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| Premier of Nevis, the Hon Joseph Parry addressing the luncheon meeting of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, St. Kitts Chapter
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Charlestown Nevis (September 14, 2006) -- Premier of Nevis, the Hon Joseph Parry on Wednesday September 13, said that the private sector must lead the way.
He was at the time delivering the feature address at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, St. Kitts Chapter, Independence Luncheon at the Ocean Terrace Inn.
"The Nevis Reformation Party believes that the private sector must be the leader in any development in a country.
We do believe that government in these small islands should create the opportunity but the private sector must be allowed to do what they do best, develop the country, create jobs and bring income to all sectors of the country," remarked Premier Parry.
He told the gathering that his Administration would ensure that it contacts all the stakeholders within the society as it moves forward to develop the island of Nevis, adding, "We will also seek to have a partnership with the private sector."
In observing that his Administration was people focus and was aware that more than 60% of the population was under 35 years of age, Premier Parry said, "We feel that there is need to create a change in our society, not only in Nevis but in the whole Caribbean. We need to create what I call an attitudinal change.
"To make our people more enterprising, more creative and more demonstrative, in terms of initiative; to view business activity as wholesome, as healthy and good and seek to attract young people in all areas of business in our country. We believe that the vehicle we must use would be training and education."
On the issue of the Financial Services Industry, Mr. Parry said that there was no need for Nevis and St. Kitts to look at each other from a position of competition. He said that one needed to understand that the system should be operated by professionals at a very high level and that there should be need for the lawyers and accountants to be in a state of readiness.
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| A cross section of the private sector at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Independence luncheon
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"We do believe, however, in our Financial Services and we do believe that we can establish a niche, whereby we can colour part of the international market," he added. "The whole world is there for us. The whole of the United States of America, the whole of Europe and the whole of Asia including China and India they are all there.
"If we could only learn to harness our resources and to work in partnership, we can achieve so much more rather than fighting down each other and wearing ourselves at the bottom of the ladder right here in the Caribbean."
The Nevisian Leader noted that governments and the private sector needed to learn how to negotiate at all levels.
In clarifying his views, he noted, "We must have the ability to stand the pressure on psychology of negotiation. We must know what we want."
"I also want to make the point that we need when we are dealing with foreign entities to be able to protect our workers. Quite often the workers have to protest, have to organise strikes because their governments, their people have not looked after their interest in the first place & and all this are things that we should do especially if there are no trade unions," said Premier Parry.
~~Adz:Left~~
