Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 28, 2008 (CUOPM)
The Governments of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China on Taiwan have agreed on further development assistance in the form of grants to fund various projects at the community level in the short term.
This was disclosed here Wednesday afternoon by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Denzil L. Douglas at his monthly Press Conference.
Dr. Douglas the projects to include the completion of the Bird Rock Athletic Stadium ““ the venue for next month’s CARIFTA Games to be held here for the very first time, during the Easter vacation; the Day Care Centre in St. Paul’s, the Upgrading the Halfway Tree Pavilion and Fencing of that facility, the fencing the Verchilds Secondary School, the construction of the new sporting facility for the people of West Farm and Boyd’s, the continuing upgrade of the Saddlers Sporting Complex, the upgrading of the Challenger’s Playfield and the construction of change and wash rooms and stands for those watching games being played and of the completion of the St. Peter’s Sporting Complex.
He said that the projects form part of his governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s critical social programme in support of the economic transformation as outlined in the Adaptation Strategy that was adopted since the closure of the sugar industry in July 2005.
“The funding of these projects is further evidence of the commitment of our friends in Taiwan to assist in the development of St. Kitts and Nevis and to the overall transformation of the National Economy,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said that Taiwan is a very important partner to St Kitts and Nevis in the attainment of the social transformation agenda and his Government “strongly believes that if we had not begin implementation of the necessary economic reforms in 2005, the social transformation that we are now seeing definitely would not have taken place.”
Dr. Douglas said that the social reform agenda includes the general upgrade of the human resource capacity beginning at the pre-school stage and at every stage in the development process; the engagement of the youths in activities which will motivate them to realise their full potential and to take advantage of the opportunities for enrichment of their lives as well as provide career opportunities.
“We believe that many of these goals can be accomplished through the development of sports,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
Dr. Douglas said that a cheque for the further funding of the Bird Rock Stadium should be handed over to the Government by the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Mr. James Liu shortly and it is anticipated that work on the agreed projects taking place over the course of the next few months will soon begin.
Dr. Douglas, who was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris; Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Cedric Liburd; Chief Secretary, Mr. Joseph Edmeade and the Financial Secretary, Mrs. Janet Harris, held talks with the President of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Chen Shui-Bian, the Premier His Excellency, Chang Chun-hsiung and Minister of Foreign Affiars, His Excellency, James Huang.