PRIME MINISTER DOUGLAS ADDRESSES NATIONALS, DIASPORA
AT WELL-ATTENDED 25TH ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION
AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY

** Prime Minister Emphasizes Resiliency of the People and Key Role of Tourism and Hospitality, Particularly in Today’s Global Economic Environment **

~~Adz:Right~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 14, 2008) – The 4th floor dining room of the United Nations was alive with activity on Friday night, October 10 as nationals and Diaspora from St. Kitts & Nevis along with invited guests gathered for a 25th Anniversary reception with Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, hosted by the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis.

A highlight of the evening was Prime Minister Douglas’ speech.  Upon welcoming all the attendees, he first discussed the special occasion of the twin-island nation’s Silver Jubilee anniversary, stating, “The first 25 years of nationhood is perhaps the most critical part of a nation’s development, because it is a period of development when there is much expectation and high aspirations of the people.

 It is a period when the developmental processes must have been geared towards substantial human and infrastructural development, because both are important to our future potential for growth and prosperity.  That is why the theme, Pride, Development, Progress – 25 Years of Success was selected in an open competition among all our primary and secondary school students in St. Kitts and Nevis and which encapsulates the forward momentum that has been achieved.”

Dr. Douglas then addressed the current global environment, noting, “On September 19, while we celebrated our 25th Anniversary of Independence, global influences were providing an expanding environment of economic challenges.  Like every other country in the world, our small middle-income developing nation is not immune from the economic challenges spurred on primarily by high oil prices and increases in the cost of food, aggravated further by the crisis of confidence in the financial sector of the United States of America, along with all the other ramifications of that situation.”

“Yet, we celebrated in the knowledge that we, as a people, are resilient, and if we are determined to work together towards the common good, then we will adapt and overcome,” Dr. Douglas continued.  “Certainly, this has been a key legacy of our national Heroes, who laid the foundation for our nationhood, and who inspired us through three hundred and fifty years of colonialism and Associated Statehood.  In recognizing the struggles toward Independence, therefore, it is imperative that we remember the works of the late Rt. Excellent Sir Robert Bradshaw, the Rt. Excellent Sir C. A. Paul Southwell, the Rt. Excellent Sir Joseph France and our nation’s first Prime Minister, the Rt. Honorable Sir Kennedy Simmonds and successive administrations.”

After recognizing the National Heroes, Dr. Douglas called upon citizens to contribute to the nation’s development, declaring that, “It is the responsibility of all of us, friends and citizens at home and in the Diaspora, to work diligently to sustain socio-economic gains and ensure that our nation remains peaceful, stable and inviting for all business activities and for people, progress and self development.”

“Today, we are transforming our national economy while transitioning out of sugar agriculture,” Dr. Douglas said.  “It is against this backdrop that we build a diversified service-oriented economy led by tourism and hospitality, but supported by International Financial Services, Information Communication, Technology and Diversified Agriculture.  St. Kitts and Nevis and the rest of the Caribbean region have experienced the fallout from the high cost of fuel.  Airlift and travel demand have been adversely affected, and this environment is likely to continue in the light of the current economic crisis in the United States.”

However, he stressed that the twin-island destination remains exceptionally attractive as the ideal destination for high-level executives in these high stress times.

“Tonight, I again emphasize as I did recently at the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association Retreat at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel, that the prevailing global economic environment means that we cannot continue to do business as usual in Tourism.  There must be a renewed sense of vision and urgency in adopting new strategies within the context of national and regional needs, and to recognize the necessity for inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral collaboration in tourism planning, product development and marketing.  Over the coming years, it will be essential that we build a highly productive Service Economy, and in doing so create a strong entrepreneurial environment, empowering our men and women to become more creative in income generating projects, and at the same time, we must raise our standards to international levels.”

“The next 25 years, really, is about maximizing our potential in a global context,” Dr. Douglas continued.  “Our survival as a nation, therefore, will depend on our people.”  He advocated engagement with the youth and collaboration among appropriate organizations, individuals, the nation’s young people, Government and the Private Sector to accomplish this goal.

In closing, Dr. Douglas expressed the appreciation of the Government and people at home to Nationals in New York and the wider US who have given of their time, expertise and other resources towards the development of St. Kitts and Nevis.

For more information, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority at 1-869-465-4040, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn or visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn.