Basseterre, St.Kitts (Team UNITY Communications) -- Members of Team Unity led Dr the Hon Timothy Harris completed a two (2) day familiarization tour of the manufacturing sector. The tour allowed candidates to gain first hand insights into the export-manufacturing sector.
Accompanying Dr. Harris, were Hon Shawn Richards, Hon Sam Condor, Hon Eugene Hamilton, Lindsay Grant, Ian “Patches” Liburd and other members of the Unity Movement.
During the tours conducted on Monday and Tuesday, Team Unity interacted with hundreds of workers, their managers and supervisors. They heard workers expressed their concerns about the mismanagement of the country, reflected on the high cost of living, excessive electricity and VAT charges, and the unreadiness of the government to deal with the gratuity for long service employees. The regulations to facilitate implementation of the long service gratuity are yet to be implemented and the source of funding remains a mystery.
Employers complained about the government’s refusal to reduce the high costs of electricity, the delay with the implementation of the partial scope agreement and the lack of space for expansion, and challenges in export markets.
The manufacturing sector contributes about 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product/ economic activity in the country. In contrast, the tourism sector contributes about 6.5 percent of GDP. The manufacturing sector provides full time work for about 2000 employees. According to Social Security reports, the manufacturing sector provides its workers on average with more weeks of work than the tourism sector offers its workers.
Dr Harris said, “the two (2) day tour was very beneficial to us in UNITY. We have a better understanding of the manufacturing sector its challenges, opportunities and its strengths and weaknesses. We are proud of the tremendous skills and abilities of our workers in the Industrial Estate. They have been performing at a high level competing, effectively with workers in the Philippines, China, Dominican Republic and Latin America.
We are proud that we have excellent workers and they contribute to global production of many products – brushes, light dimmers, robotics, military equipment. We have to find ways to ensure workers are decently rewarded.”
Dr Harris thanked Jaro Ltd, Brush St Kitts Ltd, Lutron, Kajola Kristada and Electrofab and their 800 plus employees for their warm welcome and for sharing their concerns and perspectives with Team Unity.
Team UNITY will hit the road again on Wednesday November 13th with a Public Meeting in Mansion at 8pm. The historic movement then moves into Bank Street in Basseterre with a Public Rally/Meeting on Friday Afternoon at 5pm.
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