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In a poignant address to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, the Honorable Dr. Timothy Harris, the 3rd Prime Minister and National Leader of the People’s Labour Party, delivered a scathing critique of the proposed National Productivity Council Bill 2024. Dr. Harris minced no words as he highlighted his concerns regarding the bill and the government’s approach to productivity.

Rising to make his contribution to the debate on the National Productivity Council Bill, Dr. Harris acknowledged the timing of the parliamentary session during Holy Week, which raised questions among some citizens about the government’s priorities. However, his focus swiftly turned to the substance of the bill itself.

In his address, Dr. Harris criticized what he perceived as the government’s lack of productivity, stating that the bill was merely a superficial attempt to address deeper issues. He accused the government of engaging in “smoke and mirrors” tactics and suggested that genuine efforts to improve productivity required a comprehensive understanding of the concept, something he believed the current Cabinet lacked.

The Prime Minister pointed to various examples of what he considered failures in governance, including unemployment, job victimization, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the neglect of essential services. He emphasized that the plight of the people was not due to lack of productivity but rather a lack of opportunities and effective leadership.

Dr. Harris raised concerns about the state of public infrastructure, citing examples such as clogged drains near educational facilities and the presence of mould in schools, which he argued impeded productivity and posed health risks to students and teachers alike.

Moreover, he criticized what he viewed as wasteful government expenditure, particularly regarding frequent overseas travel without tangible outcomes. Dr. Harris called for a shift in priorities, focusing on addressing pressing issues affecting citizens’ lives rather than pursuing superficial measures like the National Productivity Council Bill.

In conclusion, Dr. Timothy Harris expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the bill in addressing the challenges facing the nation. He called for a more holistic approach to governance that prioritizes the well-being and prosperity of the people over political rhetoric.

As the debate on the National Productivity Council Bill continues, Dr. Harris’s impassioned critique serves as a reminder of the importance of substantive action in addressing the nation’s productivity challenges.