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Minister of Public Works, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin (l), Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor (c) and PROTEC'S Abdul Pandor (r) turning the sod at Tuesday's ground breaking for the West By-Pass Road. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 18TH 2006 Infrastructural development of the Federationof St. Kitts and Nevis is critical to sustained growth and poverty reduction.
So says Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam Condor at the Contract Signing and Ground Breaking Ceremony for the four kilometer West By-Pass Road on Tuesday.
"Projects such as this one enhances our long-term growth prospects, and helps to keep the island on the radar of international investment," said Minister Condor, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for West Basseterre.
He said that the West Basseterre By-Pass Road, financed by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean Development Bank at a cost of EC$18 million, is designed to link the Western Part of the island via Camps Village to the rest of the island, by-passing downtown Basseterre and allowing, hopefully, easier and safer road journeys, in less time and less traffic. Importantly, the road winds its way to within close proximity to the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport.
Deputy Prime Minister Condor said that the significance of the new road to the main economic-thrust is tremendous as the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Administration's strategy of a focus on sports, culture and conference-tourism, will be greatly enhanced by this road, and its expected surrounding amenities.
"This Project therefore must also be seen as an important component, in the mix of ingredients, that would play critical roles in creating the environment that promotes prosperity, and encourages both local and foreign investment," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Condor said that the Private Sector role in the continued growth of the country is essential, and encouraged
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Invited guests at the Contract Signing and Ground Breaking Ceremony for the West By-Pass Road on Tuesday. |
nationals to get involved in business activities at various levels.
"We believe also, that entrepreneurship is key to this development process, and offer substantial means to support viable entrepreneurial projects, through the facility at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis. This is an outlook that is encouraged among young people, as well as adults, in the post-sugar environment, as a means of creating greater socio-economic independence among our people," he told invited guests.
He said pertinent education, vocational and skills training must support the broad-based developmental strategies; for without an equipped and capable human resource base, no country can improve the potential for sustainable growth and development.
"In recognition of this, there has been ongoing work done at the local, OECS and CARICOM levels to reform curricula, in a manner that addresses national and regional economic goals. This process is an evolving one that takes into account internal and external environments," said Condor.
He said that the Government by enhancing the human capital hopes to accomplish two significant objectives in the medium and long term.
"The first is to raise the standard of living for our people, and secondly, to create a base that supports local and foreign investment and diversity in the business environment," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
He said that sustainability for a small developing nation, requires also, a strong diversified agricultural sector, and such a policy is being vigorously pursued by the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government.
~~Adz:Left~~Mr. Condor said also that the process of transforming the national economy, is one that also requires fiscal prudence on the part of Government.
"Our responsibility must be to ensure that government practices prudent expenditure, and that its revenue collection-systems are efficient. Furthermore, we continue to be assertive in our pursuit of foreign investment-capital as part of the strategy to develop high-end tourism developments, that are ideal for our small nation with limited resources," said Mr. Condor.
He pointed out that while Government continues to pursue an agenda for national development, "we must be cognisant of geopolitical events that impact our national and regional development efforts. Also of critical importance, is the worldwide impact of the cost of energy, necessitating regional approach in containment strategies."
Mr. Condor also stated that issues of safety and security must ever be high priority matters on the Federation's development agenda.
"I have heightened these issues in order to demonstrate the interrelated processes; and to emphasize that future development of our country, calls for the increased involvement of all nationals. After all, the benefits to be derived are ultimately for the people of this country," said Condor, who was of the view that St. Kitts and Nevis will only prosper "through improved levels of efficiency and productivity; through constant review and engagement in international affairs through Organizations such as the United Nations, the OAS, and the Commonwealth of Nations."
He said that the ceremony puts in place another building block in the many-sided process of development, empowerment and regulation. "The goal towards which we are working, has to be clear. We want to systematically create conditions, which can tangibly improve our people's lives, through social amenities, education skills development and sustainable job creation."~~Adz:Right~~
"As we create opportunity, so we build hope and community solidarity. This I believe has to be one of the most important contributions to our society," said Deputy Prime Minister Condor.
He said that as the contract is signed and the sod is symbolically turned for the commencement of the project, "we must do so with the understanding that our continued development will require heightened commitment from each of us."
The agreement was signed by representatives of the contractor Professional Technologies (Anguilla) Limited and officials of the Ministry of Public Works.