Photo: Ambassadors of Venezuela, Cuba and the Republic of China were among representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps attending the public session of the 74th Annual Conference of the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party . (Photo by Erasmus Wiliams)

PM Douglas says massive influx of foreign direct investment is cornerstone of a social and economic revolution that "must empower our ordinary people."

 

BASSETERRE, ST, KITTS, MAY 28TH 2006 - The present massive influx of foreign direct investment into St. Kitts and Nevis is as a result of confidence by the international community and international investors said Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the twin-island Federation, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.

Dr. Douglas said the Auberge Development, comprising three luxury high-end resorts; the Cockle Shell Bay Development, which will be home to a Ritz-Carlton; the Turtle Beach Development, Hermitage Plantation Condo Development and a host of others on St. Kitts' virgin South East Peninsula alone, are also an "expression of confidence in the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government and in the people who are managing the affairs of this country."

The St. Kitts and Nevis leader also highlighted other tourism developments at Frigate Bay including the continuous expansion and upgrade of the Royal St. Kitts Marriott, the creation of the Marriott Vacation Club, Ocean Edge Hotel, Half Moon Heights and Sun Rise Villas.

He told delegates and invited guests including representatives of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, the diplomatic and consular corps, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and other non-governmental organisations attending the public session of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party's 74th Annual Conference, that Frigate Bay and the South East Peninsula are not the only areas of St. Kitts and Nevis that are being developed.

"We want to bring modernity to your doorstep. That is why we are vigorously pursing developments in the north of the country as well. Our efforts at creating the new economy have not and will not leave persons living in the traditional sugar belt behind," said Dr. Douglas.

He noted that currently under construction is the La Valle Development in the Whitegate area, which will resume in the weeks ahead. La Valle will be home to a new town, comprising high-end villa developments, a luxury resort, an 18-hole championship golf course and a marina, "all pregnant with investment opportunities for Kittitians and Nevisians, including the people of Sandy Point."

Not too far from La Valle, Prime Minister Douglas noted the Beaumont Park Development where millions of dollars have already been spent setting down a world-class horse race track and entertainment complex. Surrounding this will be another complement of world-class accommodations.

Prime Minister Douglas said that as the expansion of the Rawlins Plantation Inn takes place, the owners have acquired the nearby Golden Lemon Hotel, which is set in a 17th century Great House at Dieppe Bay.

Construction is soon to start on Kittitian Heights Resort - a boutique hotel, villa development, an 18-hole championship golf course and recording studio - above the foothills of Belmont Estate in St. Paul's in the Whitegate area.

"When you see these signs, I want you to picture jobs. I want you to imagine opportunities for you and your children. I want you to see your children taking their rightful places as entrepreneurs, benefiting from the countless spin-offs that will be created as a result of these ventures," said Dr. Douglas, who is also the Minister of Tourism.

He stated that he has confidence in the people of St. Kitts and Nevis "to walk with us &&.so that when this country would have been fully transformed into services, instead of sugar agriculture, it would be a new economy in St. Kitts and Nevis." Dr. Douglas said that the Marriott experiment was a learning experience for St. Kitts and Nevis.

"As a nation we know now how to identify and create viable business opportunities for our own people. We know exactly which areas of resort activity can bring meaningful and guaranteed investment opportunities for our people. Our focus in the period ahead will be on creating not only employment opportunities, but also permanent businesses and joint venture initiatives, whereby a significant portion of wealth generated can be funneled in the direction of our people, especially our ordinary people," said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said he recognises the need for ongoing training, especially worker re-training, whereby persons who have been in particular fields and disciplines all their lives, will be encouraged to step outside of the safety net and pursue probably two but at least one additional career opportunity.

The Prime Minister said while the fallout from the closure of the sugar industry is painful for some, it can also be a blessing in disguise, where it brings out the very best in nationals and those who feared a lifetime of sweat and toil in the sugar fields will very soon be amazed at how their personal lives will turn around.

Dr. Douglas said he recently walked into the Calypso Restaurant at the Marriott Resort and there was a lady, whom he knew as an agricultural labourer in his constituency of Parsons, bedecked in her Chef outfit.

"I hailed her up and I did expressed surprise at seeing her working at the Marriott. Her response to me almost brought tears to my eyes. She said: I thank you doctor for bringing this to St. Kitts and Nevis, so I can get the chance to do this type of work. She was the pasta specialist chef," said Prime Minister Douglas.

Prime Minister Douglas in hailing the social and economic revolution that his government is pursuing said the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government "must empower our ordinary people."

"We must lift them out of the doldrums of poverty and give them their fair chance in life. This is a Labour Party, which was born out of the blood, sweat and tears of the ordinary worker of St. Kitts and Nevis and this is now our chance again to lead a new revolution as we move our people from one stage of develop into another and we must do so boldly and confidently that we will achieve this with success," said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said government wants to change and transform the lives of the local people. "We want to move you from the sugar lands to air-condition resort rooms, whether they be the pantry, the laundry, the staterooms or the engineering departments. We want to move your children from the classrooms of the secondary school and colleges to be supervisors and managers of our hotels and owners of businesses around this country," said Prime Minister Douglas.

"We want to ensure our people realise their true career potential, in a dignified working environment," said Dr. Douglas. "Your faith in this (St. Kitts-Nevis Labour) Government was not misplaced.

Your confidence was justified. Your confidence was justified when in 1995, you first voted us into office and when you repeated it in 2000 and 2004 and whenever we call it again, it will be a demonstration of confidence in the Labour Party of this country," said Prime Minister Douglas to the rousing applause of party delegates.