BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FORMER Tourism Minister in the Denzil Douglas-led Labour Administration, Richard ‘Ricky’ Skerritt has taken up the position of Advisor to the Minister of Tourism in the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
According to Antigua’s Minister of Tourism and Economic Development, Asot Michael, Skerritt would be his Advisor and also non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA).
The country’s tourism website, visitantiguabarbuda.com, quoted the Minister as saying: “I am very excited that Ricky Skerritt has agreed to join our Tourism leadership team. We have already begun taking a number of important steps towards revitalising our tourism product, and Mr. Skerritt’s advice and leadership will be invaluable to us going forward.”
Skerritt served as a Senator from 2004 up until last year when he demitted office shortly after the Labour Party lost the General Elections, and his colleague and Representative from Constituency Number Three Konris Maynard had praise for the work he did for St. Kitts and Nevis.
During an interview with this publication, Maynard congratulated Skerritt on his new appointment, noting that he has done “a tremendous amount to improve the tourism product that we offer here in St. Kitts and Nevis”.
He pointed to the increase in the number of passenger arrivals via cruise vessels, attributing it to the successful engagement Skerritt had with tourism stakeholders.
“It is no small wonder that a country like Antigua and Barbuda or anyone throughout the region would be willing to gobble up such experience and such expertise. And that is why we feel very proud,” Maynard said.
Commenting on a purported issued Skerritt had with the Team Unity Government shortly after the February 2015 General Elections, Maynard said: “As the saying goes, a king has no honours in his country and it is in this case, know that this Government was refusing to pay Hon. Ricky Skerritt duly owed monies or monies duly owed to him.
“Even though we would have differences in political opinions, that do not mean that we have to do our best to cut down one another or to stop one another from making a worthwhile contribution to one’s own country.”
To this end, the young Member of Parliament noted that it is sad that the country would be losing an expert in the area of tourism for a number of years, as he seeks to assist in developing the sector in the neighbouring island.
“If our neighbours are doing well, hopefully we would continue to do well as well,” Maynard added.
He agreed with the notion that the former Minister should have been engaged by the local authorities to further enhance the tourism product, adding that Skerritt was not an elected member of the House but rather served only as a Senator.
