Roadways
Labour is proud of its legacy of meaningful capital projects, including impactful roadway construction. It was Labour who first opened the rural areas for development and pioneered the much-praised upkeep of roadside verges. We are ready to resume facilitating the ease of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and to ensure that sidewalks are safe to use, roads well lit and marked and verges kept clean and trimmed. Labour will resume plans to design and construct the highway to Sandy Point as well as the highway to Cayon via Bayfords. We will also finalize the construction of the bridge connecting St. Kitts & Nevis; a long-awaited project. Labour will remove the import duty and customs service charge on vehicles for first time owners, making it easier for persons to acquire their dream vehicles. Additionally, Labour will introduce legislation to addres the incorporation of wheelchair accessibility for all new commercial buildings. Labour’s NextGen SKN Movement is all about you!
Housing
Labour regards housing as a basic human need. It was Labour who even when faced with significant fiscal limitations created a housing revolution in our Federation. Between 1995 and 2015 over 5000 families had their lives transformed when they became new homeowners. We intend to carry on in our reputation as “the housing solutions party”. Labour will build 2000 hurricane resistant homes with upgraded NextGen amenities such as renewable energy. We will ensure the SKN Building Code is compliant with modern disaster mitigation standards and maintain the standard of decent affordable homes. All housing projects will have adequate green spaces, roads, drains, sewage systems, solid waste disposal, underground electrical lines and “Good Neighbour Rules”. Financial incentives will be provided for homeowners to retrofit dwelling homes and businesses with mosquito screens, sturdy shutters, water catchment and solar panels. With our growing population people need housing and affordable apartments are rare. Labour will ensure the National Housing Corporation waiting lists and deliveries of affordable homes are be expedited to assist low income and middle-income families with achieving their dreams of becoming a homeowner. Labour is ready to resume its programme of ensuring that all households are sturdy, comfortable and affordable
Water & Energy
The people of St. Kitts & Nevis are entitled to a continuous supply of water, clean and reliable energy and respectable affordable housing. Water and energy are basic human needs and Labour is ready to continue to ensure these vital components of life and development are universally available obtainable and of a high quality. We will establish an Energy Conservation Commission to lead the charge in the renewable energy agenda of the Federation. Labour recognizes the importance of water conservation and will commence public education on that matter as well as the significance of protection of our water sources. Our watershed areas and aquifers will be reaffirmed as “Protected Areas” and a new plan will be established to restore 24/7 water supply for all of St. Kitts. We will reintroduce Labour’s original policy of submerging electricity distribution lines, wherever possible, to protect the distribution grid from hurricane damage. We will also explore the addition of reverse osmosis generated water to the public supply network. By utilizing basic water conservation techniques, we will be able to save thousands of gallons of water each year. With a growing population it is important to start this practice to allow for better living arrangements for future generations.
Protecting the Vulnerable
In 2012 Labour introduced a revolutionary pilot programme to deliver crucial, life changing skills to vulnerable members of the Federation. The MEND programme designed to Mend, Empower, Nurture and Direct, elevated the focus on public assistance in St. Kitts & Nevis from one of primarily material support to one that also equipped vulnerable members of society with the skills needed to cope with the various demands of life. Labour now stands ready to restore and build on this highly successful social programme which was halted by the current Administration. The new NextGen SKN Labour Movement will develop a team of properly trained government employees to implement a fully restored MEND programme. We will undertake a review of the Federation’s demographic profile to ensure that a path to empowerment is available not only to the vulnerable, but to the near vulnerable as well.
Consumer Protection
Consumers are entitled to safe products, reliable services and affordable rents. Government has a fundamental role in ensuring that consumers are not victims of harmful goods, and unfair or illegal business practices. Labour will ensure that Price Control laws and regulations are vigorously implemented. We will engage local banking sector to investigate issues and costs challenging dissatisfied consumers who are facing new hurdles to getting their cheques cashed and disputes with moving funds in and out of their own accounts. It is important the general public is educated about their rights and responsibilities of consumers and sellers and we will revitalize the department of consumer affairs to ensure this is done. Labour will share alerts about dangerous and defective goods and devices immediately and handle consumer complaints effectively, while ensuring penalties are imposed where necessary. We will eliminate debtor’s jail and introduce modern legislation to ensure fairness for both the lender and borrower. Labour will speak with and for the consumer and address all issues.
Worker Rights & Employee Empowerment
Labour has a proud history as a worker-based organization protecting workers from abuse by dishonest employers and defending the rights of workers. All employees are entitled to fair compensation, privacy and freedom from discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or political affiliation. Labour will rally for the highest possible levels of workplace wellness and efficiency beneficial to both employer and employee. It is expected that employers would provide “a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work”. Employers will be encouraged to invest in employee and community empowerment projects which help to build careers and improve employee skills and productivity. Labour will incentivize and acknowledge employers who invest in employee and community empowerment projects which develop careers and improve employee skills and productivity. We will reassess the minimum wage level with a view to ensuring that a working man or woman can live comfortably on his or her weekly wage.
Ageing with Dignity
Labour is unmatched in protecting the Federation’s elderly. In recognition of the need to protect the elderly we endeavor to enact legislation outlawing physical, emotional and financial abuse. Labour has pioneered the Federation’s in-home care for elderly persons who are unable to care for themselves and will further enhance it by requiring that all institutional and in-home elder care providers be registered and regulated. It will be stipulated that all institutional or in-home elder care providers be certified in Gerontology, which is the scientific study of the process of aging, and issues affecting the elderly. Our elderly are often overlooked, but Labour value our elderly. We will establish daycare centers for persons susceptible to depression due to social isolation. It is also our intent to explore partnership arrangements to improve the management of the Cardin Home.
Regaining Regional & International Respect
St. Kitts & Nevis exists in a unified and reliant region and world. Our Federation has a role to play in fostering democracy, justice and peace, but only if we are respected as a nation of character and laws.
Labour has worked extensively with state and non-state global actors to secure and sustain inward investment, tourism and trade and at key moments development and humanitarian assistance. Under Labour, St. Kitts & Nevis became the leading country in the OECS in most categories of development. We earned a justified reputation for regional leadership and innovation.
Unleashing our National Potential
Labour believes regard for human rights, democracy and citizenship should be inculcated within everyone. This redounds to the benefit of all spheres of human interactions – the family, business, politics, cultural celebrations, religion and education. We are a patriotic party and will ensure Independence and National Heroes Day commemorations receive the highest public accord. The NextGen SKN Labour Movement will preserve the integrity of good governance, supporting structures and processes such as the Public Accounts Committee, the Integrity in Public Life Commission, and freedom of government information. Efforts to promote justice, peace and prosperity are most effective in a society rooted in positive and affirming values. Labour believes St. Kitts & Nevis can be such a society; one recognized by unswerving collective commitment to cooperation, responsibility, excellence, accountability and respect for self and others.
Leveraging our International Engagement
Over the twenty years of the former Labour Administration, St. Kitts & Nevis has always pursued an aggressive foreign policy. This included the establishment of new diplomatic missions and consulates in the strategic capitals of Taiwan, Dubai, Canada and Cuba. The tide of Globalization, which circles the globe, washes our shores with its benefits and burdens and unintended systemic consequences. As we commit to a NextGen SKN, our visionary domestic policies must be equally matched with strategic external relations. We will review and assess the of existing diplomatic missions and embassies to ensure their work programmes produce tangible benefits to our people. We will rebuild the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit in order to foster more active and significant representation at the CARICOM and OECS levels and improve partnership nationally. Labour will intensify diplomatic relations, cultural exchanges, trade and economic links with non-traditional states such as Latin America, and Asia as some of the fastest growing economies in the world.