CARICOM SG pleased at St Kitts and Nevis export drive

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque expressed pleasure at the development of the export sector in St Kitts and Nevis during his visit to two factories on Friday 2 September.

Ambassador LaRocque toured the two factories on the final day of his visit to St Kitts and Nevis during which he met with CARICOM Chairman, the Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir K Dwight Venner, the President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, Mr Carol Evelyn, a group of Kittitian youth and attended the swearing in of the new President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron.

The two factories specialise in the production of electrical and electronic parts including for audio-visual equipment, vehicles and aircraft as well as for machines for manufacturing. The factories are taking advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) as well as exporting to the United States, Latin America and Asia including China. “St Kitts and Nevis is an example to the rest of the Region.

These factories are showing that we can compete with the rest of the world including China,” Secretary-General LaRocque said. The manufacturing sector in St Kitts and Nevis employs more than 2,000 workers, the overwhelming majority of which are women, and exports to the USA alone is almost $68 million. The Secretary-General encouraged the management of the factories to explore more opportunities for inputs from other Member States of the Community.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, listens to Plant Engineer Ms Eulice Chapman during a tour of the Kajola-Kristada factory in St Kitts and Nevis. Looking on are Mr Samuel Berridge, CSME Focal Point, St Kitts and Nevis; Plant General Manager, Mr Jose Rosa; and Ms Glenda Itiaba, Chef de Cabinet, CARICOM Secretariat.	CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, looks closely at one of the processes at the Api Harowe Factory at Sandy Point St Kitts And Nevis. Manager of the plant Carl Evelyn explains the operation to SG. Ms Glenda Itiaba, Chef De Cabinet, CARICOM Secretariat; and Mr Samuel Berridge, CSME Focal Point, St Kitts and Nevis, look on.