BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the recently-concluded Regional Symposium on Services in Antigua, Chairman of the St. Kitts-Nevis Coalition of Services Industries (CSI) Alfred Harley has stated that the time has come for the Federation to assume a “lead role” in the CARICOM trading services initiative.
The three-day symposium that ended last weekend, and brought together about 230 public and private sector professionals to discuss a draft Regional Strategic Plan of Action on the issue of services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
The strategic plan addressed trade in environmental services, improved postal services and the development of a strategic plan for primary and secondary education. It also called for the improvement of telecommunications, tourism services and vocational education.
As more countries in the region seek to enhance their services sector, Harley underscored the importance of support from regional governments to their local CSIs, noting that many have been struggling with financing operations.
“We must recognize that a properly constituted Coalition can collate private sector views on trade and sector development issues, and advise Government of private sector priorities and concerns,” Harley said.
He added that a coalition would promote service exporting through trade missions and other related activities.
Harley argued that if the Federation is to protect the integrity of services and position itself as a preferred tourism destination, “we would have to act now rather than allow ourselves to become complacent or be too protective of our individual efforts”.
The CSI Chairman stressed that a “real discussion” between government and the private sector must be held to deal with the challenges confronting trade and development in services.
Emanating from the trade discussions, recommendations were presented to host Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer regarding legislative and policy framework, human resources and financial requirements and the technological needs to take services to a higher level in the Caribbean.
