St. Kitts – Nevis Transforms Local Economy

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St, Kitts Scenic Railway
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis which closed its three hundred year-old sugar industry three years ago is reporting success in the implementation of strategies to transform the national economy.

Political Leader of the governing St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told hundreds of Labour Party members and supporters, representatives of the diplomatic corps and business community at his party’s 76th Annual National Conference, that the success of the strategy is quite evident in the economic, social and physical infrastructure, which has been dramatically overhauled and expanded and which has acted as a magnet for foreign direct investment.

Indentifying the various projects aimed at unleashing high-end tourism services, the St. Kitts and Nevis leader referred to the strides in other areas such as financial, information and communication technology and offshore education services, which he said are already delivering substantial social and economic benefits to the people of the federation.

“Our roads and bridges are now among the best in the Caribbean region despite the recent setback. Our telecommunications services are the state-of-the-art and are now much more affordable and competitive and local ownership is now shared because of the new legislative and institutional framework that we have established,” said Dr. Douglas, in his address at the St. Kitts Marriott and Royal Beach Casino.

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St. Kitts – Nevis Consuming More Local Food Items

St. Kitts - Nevis Fish Processing Plant

St. Kitts – Nevis Fish Processing Business
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis says that the long-term solution to food security and increasing food prices in the twin-island federation as a result of global food price crisis, is not price control or even reduced consumption taxes.

“If we are to attain food security and to protect ourselves from escalating food prices in international markets, we must produce and consume more local agricultural products. In fact, I contend that if my Government had not already taken action to increase food production the impact on our Federation of the international food crisis would have been even more severe,” said St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.

He said that the global food price crisis that is a major source of worry for policy makers all over the world demonstrates quite clearly that the allocation of resources to the development of the agricultural sector must continue.

“Indeed the Millennium Development Goals established by the International Community for the substantial reduction of poverty in developing countries by 2015 are being placed in jeopardy by the dramatic increases in food prices in recent years,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said that the global statistics in respect of food prices are frightening and recalled several measures taken by his Labour Administration to deal with the crisis.

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Nevis Government Serious About Fisheries

Mr. Pearlivan Wilkin

Mr. Pearlivan Wilkin

Charlestown, Nevis
May 20, 2008

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Lands Housing Cooperatives and Fisheries on Nevis Mr. Pearlivan Wilkin, said that the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) was serious about fisheries and the role it played in the island’s food security.
 
He made the comment during a ceremony hosted by the Fisheries Department, to mark the start of a three-day Socio-Economic Monitoring (SocMon) workshop at the Red Cross conference room on May 20, 2008.
 
The workshop was held for fisheries management stakeholders to learn how to develop and implement socio economic monitoring programmes for strategically selected sites through the use of SocMon Caribbean methods.
 
Mr. Wilkin said the NIA was mindful of the many health benefits that could be derived from the consumption of fish, and had invested in projects to assist fishers on the island.

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Silver Reef Development Construction To Start In May

Silver Reef Development - St. Kitts

Artist’s Concept Silver Reef Development

Basseteere, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 20, 2008 (CUOPM)

Construction is to start soon on the US$30 million Silver Reef Resort on St. Kitts’ Frigate Bay.

The project involves the construction of 54 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and 8 duplex villas, two swimming pools and a small, but much needed, 12,000 square foot commercial area, which has attracted local entrepreneurs wishing to bring their expertise in the form of restaurants, shops and a bank.

“This exciting development is unique in its combination of smart condominium apartments and exclusive private villas laid out in a lush, tropical setting of thoughtfully landscaped gardens punctuated with signature pools and cabanas.  Its stunning location, running beside the immaculate Royal St. Kitts Golf Course will make it a landmark resort,” said Chairman of Silver Reef, Mr. Sebastian Mottram.

He said that the 4.5 acre Silver Reef Resort has been 18 months in the planning and it is anticipated that it will be another 20 months in the execution.

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