Basseterre, St. Kitts - “We don’t want you to just fly home every five years and cast a vote if you so desire, and turn then your backs,” was the declaration made by People’s Action Movement leader Lindsay Grant while addressing nationals residing in the US Virgin Islands.
The politician and his Deputy Leaders, Shawn Richard and Eugene Hamilton travelled to St. Thomas and St. Croix this past weekend to meet with St. Kitts-Nevis citizens residing there.
Grant discussed key issues with the nationals including PAM paying more attention to their needs as an elected administration and the establishment of Diaspora Affairs Desk.
“When our People’s Action Movement gets into power we will set up a Diaspora Desk within the Ministry of Home Affairs that will create an avenue for a constant dialogue with Kittitians and Nevisians abroad.”
Grant explained that this agency would work closely with civic and social organizations of Kittitians and Nevisians living overseas.
He highlighted that one of the roles of the proposed agency was to unite nationals wherever they may live and work and assist them in relocating to St. Kitts-Nevis. He also said the Diaspora Desk would provide the avenues for overseas-based nationals who wanted to invest in their homeland.
“The Diaspora Desk will create an avenue for a constant dialogue with Kittitians and Nevisians abroad. We have to create a system that makes it easier for the average Kittitian and Nevisian who lives abroad, to be able to resettle if he or she so chooses. We have to provide our nationals aboard special breaks and more incentives so that they can invest at home. We must make it easier for them to own property at home.”
The PAM leader told the gathered US residents it was crucial for national development to get overseas nationals more involved in the local economy life.
“In St Kitts and Nevis today, there is a notion that the only type of investor there is – has to be foreign – as in a non-national. Well, we beg to differ. We have to look more and more to our people to invest in national life and to help produce the new opportunities for our own people,” he said.
“A government under our leadership will strengthen its investment arm and create new outreaches to cities and countries where thousands of nationals live.”
Grant also admonished the Kittitians and Nevisians that they should note just return home to vote and then “leave those you elected to do what they want.”
“We want you to be part of a process that will force us to continually account, and that will give you both a say and a stake in national development.”
