BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) is calling on governments in the OECS to protect local businesses in the sub-region against the influx of Chinese entrepreneurs.
The Chamber, in a recent press release, said that even though St. Kitts and Nevis does not formally have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, the OECS Economic Union’s concept of one economic space makes the threat of trans-border infiltration very real and easier for new arrivals into the sub-region.
“The St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce notes the growing concern of Manufacturers and Traders within the OECS, regarding the influx of Chinese businesses within the Economic Union, and joins them in their call for OECS Governments to protect their own against this great threat to local individuals and businesses,” the release said.
The CIC cited comments recently made on Antigua and Barbuda’s Observer Radio by President of St. Lucia Manufacturers Paula Caldron, who said that the influx of Chinese businesses is a direct threat to the region and argued that OECS governments should protect its people the same way China protects its own.
She added that the Chinese government makes it difficult for foreign businesses to penetrate and dominate, and pointed out that only a few global companies have succeeded China where government policies favour local giants.
"So,” she added, “we would not be the only ones protecting our people; China is also doing that. So why is it we can't find the tools, despite the beauty of trade negotiations, to protect ourselves?"
The Chamber also pointed to a Sunday (Feb. 5) article in the Antigua-Barbuda Observer newspaper in which past Vice President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce Michael Astaphan posited that the region’s relationship with China retards development.
Astaphan claimed that it seems as if the political parties, and not the nation, are the ones that are really benefiting and he thinks this is something the people should look at very closely.
“A lot of them feel that we should be very much grateful to the Chinese for their investment of the capital projects that they put in our countries. Now this is a serious problem for us,” Astaphan said.
Although St. Kitts and Nevis does not formally have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, over the years several Chinese supermarkets, restaurants and retail outlets were established in St. Kitts, with prominence in downtown Basseterre; and the most recent being King’s Pavilion Supermarket on Port Zante.
This phenomenon, coupled with the global economic crisis, has raised concerns by members of the local business community, from among which many individuals alleged that preferences are given to the Chinese and that the government needs to ensure a level playing field is provided for the survival and growth of local entrepreneurs.
They also alleged that many Chinese businesses employ a very minute amount of locals, send their monies back to their homeland, do not contribute to community development or donate to sports or activities involving the nation's youth.
