Charlestown, Nevis
September 12, 2007

Prudent management and sound financial and investment policies are the key ingredients that will sustain the levels of economic activity to strengthen the economy of Nevis. They would also sustain full employment, meet the island’s financial obligations at home and abroad and maintain a positive growth rate over the next five years. That was the view of Premier and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Joseph Parry, at the opening ceremony of a Consultation on the Economy at the Four Seasons Resort on Wednesday September 12, 2007.
 
The consultation, a first for Nevis, was hosted by the Ministry of Finance under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Development and People Empowerment”. The landmark forum brought together a number of stakeholders from every sector on the island.
 
Mr. Parry made the comment after his disclosure of the islands current debt which he said his one year old government had inherited but was obligated to service.
 
“We inherited a direct government debt of $200 million and $80million from the public corporations. This debt we are obliged to service. In addition, we have had to pay approximately $300,000 for the service of TEMPO and $900,000 for American Airlines both arrangements made by the former administration.

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Charlestown, Nevis
September 12, 2007

Sea Island Cotton planting commenced in earnest on government estates and private owned lands in Nevis. The exercise was in keeping with an earlier announcement by Agriculture officials on the island, of the Department of Agriculture’s plans to reintroduce cotton production on the island.
 
During an interview with the Department of Information on location at the Port Works Agricultural Station on Tuesday September 11, 2007, Communications Officer at the Department of Agriculture Mr. Eric Evelyn said that the Sea Island Cotton fetched premium prices on the world market and Japanese manufacturers had indicated their interest to purchase the cotton from Nevis.
 
A total of 40 acres are cultivated on government estates, 20 acres short of the initial plan which was caused by late planting and irrigation difficulty. However, Director of Agriculture Dr. Kelvin Daly said, the 40 acres cultivated represented an 800 percent increase over the last Sea Island Cotton Crop in 2003, when only five acres had been cultivated on government estates.

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Charlestown, Nevis
September 10, 2007

A number of persons from every sector of the Nevis economy, will have the opportunity to engage the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) through its Ministry of Finance, when they meet to discuss the island’s economy at the Four Seasons Resort on Wednesday September 12, 2007.
 
The one-day consultation headed by Minister of Finance and Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry, under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Development and People Empowerment”, will bring together over 100 stakeholders from the public service, youths, service clubs and the private sector. 
 
During an interview with the Department of Information at his Bath Plain office on Monday September 09, 2007, Mr. Parry said the meeting was designed in accordance with the Nevis Reformation Party led NIA’s guidelines entitled The People’s Agenda, which underscored the importance of people empowerment.
 
He said the consultation which was the first of its kind, was of equal importance as the annual end of year Budget Address but would take the form of presentations and interactive discussions.

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