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| Two US Airways flights on the ground at the Sir Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (JUNE 24TH 2004) – St. Kitts and Nevis has made significant strides in its development over the past 10 years, even in light of numerous natural disasters that befell the twin-island Federation.
Addressing the 22nd Annual Private Sector Banquet at the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas also lined several issues critical factors impacting the future of the twin-island Federation.
Prime Minister Douglas said that over the past 10 years, the policies of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration have focused on a number of fundamental areas which are pertinent to the development of its people.
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| Cruise ships in port |
He listed the aggressive housing policy aimed at addressing the acute shortage of affordable housing and related infrastructure, the significant attention to Curricula Development in the education system, particularly for primary and secondary education and as an offshoot, the establishment of computer labs in the schools.
“This has also required significant capital investment in the refurbishment of existing schools and the construction of new ones around the country,” said Dr. Douglas, who also pointed out that significant upgrade to health facilities and health services, and the fostering of alliances with health institutions in North America and the rest of the Caribbean have led to the construction of a state-of-the-art general hospital at the site of the old Joseph N. France General Hospital.
Prime Minister Douglas told the national business leaders that new initiatives in tourism also included the costly infrastructure at Port Zante, aimed at positioning the Federation as a destination ready to do business with the more affluent segments of the tourism markets.
“Greater attention to the diversification of our economy B a process that is very much on-going and vital to this nation sustainable development, greater collaboration through the institutions of the Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the pursuit of a Foreign Policy aimed at creating a foundation for international cooperation and collaboration on a number of issues pertinent to this nation's development and an active engagement on the issues related to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and the critical responses as a nation and member of the Caribbean Community,” were also part of his Labour Government’s policy initiatives.
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| The Royal St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Casino at Frigate Bay. |
Dr. Douglas also listed the implementation of a fiscal stabilisation programme following the nation’s recovery responses to the many natural disasters inflicted upon the nation for a number of years.
The Prime Minister said he was confident that the significant accomplishments to date under his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Administration have served the nation well, and have provided the basis upon which further developmental initiatives could be pursued and a third consecutive political mandate secured from the people.
Dr. Douglas listed the various negotiations on trade in goods and services, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Crime, the Cost of Living, National and Regional Security, Human Resource Development and Productivity.
He told the top business leaders that the next five to ten years are going to be very challenging for St. Kitts and Nevis and other small Caribbean nations, pointing out that the complexities of global economies and geo-political trends and policies are going to shape, in a large measure, the way Caribbean nations sustain themselves and it was critical that the public and private sectors work even more closely together than before.
“There is no doubt that we have to accelerate implementation of the important programmes of the Caribbean Community as one means of preparing for the future. But, what will also be fundamental to the future well-being of the Caribbean is the broadening in more effective and inclusive means the input of the Caribbean's Private Sectors and other Non-Governmental institutions,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
