More persons were employed in St. Kitts and Nevis under the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party administration than under the Team Unity Government.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris was slammed for misleading the nation over employment figures for 2015 and 2016.
Harris’ Press Unit on March 28th quoted the Prime Minister as stating that in 2016, there were 24,539 employed, up from 24,308 in 2015, ‘making 2016 the best year for job seekers.’
But the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s caretaker for St. Christopher 8, Dr. Terrance Drew accused Prime Minister Harris of blatantly lying and produced figures from the St. Christopher Social Security Board which shows that more persons were employed in the years 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013 under the previous St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) administration of the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
In fact, there are more than 2,500 less persons employed under the Harris-led Team Unity in 2016 compared to 2013.
“In 2007, total employment was 24,801; in 2008, total employment was 25,454; in 2009, total employment was in 2010 was 25,854; in 2011, total employment was 24,823; in 2012, total employment was 24,471 and in 2013, total employment, was 27, 025,” Dr. Drew disclosed, adding: “based on the Prime Minister’s own figures, total employment in 2015 was 24,308 and in 2016, total employment was 24,539.”
Dr. Drew scoffed at Prime Minister Harris’ assertion on Monday that total employment of 24,500 in 2016 ‘was the largest number of persons ever employed in the history of Social Security.’
“How can the Prime Minister misleads the people of the country by saying 2016 the number of persons employed were the best ever in the history of St. Kitts and Nevis. Again, every time Dr. Harris opens his mouth, he blatantly misleads the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Drew told listeners to Freedom 106.5 FM on Wednesday.
“Dr. Harris cannot be trusted with giving information. He is lying,” Dr. Drew reiterated.