Labour Government disadvantages nationals…says Grant

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

Mr. Lindsay Grant

This statement, among others, was made by the Leader of the People’s Action Movement, Lindsay Grant, when the political party held its monthly press conference at the Ocean Terrace Inn on Tuesday, July 22.

Voicing his party’s concern over the Government’s decision to establish two separate agencies for foreign and local investors, Grant said the Federal Government has decided not to make the playing field level for local businesses.

This viewpoint is demonstrated by the fact that the Government has already set up the entity for foreign investment, the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency [SKIPA] since December of last year, while the agency for local entrepreneurs, the National Enterprise Development Division [NEDDD] is still under development,” he said. “So as it stands, the Labour Government has given foreign investors almost a nine-month head start over local entrepreneurs.”

He noted that the Government’s decision to create the two agencies symbolises disregard for the private sector. “By this fact, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce - the body that safeguards the business environment to promote community growth and development in St. Kitts and Nevis - has also expressed reservations about the Government’s decision,” he said.

Grant said the Government had rejected the Chamber’s recommendation to assist persons in the Federation setting up businesses through a one-stop agency established within the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce.  ~~Adz:Right~~

“Opposed to this recommendation, we now see here that the Labour Government has already given foreign investors almost a nine-month head start over local entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Dr. Douglas has taken over the entity for foreign investment…the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency,” he said.

He strongly opposes the establishment of the two entities and intimated that the Prime Minister’s action to take over foreign investment must be questioned.

“They must be questioned by the fact that not only is the case made that locals will be treated differently than foreigners, but also the Prime Minister’s preference to take over foreign investment but abandon local investment reminds us of the transparency and accountability lacking in the Labour Government. For example, the fact that the Labour Government refuses to pass Integrity in Public Legislation in St. Kitts-Nevis effectively bars the public from obtaining the answers,” Grant said.

Grant declared that in the absence of Integrity in Public Life, it is necessary for the nation to question Dr. Douglas’ interest in foreign investment and how the arrangements with foreign entities originated.

“It is imperative that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis take note that without any measure of accountability, the Prime Minister has already separated administration in the case of land and has now acted to take over control of a foreign investment plan, which disadvantages Kittitians and Nevisians by creating two separate agencies for foreign and local investors,” he said.