BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEVIS REFORMATION PARTY’s (NRP) candidate for the Parish of St. James (Nevis Four), the Hon. Patrice Nisbett said although there is a 50-year ban, his party plans to introduce more offshore educational institutions in Nevis.
Nisbett, who is also the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs in the Federal Government, was at the time speaking at a town-hall meeting in St. Maarten held for Nevisians residing on that island.
Held on Sunday (Mar. 20), the meeting was organised by NRP’s leader and Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry, who was also in attendance with his Deputy Hon. Hensley Daniel.
“The present situation is that the former administration negotiated an agreement with the Medical Universities of America, where they gave that institution the sole and exclusive right for 50 years, starting in 1998. Between now and 2048 you can’t bring no more schools in Nevis. Would that be good for the economy of Nevis? Can’t be good for the economy of Nevis,” Nisbett told the gathering.
Nisbett said the 50-year agreement was initiated by the former administration, Concerned Citizen Movement, and the Medical Universities of America has the monopoly but his party wants more offshore education institutions on the island.
“We want to break the monopoly; it has nothing to do with the school. It has to do with the monopolistic arrangement that was entered into by the former government. We want to encourage additional investment in offshore educational service for the people of Nevis.”
Nisbett believes that Nevisians and Nevis’ economy would benefit tremendously if more universities were constructed on the island.
He noted that the NIA is attempting to open up the market to attract offshore educational institutions in Nevis and that in St. Kitts there are about six offshore universities with a population of about 2 000 students.
“With 2 000 students, it means employment for people, rental of apartments. And who will be given the opportunity to build and make the investment in apartments? It would be Nevisian people,” he said.
He explained that a study was done on the six medical schools in St. Kitts and it revealed that they were contributing 14 percent to the gross domestic product. Similarly, he said, that would be beneficial to Nevis as well.
Nisbett said they were trying to diversify the economy in Nevis by developing more productive sectors of the economy, as they already have an economy that is based primarily on tourism, financial services, construction and, to some extent, agriculture.
“We now feel that we want to take the country in a different direction in relation to medical universities, and I believe the government should be given that opportunity to do that on behalf of its people,” Nisbett said.
He noted that the decision taken by the OECS governments to break the monopoly Cable & Wireless on telecommunications has benefitted consumers by giving them alternatives.
“Today, citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis are now benefitting from that new era of liberalisations in the telecommunications industry. You can now choose from Digicel, LIME, Chippie, and whatever other carriers are there in the market.
“It all goes down to the benefit of the average consumer, and all we’re saying is we believe that the time has come for Nevis to become a major player in the offshore educational services industry,” he said.
After 15 years on the Nevis Island Assembly’s opposition benches, the NRP had won three of the five seats in the July 10, 2006 local elections. This year, both parties are gearing up for elections and they have already started their campaigns.
