Ontario parliamentarians pledge support for Nevis

Malcolm Guishard, left, welcoming Alvin Curling at the
Old Manor Hotel

Monday, May 30, 2005

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Acting Premier and Minister for Tourism, Malcolm Guishard, on Friday met with a four-person delegation from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Developmental assistance for Nevis was part of the discussion.

“We have had several discussions, looking at ways in which they can assist in the overall development of Nevis,” noted Mr Guishard. “One area we have discussed extensively is the possibility of establishing, on Nevis, a hospitality school. We are all aware that the tourism industry in Nevis is growing and growing at a very rapid rate.”

Minister Guishard observed that with the growth of the industry there was need to have Nevisians trained to take advantage of the windfall. Accordingly, he said that the Nevis Island Administration would be continuing dialogues with the Canadians looking at several universities and colleges in Canada, which offer that type of education.

“I envisage that sometime in the not too distant future we will be looking at visits from persons affiliated with those universities and colleges, meeting with us in the tourism industry and also with persons in the Education Department,” said Mr Guishard.

Alvin Curling, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, led the Canadian parliamentarians. Others were Michael Colle, Liberal Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Rosario Marchese, New Democratic Party MPP and Critic for Education, and Ms Wendy Iwai, Executive Assistant to the Speaker.

On arrival at the Old Manor Hotel, where they had lunch, they were met by the President of the Nevis Island Assembly, Marjorie Morton, and Clerk to the Assembly, Mr St. Clair Wallace. Also in attendance were NIA’s Legal Advisor, Mr Ted Hobson, leader of the opposition Nevis Reformation Party, Joseph Parry, and Federal Parliamentarian for St. Thomas’/St James’, Patrice Nisbett.

According to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Alvin Curling, who is originally from Jamaica, they were on a Caribbean tour that saw them visit Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis.

“The purpose of the visit is to make aware of the fact that we would like countries like Nevis to relate to Ontario,” said Mr Curling. “I have always considered Canada as a concept of a beautiful concept, but where the engine of things that are happening, happen in the province (Ontario) itself.”

He however clarified that they were relating from a legislative parliamentary point of view and not a government point of view. He underscored the fact that the relationship between Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados and all the rest of the Caribbean, to Canada has been long, friendly and encouraging over the years.

He spelt out how best small countries like Nevis could benefit from a relationship with Canadians: “Somehow I think that if a relationship from country to province, in other words, Nevis to Ontario, or Nevis to a school or an institution like a hospital, is a better situation in which one can able to relate.”

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