BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 15TH 2006 (CUOPM) The governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is assiduously working to address the issues of the high national debt, the electoral system, crime and unemployment.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and National Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, speaking at a Face to Face Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday night said Government was satisfied that once the debt reduction programme that is set with the help of the regional and international agencies, the goals of bringing the debt within manageable range will be achieved.
The people spoke in the last elections and in no uncertain terms preferred the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to lead you in these challenging times, but you wanted us to address the identified issues in a real and practical way, said Dr. Douglas.
Since then, we have been working assiduously in addressing these issues and many more. We seek your support, cooperation and understanding, therefore, because solving the problems of the modern state takes time and maturity, but solve them as a Government, as a People and as a Country, we will, said Prime Minister Douglas, who was first elected to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly in 1989.
On the issue of the national debt, Prime Minister Douglas said his administration has always been up front on this issue.
We have had to undertake large investments to improve the infrastructure in order to attract foreign investment capital. We have also spent heavily on the health system providing a social safety net for the less fortunate, as well as the upgrade and modernisation of our education system, said Prime Minister Douglas.
He recalled that at the recent Consultation on the National Economy in preparation for the 2007 fiscal budget, the structure of the national debt was explained to the over 200 stakeholders.
We even shared critical information with them and concluded that the Government was pursuing an active programme to bring down the national debt. The Government is working with the Caribbean Development Bank and other international agencies in this regard, said Dr. Douglas, who outlined the Governments strategy in dealing with the debt.
Prime Minister Douglas, who is also the Minister of Finance said that the strategy include increasing the growth rate within the economy in the short to medium term while keeping inflation under control.
Retirement of the Sugar Industry debt by pursuing an active land sale policy. We are working with the Caribbean Development Bank to establish a land sale agency to oversee and superintend this policy. We are pursuing an active debt refinancing strategy, and we continue to pursue Governments fiscal stabilisation programme which has been in operation for the last two to three years, said Dr. Douglas.
~~Adz:Right~~On the issue of Electoral Reform, Prime Minister Douglas said he is satisfied that once the various committees do their work expeditiously, a brand new electoral system that would take into account the views expressed by nationals resident and abroad would have to be adjusted along with a more equitable distribution of voters per constituency.
He said crime continues to be a challenge and the Government is working with the security forces to bring a higher level of comfort to residents, visitors and investors alike.
~~Adz:Left~~ We are currently in discussion with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to assist the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to upgrade its management practices. Meanwhile, we continue to provide training of force personnel in order to improve skill levels. We are addressing the concerns of the Police Welfare Association and also the concerns of the members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force within the means of the country to improve the work environment of the Police Force and the Defence Force, said Dr. Douglas
