BASSETERRE (10TH July, 2009) The St Kitts & Nevis Minister of State for Tourism, Senator Ricky Skerritt has condemned the recent attempted burning of billboards promoting the National Tourism Pride campaign.
Residents of Sandy Point have reported that on Thursday morning they discovered a number of these billboards in the Sandy Point area damaged overnight by fire and a few known supporters of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) are suspected.
Senator Skerritt described such behavior has disgraceful and unpatriotic.” This is an absolute disgrace,” Skerritt said. “Whoever did this should be ashamed to call themselves Kittitians. This national campaign is designed to sing the praises of St Kitts and Nevis - for all of us.”
“Tourism is fast becoming the lifeblood of this Federation,” Skerritt said. “To burn these boards is an attack on the livelihoods of every decent citizen here; on our jobs; our economy; our entire society. This campaign is about Kittitian pride. Why would these people want to undermine our country in this way?"
The matter is now under police investigation, with a number of PAM supporters expected to be interviewed, particularly since this violent behavior would not be the first time PAM has sought to undermine the tourism industry within St Kitts and Nevis.
Political supporters of the Peoples Action Movement recently handed out negative propaganda leaflets on the streets of New York City, dissuading tourists from visiting the Federation.
Also, a propaganda campaign was pursued by detractors of the Government to shut down the St. Kitts Music Festival this year with no regard for the negative implications such drastic action could have on visitor arrivals.
Minister Skerritt has appealed for anyone with information on the Billboard arsons to contact their nearest Police Station immediately.
The Tourism Pride campaign features country-wide signage and other promotional media, highlighting the leadership role of the tourism sector and its profound impact on national economic and social development under the theme “It’s Working”.
It was launched earlier this year on the 5th of June, to acknowledge the “phenomenal achievements” of tourism, the country’s primary economic growth engine.
