Saint Kitts and Nevis general election held today

Saint Kitts and Nevis will hold its general election today. The current administration, led by Prime Minister Timothy Harris, faces a strong electoral challenge after five years in office.

Eleven of fifteen electable seats in the unicameral National Assembly will be contested by Harris’ Team Unity coalition and the opposition. The other four seats are appointed by the head of state and representative of the monarchy, Governor-General Sir Tapley Seaton.

A factor likely to decide the election will be the vitality of the national economy, especially due to the effects of the current global health crisis on tourism. The Citizenship by Investment program continues to be an essential part of the political discussion, as the continued practice of offering citizenship to foreigners that invest a minimum of $150,000 constitutes approximately 20% of the nation’s economy. Other priorities include public safety and transparency in campaign financing.

Expect the current administration—which has been credited with the country’s 2016-17 economic recovery and improvements in government finances—to remain in a favourable position for the election, and likely to expand the announced $120 million stimulus pledge to protect businesses, jobs and overall economy from pandemic-related stresses.

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