Social Security Director of Statistics – Mr. Elvin Bailey
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 20, 2011 (CUOPM)
The St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board is reporting accrued interest of EC$33.71million for the first quarter of this year.
Director of Statistics and Public Relations, Mr. Elvin Bailey said that as March this year, there was EC$1.107billion in investments “with 56.1% in fixed deposits, 28.7% in government securities, 7.8% in real estate, 3.5% in equities, 2.8% in treasury bills, and 1.1% in “˜other’ investments (the tally may be off due to rounding). Of the total portfolio, 97.6% is held locally, 1.3% is held within the Caribbean region and 1.1% is invested in the international financial market.”
He said some of the Social Security Board’s new investment activities for 2011 thus far, has been the acquisition of new fixed deposits and additional loans to Government. As such, Fixed Deposits as an asset class increased marginally from 55.7% of total investments in December 2010 to 56.1% at the end of March 2011.
“However, investment in St. Kitts and Nevis Government securities has shown a small increase, up by 1% within the quarter compared to year end last year, as additional loans were made available to the Nevis Island Administration and the Federal Government,” Mr. Bailey reported.
He disclosed that the main focus continues to be the development of the Beacon Heights Project, where 10 homes are already under construction.
“Even as this information is shared, we are aware that the asset mix is far from ideal. The Actuary has advised of this, as have others, including our staff. However, even as he issued the warning, the said Actuary has admitted that the investment returns have been “˜good’ during the inter-valuation period, averaging 6.2%. This is a testimony to the efficiency, the effectiveness and the vigilance of our Staff, Management and Board,” said Mr. Bailey.