PM Says, “Upscale Tourism A Must For St. Kitts – Nevis”

Turtle Bay Beach, St. Kitts - Nevis

Turtle Bay Beach, St. Kitts – Nevis
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 19, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says high-end tourism services must be a major component of the new economy following the closure of the sugar industry three years ago.

He also told hundreds of members and supporters attending the 76th Annual Conference of his St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino that Kittitians and Nevisians must always have access to the beaches, natural assets and heritage sites.

Dr. Douglas said that the diversification of the economy from sugar agriculture with tourism, financial, information and communication technology and offshore education services is already delivering substantial social and economic benefits to the people of the federation.

“The strategic focus is on the high-end sector of the tourism industry because it does not seem likely that mass tourism can deliver to our people the quality of life that is consistent with our own long-term goals and aspirations as a people. We believe that high-end tourism gives us the opportunity to obtain the best value for the services we offer the world, and creates the value added necessary to support progressive increases in the wages and salaries of our people without undermining the competitiveness of our Federation. High-end tourism services also allow us to earn substantial foreign exchange without having to accommodate large volumes of tourists and to place undue burdens on our social and economic infrastructure and on our fragile eco-system,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.

He noted that while many persons associate high-end tourism with exclusivity, the policy of the Government on this issue is very clear and unequivocal and is properly reflected in all development agreements that have been signed to date.

“Our beaches and our natural assets and built heritage sites are the property of our people and every Kittitian and Nevisian must always have adequate access to these assets at all times,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

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Reshaping Caribbean Society In 5 Easy Pieces

Bassterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 15, 2008 (CUOPM)

Compassion, self-respect, inner peace, religion and racial pride have been identified as the right ingredients for shaping a new Caribbean society.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told some 250 persons attending the annual Mother’s Day Gala organised by Kittitians and Nevisians Association (KANA) in New York that children spend hours with electronic games and gadgets instead of interacting with mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers, neighbours and other children.

He said the five areas are needed to help Caribbean mothers raise the type of children needed to defend the interests of the people of the region in the years ahead.

“If we get these five areas right at the level of the family, then all will be well at the level of the community, the level of our proud nation and Caribbean,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

On the issue of compassion, Prime Minister Douglas noted that the lack of empathy is the truest evidence of evil.

“As people all over the world grapple with the issue of crime and violence, it is important for us all to remember that human beings are incapable of showing empathy to others if empathy has never ever been shown to them.  As our lifestyles have become more “modern”, our children are spending less and less time interacting with other human beings.  Electronic games and gadgets have filled the hours that were once spent interacting with mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers, neighbours ““ and other children.  In addition, even though most of us have no choice, more and more children are being left in day care centers at earlier and earlier ages.  At the end of each day, therefore, tired though we may be, it is becoming increasingly important that mothers, fathers, some relative or caring adult find the time, tired though we may be, give our children the physical closeness, the emotional support, that personal contact that is so essential to forming the psyches, and protecting the emotional health, of young children.  It is in these moments of closeness and interaction that we pass on the most important gift that we can pass on ““ empathy and compassion,” he said.

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SKN Mobile Election Confirmation Unit Schedule

To: All Local Media From: SKNIS Date: May 15, 2008 Subject: Mobile Confirmation Schedule (May 19 to 24, 2008) Notice The St. Kitts-Nevis Electoral Office is pleased to inform of its Mobile Confirmation schedule for the week: Monday, May 19 …

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