BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 7, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — The new Federal Minister of Environment and Co-operatives the Hon Eric Evelyn, who strongly believes that there is a lot of scope and potential for the co-operative movement in St. Kitts, spent the better part of Friday morning September 4 sharing his vision for the sector with the staff at the Department of Co-operatives in LaGuerite, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
“I decided to meet with the staff of the Department of Co-operatives because I wanted to tell them what my vision is for the department, and for the sector,” said the Hon Evelyn. “I think that there is a lot of scope and potential for the co-operative movement in St. Kitts and I believe that the department has been doing a lot, but they can do more in terms of promotion and selling the idea of co-operatives.”
At the meeting, which was his first with staff at the Department of Co-operatives, he let them know what his vision is for the sector and the Co-operatives Department as well. He also let them know what he expects of them as members of the Co-operatives Department and what he is expecting of them in terms of their work and their work ethics.
“I also wanted to tell them what they can expect of me as a new minister,” said the Hon Evelyn, who is the Area Parliamentary Representative for Nevis Ten. “I just want to reiterate that I am very delighted to be the Minister of Environment and Co-operatives, and I am going to do my best to champion the cause and the movement of both co-operatives, and the environment.”
The Honourable Minister stated that he wanted to give them the assurance that they have his support as the minister and he would be looking forward to their support as members of staff as well. He added: “I think that the meeting was very cordial; was very interactive and I want to really thank them for having me and I really look forward to for us working together as a team to move co-operatives forward.”
The meeting, which was very interactive where the staff also shared their concerns and exchanged ideas with the new minister, was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Co-operatives, Mrs Sharon Rattan, and the Registrar of Co-operatives, Mr Clyde Thompson.
“I am very pleased with their response – I am very pleased with the interaction that I got from them,” said the Hon Evelyn. “There was a lot of interaction, and they were open in their suggestions and comments and so on, and I am very pleased with what I heard and what I saw. I believe that they have the energy and enthusiasm to move the sector forward.”