KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines is celebrating its forty fourth anniversary of political independence from Britain on Friday, with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves asserting a bunch of aid measures for nationals, together with a rise within the earnings tax threshold from EC$22,000 (One EC greenback=US$0.37 cents) to EC$25,000 yearly from January 1, subsequent yr.
“This transfer will price the Treasury practically 5 million {dollars} yearly,” Gonsalves advised the annual navy parade at Victoria Park within the capital.
He additionally introduced a gun amnesty that may come into impact instantly after the passage of recent legal guidelines subsequent month to extend the penalties for possession of unlicensed firearms.
“The Commissioner of Police will announce the main points shortly,” mentioned Gonsalves, who, as Minister of Nationwide Safety, has ministerial obligations for the police.
At present, on abstract conviction, possession of an unlicensed firearm carries a most penalty of seven years in jail or a nice of EC$20,000 or each.
“The concept is to get you to herald your unlawful firearm. You should have an opportunity, however after this opportunity, we’re rising the penalties, and we are going to intensify prosecution. Let’s work collectively on this,” Gonsalves mentioned.
His assertion comes a number of days after the nation recorded its 43 homicides, breaking the file of 42 set in 2022.
The amnesty is a part of the federal government’s “Independence from Concern” program, which incorporates “anti-crime measures” corresponding to putting extra CCTV cameras throughout the nation and utilizing physique cameras for the police.
“And we’re implementing a program of additional ramping up the location of road lights,” Gonsalves mentioned, including that the appearing Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams, has introduced a strategic plan to the federal government that comprises specific items of crime-fighting laws to be delivered to Parliament.
“And we’re going to perform a structured program to rehabilitate all of the police stations,” Gonsalves mentioned, including that by the police power and the Nationwide Fee on Crime Prevention, there will probably be an growth of the outreach initiative between the police and the group.
The prime minister’s 16 bulletins, together with that the Providing Nationwide Assist For Internship Coaching and Employment (ON-SITE) program beneath which the federal government locations workers, at its personal expense, within the personal sector for mounted intervals will probably be prolonged into the years 2024 and 2025 with a contemporary batch of workers.
He mentioned this could be topic to the same old annual evaluation of any program’s efficacy.
The prime minister mentioned there will probably be a rise in minimal wages paid to employees upon the total evaluation of the report from the Wages Council, which is at the moment in progress.
Nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aides will probably be paid along with an everyday wage enhance, which was already on the playing cards, an extra month-to-month supplementary non-taxable earnings for an additional six months amounting to 5 p.c of their salaries.
Gonsalves mentioned this could be to “ease sure particular challenges which they at the moment face” and that the federal government will conduct a evaluation within the first half of subsequent yr to improve and reclassify these positions within the nursing occupation.
“It was my intention. The federal government intends to massive up the nurses in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves mentioned, noting that the aid that was granted over a yr in the past to home customers of electrical energy to pay no value-added tax (VAT) on their payments for consumption under 250 models per 30 days, will proceed.
This month, 44 extra grants are being issued to micro-entrepreneurs beneath the Selling Youth Micro Enterprises (PRYME) program.
“This may price round $350,000,” Gonsalves mentioned, including that this brings the variety of PRYME grants to over 1,300 at a price of over EC$6.9 million because the program was carried out in 2020.
He mentioned that the PRYME program will proceed into 2025
Gonsalves additional famous that on Tuesday, the federal government introduced 66 nationwide scholarships, nationwide exhibitions, particular awards, and bursaries for college schooling primarily based on the outcomes of the Caribbean Superior Proficiency Examination and affiliate diploma examinations for the scholars on the Group Faculty.
“This package deal of award is valued at over $20 million this yr,” he mentioned, including {that a} file variety of 26 five-year, fully-funded scholarships have been awarded, every with a price ticket of as much as EC$600,000.
“The federal government is dedicated to younger folks and the schooling revolution. I need all of the younger folks to know that increasingly scholarships and different monetary assist can be found for college kids going to varsity or college,” Gonsalves mentioned, including, “Allow us to massive up our younger folks.”
He introduced that 1,185 farmers who owe the state-owned Farmers Assist Firm a complete of EC$4.5 million will obtain a 50 p.c waiver on the principal sums owed and a whole waiver on all curiosity.
To distributors in Kingstown, the prime minister mentioned that he has requested for a whole evaluation of all of the money owed they owe to the Kingstown Board and intends to offer aid and waivers.
“After this evaluation, we are going to present the main points of the aid and waivers early subsequent yr within the 2024 finances,” he mentioned, including that there would equally be a full evaluation of all of the money owed owed by sufferers and their households to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and all different hospitals in St. Vincent and Grenadines after Independence Day final yr.
“The intention is to offer aid and waiver,” he mentioned, including that the related particulars will probably be introduced in Price range 2024.
Gonsalves introduced that the federal government intends to scale back, as of subsequent January, the rate of interest paid by college students who borrow monies from the state-owned Scholar Mortgage Firm to finance college schooling.
He mentioned that extra particulars can be out there within the 2024 finances.
Within the marketing campaign for the 2020 normal elections, the principle opposition, the New Democratic Celebration (NDP), had promised to scale back the rate of interest from 8 and 9% to 4.5%.
Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Celebration (ULP) administration promised to higher this however has failed to regulate the rate of interest, at the same time as an estimated 20 p.c of the scholars haven’t been repaying their loans.
Gonsalves advised the nation that as a highway security measure, the federal government desires to discourage using “faulty second-hand tires” and can, as of January 1, 2024, “present aid on obligation for brand spanking new tires for all motor automobiles.
He mentioned the Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves will present the main points in subsequent yr’s finances.
The federal government may also lengthen for an additional yr, as much as the tip of 2024, the present time-bound duty-free concession on cement.
“This may proceed to make sure that cement in St Vincent and Grenadines is essentially the most inexpensive within the OECS.”
Gonsalves introduced that the annual duty-free concession on Christmas barrels will run from November 15 to December 31.
The prime minister additionally introduced the appointment of Shane Cadogan, a nationwide swimmer and nationwide scholar, as a sports activities ambassador, the nation’s youngest.
He mentioned Cadogan has been doing incredible work in his nongovernmental group, aiding and mentoring younger individuals of their athletic and academic pursuits.
Gonsalves mentioned Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd, the present calypso monarch, and Europe-based Vincentian entertainer Phillip Dunbar Bastien, aka Wetty Beatz, had been appointed cultural ambassadors.
“I’m fairly positive that they may carry out with a top quality and excellence as different sporting and cultural ambassadors have achieved,” Gonsalves mentioned.
In the meantime, the US Friday mentioned it’s “dedicated to its long-standing partnership” with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“On behalf of the US of America, please settle for my finest needs as St. Vincent and the Grenadines celebrates its forty fourth yr of independence,” mentioned US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in an announcement.
“We’re pleased with our work beneath the Caribbean Basin Safety Initiative to deal with crime and violence and assist assist a secure, safe, and affluent Caribbean,” he added. “Sooner or later, we’re excited to collaborate on the US-Caribbean Partnership to Tackle the Local weather Disaster 2030 (PACC 2030), which is able to assist St. Vincent and the Grenadines and different international locations within the area sort out some of the urgent world challenges.
“On this anniversary of your nation’s Independence Day, the US hopes for a cheerful and affluent yr for all Vincentians,” Blinken added.
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