PM Douglas: Economic development strategies and policies are people-oriented

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 22ND 2011 (CUOPM) – The economic development strategies and policies of the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis are people-oriented.

Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said the strategies and policies have been able to facilitate growth and development and ensure that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis can improve the quality of their lives, “that they would have opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way in the continued advancement and development of our country and they in the process would become appropriately trained and empowered in order to be active participants in what we are trying to do here for this country.”

Speaking at a ceremony at which a vehicle was handed over to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force by the Port Zante Business leaders, Prime Minister Douglas said that the failure of the sugar industry made it necessary to look at tourism, a leading productive sector for the development of the country.

“This of course is well supported by financial services, information communication technology services, manufacturing in the small enclave that we had for many, many years and diversified agriculture in particular,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He noted that over the last few years there has been an emergence of higher education services that has propelled St. Kitts and Nevis in recent times, to be one of the leading countries in the Caribbean in terms of the large number of medical schools that service the offshore medical population. “To a large extent, we have been successful in the transformation to date of the national economy. We have placed great emphasis on tourism development and we have relied to a large extent on our business community to champion support and lead in the development of this new economy with the government providing support as much as possible,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said St. Kitts and Nevis has to rely not only on its own nationals and entrepreneurs, but also those who have come and who have contributed in a significant way through foreign direct investment in propelling the economy forward.

“We are all aware that we are going through tremendous challenging time. Over the last three to four years the world has changed. The United States of America is still in economic and financial turmoil. We have seen what has been unfolding in Europe over the last few weeks and months in Greece, Italy and there is now speculation that maybe Spain and France can be affected,” said the Prime Minister, who further pointed out that these capitals around the world that tourists come from.