Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 17, 2015 (SKNIS): The Dr. Harris led Administration is satisfied with the most recent Don Anderson poll that gives the Government of National Unity high praise for the policy decisions and initiatives that it has enacted since taking office on February 16 this year.
Don Anderson, a well-respected political pollster in the Caribbean, who owns Market Research Services Ltd in Jamaica, conducted a survey of a total of 428 persons aged 18 years and over across 11 constituencies in St. Kitts and Nevis over the period September 11 to September 18, 2015.
Mr. Anderson was accurate in predicting the outcome of the St. Kitts and Nevis 2015 General Elections.
The results of the survey show the overwhelming support of nationals for the Government of National Unity. High marks were awarded for the removal of VAT (Value-added Tax) from food, medicines and funeral expenses; budgetary support for Nevis; and the retroactive payment of monies owed to sugar workers since the closure of the sugar industry in 2005.
“The scientific findings indicate that the Team Unity Administration is doing extremely well. Every major initiative that the Government has taken so far has received remarkable support. There is strong positive support for Team Unity and I hope this will endure over the life of the Administration. Over the next ten years and beyond, more and more people will be encouraged by the wonderful work of the Government. We will not take our and your mandate lightly as we have promised to be a Government working for you,” Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, who is also the Minister of Finance, Sustainable Development, National Security, People Empowerment and Constituency Empowerment, said.
The poll found that overall sixty-eight (68) percent of those interviewed give the Team Unity Administration positive ratings for its performance.
Eighty-four (84) percent support the Government’s decision to reward former sugar workers for their laborious toil in the now terminated sugar industry; sixty-one (61) percent support the rebuilding of the Basseterre High School (BHS) to replace the old one that has been beset with controversy over occupational health and safety issues; fifty-five (55) percent support the decision to appoint Mr. Tapley Seaton, Q.C. as the Governor-General and seventy-one (71) percent give thumbs-up to Sir Kennedy Simmonds, the first prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, as a national hero.
The poll also highlights that there is a high level of national awareness of the actions of the Dr. Harris-led Administration with eighty-four (84) percent aware of the removal of VAT from food and medicines, seventy-one (71) percent conscious of the removal of VAT from funeral expenses and fifty-seven (57) percent cognizant of the budgetary support given to Nevis. Overall, eighty (80) percent of those who are mindful indicate that they support the actions of the Government.
“The Government of National Unity, which I have the pleasure to lead has pledged to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis transparency, accountability, good governance and a fair share for all and we are off to a good and fresh start,” Prime Minister Harris said.