BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Organisation of American States (OAS)-sponsored Agro Eco-tourism project is increasing its momentum with a Basic Cost Benefit Analysis Workshop in preparation for full implementation of the scheme.
The two-day workshop, which began today (May 26) at the Women’s Training Centre, is being facilitated by Senior Lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Hugh Heyliger. It is the second in a series of critical project activities designed to build institutional capacity and develop human resource potential, especially within the tourism sector. The event targets members of the project management team, many of whom were chosen from agencies and entities within the Federation which have a stake in the overall project.
Policy Analyst and OAS Project Coordinator Gene Knight explained that with the closure of the sugar industry in 2005, the St. Kitts Sugar Manufacturing Corporation (SSMC) Transition Unit was established to facilitate economic diversification. He informed that the Agro Eco-tourism project would be a key element in the transition from an economy based solely on sugar, noting that the Cost Benefit Analysis is necessary for such a transition.
“The idea was to go beyond the sugar industry and it was recognised that tourism would be the main engine to the new economy. We hope to identify business opportunities, especially for former sugar workers to benefit from tourism, and one of the main tools to see how beneficial these opportunities are is through a Basic Cost Analysis,” Knight said at the brief opening ceremony this morning.
OAS Representative to the Federation Starrett Greene said although there were a few challenges in implementing the project, he is pleased that his organisation is able to assist the nation in the transition to a service-based economy. He stressed that the project is important, as it would focus on small business projects that “capitalise on the natural and man-enhanced assets of the rural communities in St. Kitts”.
“As of date, the execution of the project’s plan of action has involved several field activities in designated rural communities with the purpose of identifying those assets which are tangible and intangible and which have the potential for business development or from which invaluable information can be gathered, stored and become part of a wider data base,” Greene said.
The OAS diplomat said the data collected could be accessed by government agencies, private businesses, potential investors and civil society organisations, and would also be available for the conduct of academic and related research purposes.
Funding, which is provided through the OAS’ Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, for the implementation of the Agro/Eco/Tourism project, will end December 31, 2009.
