POST-CABINET STATEMENT OCTOBER 29, 2007
~~Adz:Left~~ Citizens and residents, good evening and welcome to the post-Cabinet briefing for cabinet meeting held Monday October 29, 2007.
Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Prime Minister Dr Denzil L Douglas and discussed a number of critical matters.
1) Cabinet continues to monitor the cost of living issue and was informed that the Hon Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs signed the Price Control Order to give effect to Cabinet’s decision with respect to the new basket of goods.
The new Price Control Order is but the first step in the government’s strategy to deal with the cost of living issue. The second approach will be to reduce the duty on certain items in the basket as we move to Phase IV of the Common External Tariff (CET) under the CARICOM Trade agreement.
The Honourable Minister of Industry and Commerce will shortly brief the Press on the details of the new Price Control Order.
2) Cabinet also approved the recommendation from the Honourable Attorney General to appoint an additional magistrate on a short-term assignment to reduce the backlog of PI cases. This decision is in keeping with government’s proactive approach in dealing with the incidence of crime.
3) Cabinet also today established a National Celebrations Committee under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister to begin plans for the Programme of activities to mark our 25th anniversary of Independent. The Committee brings together a wide cross-section of the Community drawn from the Public sector, the Private sector and Civil Society.
4) Cabinet also approved the recommendation from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs to shift the focus of the Conaree Industrial Park from an ICT and Business Incubator Park to one of high volume wholesale and retail activities, which would allow for a faster development of the Conaree Industrial Park. Cabinet also requested the Physical Planning Department to identify other possible locations in the rural areas for both Industrial and Commercial activities, including automotive repair. This new focus must be seen as part of the government’s continued attempt to empower our people, particularly in small business development.
This new development is very important to the alleviation of some of the environmental and health problems posed by small garages housed in residential areas around the island and the decentralization of business activities away from Basseterre.
5) Cabinet also approved a number of incentives and duty free concessions to a number of small and medium size businesses including Timothy Beach Resort; Sunrise Villa Resort Project and Peninsula Associates Ltd.
This brings to an end the post-cabinet briefing for Monday October 29, 2007. Good evening.
