateful disrespectful people. LET THE LICKS START MY BACK BROAD AND I STAND ON WHAT I SAID. EVERY LAST WORD. come all who may BUT when you start to disrespect MY BVI we have a problem.


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