Further consolidation of medium and long term policies expected in 2012

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (Photo by Erasmus Williams).

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 6TH2012 (CUOPM) – Fiscal 2012 will see a further consolidation of the medium and long term policies implemented in previous years to cope with the crude economic and financial realities globally that continues to present grave challenges to the Federation’s small open economy.

The Ministry of the Prime Minister will continues to be guided by its mission of providing strategic support to the government in its pursuit of good governance and accountability in order to improve the quality of life of all citizens and residents of the Federation by providing quality service and advice designed to enhance the human resource capacity.

“The Ministry of the Office of the Prime Minister recognizes the automatic and expected call on it to provide strong leadership to the Public Service during this prolonged period of economic challenges caused by the series of crises faced globally whose effects continue to be felt locally,” said the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.

In 2012, the Ministry of the Office of the Prime Minister will be ready to provide the necessary momentum that is required to turn the challenge into opportunity.

“I sincerely believe that the measures we are now taking throughout the Public Service and in the economy at large will provide the necessary growth to ensure the sustainability of the Public and Private Sectors and a better and brighter society for all our citizens,” said Prime Minister Douglas in his message in Volume II of the Estimates for Fiscal Year 2012.

He said that the “very sacrifices that we are now called upon as a nation to make can easily be eclipsed if we do not take the necessary measures to reverse the increase in serious crimes that our country now faces.”

“It is for this reason that after serious and careful consultation that I implemented a minor reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities. This new structure allows me as leader of our Country to lend my experience having been Minister of National Security for almost a decade to assist with dealing with this very serious threat,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who added that the Anti-Crime Unit now brings the police and Defence Force, the institutions responsible for crime prevention and fighting directly under my purview as part of the Ministry of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Dr. Douglas said: “Convinced, however, that this issue necessitated more than just business as usual, Senior Ministers in the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Martin along with the Attorney General are a part of the Unit and help to provide support and strategic direction in finding the best solutions to rid our country of these criminal elements.”

He said that he has also instructed the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and the Ministry of Education to ensure that the restlessness of the country’s youth is positively channeled into opportunities, activities and ideas that will cultivate a better St. Kitts and Nevis “as we strive to ensure that the sacrifices we are making as a individually and as a nation are enjoyed by all.”

Dr. Douglas said that in the face of difficult circumstances, the Ministry of the Office of the Prime Minister reaffirms its commitment to stick to the task of squeezing “plenty out of little, and that we will in 2012continue to enhance the way we work to ensure that we meet the great demands of a civil service which is called to serve and a citizenry eager to advance itself by leaps and bounds into the future.”