Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 12, 2009 (SKNIS): “Survival Tips for the Challenging Global and Financial Times” will be shared with the public on Monday, August 17, 2009, when the Ministry of Finance presents an open forum discussion.

Fiscal Division Economist, Gary Thomas, told SKNIS that the activity will be held at the Cayon Community Center at 7:30 p.m. and will feature presentations by panelists from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, COURTS (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd., Inland Revenue Department, the St. Kitts Cooperative Credit Union and others.

“This forms part of the ongoing efforts … by the Government to [update] consumers on what we are doing to weather the ongoing global economic situation,” Thomas explained. “We’re hoping to challenge ourselves and bring information to the public that will help in their daily lives.”

One scenario mentioned was the pressures that can accumulate as a result of job loss. “Rather than waiting until the situation has come to a head where the creditor [begins] calling, consumer should go in and talk to the particular business house [that] will be more receptive, rather than waiting …”

The Economist encouraged persons to make a concerted effort to participate in the interactive forum to be moderated by the Financial Secretary Janet Harris.

“We are targeting normal persons who are out there in the real economy. Things are beginning to turn around [internationally] but we still need to be cautious and pragmatic about the choices that we make as consumers,” he said, citing recent positive economic indicators in the United States, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. “We know that going forward … personal money management is critical and people should practice it everyday over the course of their life.”

“Some of what we’ll be sharing are short term tips, others are medium term tips,” Mr. Thomas stressed. “At the end of the day we will leave the public better informed as to what the business community can do, and what the Government is continuing to do and how we can all work together so that when the recession clearly ends the country will be in a stronger position to earn more money.”

Listeners of this week’s SKNIS radio magazine programme, Perspectives, can hear more from Mr. Thomas.