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St. Kitts – Nevis’ Pm – Dr. Douglas Denzil
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 11, 2012 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has declared the twin-island Federation “now the only Caribbean country with almost zero-tariff access to the Brazilian market.”

“Manufacturers currently based in St. Kitts and Nevis, therefore, or those who move here will now, by definition, have an advantage vis-à-vis their competitors where access to the Brazilian market. And this enhanced attractiveness of St.  Kitts and Nevis as a manufacturing base will, in turn, mean additional employment, additional entrepreneurial opportunities, and increased revenue inflows for our Federation,” said Prime Minister at Friday’s signing ceremony of the Brazil-Guyana-St. Kitts and Nevis Partial Scope Agreement.

Dr. Douglas pointed out that as Brazilian consumers and businesspersons seek to make wise choices regarding the expenditure of their resources, products made in St. Kitts and Nevis will now be amongst those from which they will be able to choose.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister said the in-depth and lengthy negotiations between Brazil and St. Kitts and Nevis regarding the Partial Scope Agreement have been a resounding success.

“This historic moment began, of course, with just an idea. A hope.  A vision. An idea, a hope, and a vision in which the objective was clear, but the path, at first, less than a straight line. As is the case with all historic accomplishments, however, this initial idea soon gave way to meticulous planning, in-depth analysis, and careful cost/benefit deliberations as we strove to establish this mutually beneficial economic alliance – an alliance that will redound to the benefit of both St. Kitts-Nevis and Brazil in the form of enhanced trade, expanded entrepreneurial and employment opportunities, and a wider array of goods and services for both nations’ peoples,” said Prime Minister Douglas during the ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Brazil in Basseterre.

Dr. Douglas pointed out that although St. Kitts  and Nevis is the smallest nation in the entire western hemisphere, and one of the smallest in the entire world, “our commitment to excellence, however, is also an indelible part of who and what we are, and this aspect of our national character has been demonstrated time and again.”

“As a result, to give just one example, we have repeatedly secured and held the lead position throughout the Eastern Caribbean – plus Barbados – where the export of manufactured products to the United States is concerned. This is the type of competitiveness on which we intend to build via this Partial Scope Agreement,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that the economic vision of St. Kitts and Nevis is grounded in a commitment to economic diversification and this is evident in the varied policies and initiatives to expand and make more competitive the agricultural, tourism, financial services and manufacturing sectors.

“St. Kitts and Nevis will, indeed, become even more competitive – where manufacturing is concerned – as a result of the Partial Scope Agreement that will be signed today,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who praised the “very constructive, visionary, and thorough the Government of Brazil, through its negotiators, have been throughout.”

The Agreement was signed by Brazil’s Special Envoy, His Excellency Ruy Pereira and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Trade, Mr. Charleton Edwards.

Addresses were also delivered by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of International Trade, Senior Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Brazil’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Miguel Magalhaes and Ambassador Pereira and was attended by several government officials and private sector representatives.

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Fresh Produce Grown Locally

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 02, 2012 (CUOPM)

Government has made it abundantly clear its seriousness in the diversification of the St. Kitts and Nevis economy.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says evidence of this was visible at last week’s agricultural exhibition although there are still some outmoded attitudes toward agriculture still exist in the minds of many.

“All over the world, agriculture means business. Agriculture means security.  Agriculture means independence.  People in other countries know and understand this, and this Government is determined that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis will know and understand this as well,” said Dr. Douglas.

“No longer must we see agriculture as an old man heading to his mountain-ground, all alone at five in the morning or a frantic mother rushing to tend a few crops before dawn, on some distant plot, before heading out for a hard day’s work elsewhere. No.  That old man and that old woman did what they had to do, they did the best that they could, and we honor and respect their hard work in the face of grueling, unrelenting adversity,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr. Douglas said that agriculture moves forward and in St. Kitts and Nevis, it must been seen as a multi-faceted, dynamic and key to the security of countless economies around the world.

He commended Minister of Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, for all that he and his ministry have been doing to ensure that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis will understand the tremendous opportunities inherent in agriculture.

“Last week’s Agricultural Fair made that point abundantly clear.  As that event showed, not only is this Government determined to change our people’s attitudes toward agriculture, but the Ministry has skillfully revolutionised its approach to the “selling” of agriculture. No longer is its Agricultural Exhibition simply a day when one looks at farm produce and livestock. It has now been transformed into a lively, activity-packed period of days, with entertainment and other attractions that more effectively reminds the public of the many positive dimensions of, and possibilities associated with, the agricultural sector.  We were called Liamuiga by the Kalinago for a reason.  And last week’s Agricultural Exhibit forcefully reminded us why,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.

Dr. Douglas used the opportunity to urge those with an entrepreneurial bent to undertake the necessary research, initiate the relevant discussions, think in terms of inputs, markets, yields, packaging, and so on and most of all – see agriculture as business.

“Think about and approach it with the seriousness that it deserves, and you can be assured that for those who are serious about investing the same time and energy that any other entrepreneurial enterprise demands, agriculture constitutes an open and positive path to social and economic stability. Where agriculture and other fields are concerned, we need dynamism.  We need imagination.  We need determination. But we need skills as well. Real-world, twenty-first century, marketable and competitive skills,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

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Nevis Premier Speaks At Fisheries Signing Ceremony

Charlestown, Nevis
April 28, 2012

Premier, the Hon Joseph Parry, has said that as Nevis seeks to move out of a recession back into growth, the Japanese-funded EC$30 million Charlestown Community Fisheries Complex earmarked for Gallows Bay, will be part of a growth program that will lead to sustainability over the years.

“Speaking as the Leader of Government, it is not just a matter of fisheries,” said Hon Parry on Friday afternoon (April 27) at a grant signing ceremony between the Government of Japan and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at Gallows Bay. “What we are looking at is a cog in a whole wheel, and efforts to have a whole development policy for the island of Nevis.”

Premier Parry thanked the Japanese Government for honoring its pledge in spite of the devastating earthquake that hit Japan recently. The Premier also thanked the Federation’s Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas for personally ensuring that Nevis received the US$11 million (EC$30m) grant.

Forming part of the Japanese delegation at the ceremony were the Trinidad-based Japanese Ambassador-designate to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Yoshimasa Tezuka, and his wife Mrs Chiruzu Tezuka, Chief Representative of JICA Caribbean Regional Office Mr. Shoji Ozawa, and the Second Secretary, Japan Embassy in Trinidad, Mr Tsuyoshi Koga.

“If I may address you directly, your Excellency, I must say that Japan has been a nation of its word,” remarked Premier Parry. “After that catastrophic disaster in your country, I was worried that you would say that Nevis would  have to wait three years or five years, and that would have been reasonable.

“I was told, and I thought, that we are talking about a sum of eight million US dollars, which approximates 24 million EC dollars. Today I am learning that the sum is US$11 million, approximating EC$30 million. I can’t say Ambassador which other nation has given so much money at one go. We are here to thank you for it and to congratulate you for keeping your word in spite of your experiences in your country.”

Premier Parry drew the attention of fishers on Nevis to the days when it was stated that St. Kitts used to get all the money while Nevis got nothing. He told them what Nevis was getting was not a loan but a grant in aid, which was supported by the Federation’s Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.

“I must say on his (Prime Minister) behalf today that at one time it seemed that we could have lost the project, and he singularly and directly intervened to ensure that Nevis got this grant of EC$30 million,” pointed out the Premier. “I am saying today, that we should be grateful that the demonstration of concern and statesmanship was demonstrated by Dr Douglas.”

Accompanying the Premier at the signing ceremony were Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Robelto Hector, Junior Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Dwight Cozier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Kelvin Daly and other Senior government officials. During his remarks, Premier Parry singled out for mention, Nevis’ first Minister of Agriculture Mr Arthur Evelyn, who also witnessed the colorful ceremony.

“I want to say that all of us Nevisians should embrace this project,” appealed Premier Parry. “Understand what it means as it stands by itself, but understand what it means when you put it together with all the other efforts that you are making.

“I want to assure the people of Charlestown, that as beautiful as Gallows Bay is today, I am quite sure that it will continue to be as beautiful and that its beauty will be enhanced by what we are doing. We are quite aware on the island of Nevis, that regardless of what we do, tourism is the number one priority. I want us to understand that tourism is the great mover and shaker of the economy, and that whether it is forwards or backwards, whatever linkages we make, tourism is the main engine of growth on the island.”

In ending his address he stated that his administration believes in excellence, as do all Nevisians. The NRP-led Nevis Island Administration has demonstrated at every step of the way that the only word that it entertains is excellence, he observed, adding that that excellence must have been felt from the top to the bottom.

He said that the team of Hon Hensley Daniel, Hon. Robelto Hector, Hon. Carlisle Powell, Hon Dwight Cozier, and himself are servants of the people. He noted that even though they might not behave like servants, and even if the people might not think that they are servants of the people, he asked them to simply look at the results.

“When you examine the results of this Administration you understand that we are serving the ordinary people of this country at all times,” said Hon Parry. “The Nevis Reformation Party is saying to you, we love you, we care for you, but look at our results, look at our actions and you decide if we are serious.”

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