Prepare for new challenges says St Kitts-Nevis PM

Monday, January 5, 2004

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Kittitians and Nevisians have been told that the coming into effect of several regional and hemispheric treaties will have far-reaching impact on and implications for the social and economic well being of the two-island Federation. 

Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas in his New Year's Address noted that much has been said of the soon to be instituted CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the Free Trade Area of the Americas and the Caribbean Court of Justice. 

He said that for years these have all been harmless clouds on the horizon, "never seriously threatening or impacting, but today, they are just around the bend and are coming full steam at us." 

"Kittitians and Nevisians must begin to prepare for the challenges and opportunities that these treaties bring as well as the fundamental change in outlook and approach that will be required of our people. It cannot and will not be business as usual. This goes not only for the individual, but for the corporate world as well," said the St. Kitts and Nevis Leader.

Dr. Douglas said he remains convinced that the primary engine of growth in any market-based economy must be the private sector. 

The Central Government could only facilitate economic activity but it is the enterprises and businesses that must convert opportunity into profit, and must generate employment, foreign exchange earnings and enhanced economic activity for the benefit of the country as a whole. 

"These treaties will pry open our market to goods and services from all over the world, but they should also create new markets overseas for the output of our enterprises. However, if our enterprises are not vigilant and conscientious in their quest to enhance competitiveness we could find ourselves importing more foreign goods without, at the same time, benefiting from greater access to international markets," Dr. Douglas warned.

He said the enhancement of competitiveness is, nonetheless, a multifaceted endeavour and requires that enterprises institute reward systems to motivate workers, and that they continually update their technologies and their managerial and operational capacities. 

"It requires that our workers approach their work even more enthusiastically and that they take advantage of every opportunity to update their knowledge and skills. It requires that the society as a whole become even more conscious of the importance of enhanced productivity to the progress of our proud nation and that an attitude of productivity, an attitude of efficiency and service is infused into our culture and pervades all aspect of life in this our beautiful Federation," the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Douglas pointed out that was one of the reasons why his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government is continuing to give very high priority to human resource development.

"Already we are making computer training available to school children and adults in our state-of-the-art computer laboratories and we are currently in the process of implementing a major training programme, through the new Hospitality Centre at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, which we expect will eventually reach all persons providing services to the many tourists visiting our Federation, our proud and progressive Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis," said Prime Minister Douglas. 

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