BASSERERRE, St. Kitts - A blueprint of the economic strategies designed to overhaul and boost the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis was at the heart of the Throne Speech delivered at the convening of Parliament yesterday (May 14).
Presented by His Excellency Tapley Seaton QC, Deputy to the Governor General, the more than half-hour long speech addressed several initiatives that have already been implemented or are on the front burner which, according to him, would place the Federation on sound economic footing.
His Excellency expressed that the Government is concerned about the cultural, social, political and economic challenges which the country faces and is determined to have them permanently dissolved.
Among the plans directly related to the economic overhaul is the restoration of the Citizenship By Investment programme through the adoption of 20 recommendations for reform.
Advancement of the tourism sector through national branding and the promotion of medical and sports tourism is another prong of the Government’s Strategic Plan as outlined in the Throne Speech.
Also among the plans is the initiation of a Venture Capital Fund, which would be accessible to those wishing to create a business and who would be in need to start-up funding, as well as promoting agriculture as a key component of the Government’s economic thrust.
With reference to the latter, His Excellency informed that as a key part of its legislative agenda, the Government would be establishing a registry for farmers that would allow them to take advantage of concessions etc. which would be available to them.
Listing capital projects as being “central to economic turnaround”, His Excellency said priority would be given to “urban revitalisation” for both Basseterre and Charlestown, which would include renovation of government buildings and the delivery of a sugar museum.
It was promised in the Throne Speech that some 500 jobs would be created by 2020 with the first 150 to be delivered before the end of this year.
Seaton said prosperity and safety are inextricably linked and, as such, the Government has already begun and would continue to implement measures that would empower law enforcement and address the socio-economic problems which are at the root of unemployment.
This Throne Speech was the first to have been delivered within the last 20 years outside the leadership of former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
