BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 31ST 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has given his government’s commitment to sustain the federation’s manufacturing capacity.
Speaking to hundreds of employees, most of them women, during two lunch breaks at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park, Prime Minister Douglas recalled that it was the Labour Party Administration of Premier Sir Robert L. Bradshaw and which included Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell began the diversification of the economy.
Dr. Douglas also said that the recent signing of the Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil, which opens a new market for manufacturing products made or assembled in St. Kitts.
“The industrial estates here at the C.A. Paul Southwell Park and at Bourkes Estate were established by the Labour Administration because Labour realised that the time was going to come when the sugar industry was going to be no more and alternative job opportunities would have to be provided for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Prime Minister Douglas told the industrial park workers.
“Labour has brought in manufacturers to provide thousands of jobs for our people over the years,” said Dr. Douglas, who reaffirmed his government’s determination to ensure the sustainability and viability of the manufacturing sector.
“We want to make sure that the manufacturing capacity of St. Kitts and Nevis will continue , so even though you can get your gratuity when you leave, we are saying that you may not want to leave, because more opportunities are going to be provided for you here at the Industrial Estate continuously,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said the recent signing of the Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil, will allow the products being manufactured in St. Kitts and Nevis to be exported to another market apart from going to Europe and the United States of America.
“Brazil is now the fifth largest market and economy in the whole world and that means that they have a buying capacity that other countries don’t have. They are able to buy a lot of the products that are made up from the parts which you are manufacturing here,” said Dr. Douglas.