Basseterre, St. Kitts (August 21, 2013) — The Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) is geared towards the promotion of the development of the country’s social infrastructure, which is largely the people, and it serves the entire country, St. Kitts and Nevis alike.
Chairman of the SIDF, Dr Hermia Morton-Anthony, made the remarks on Friday August 16 while addressing members of the Women in Construction Trades (WICT) a component of the People Employment Programme (PEP), at All Solutions International in CAP Southwell Industrial Park.
The People Employment Programme is a Federal government of St. Kitts and Nevis initiative, aimed at training and offering job opportunity to the youth, with funding support from the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation.
“We want to thank all of those who have been involved in ensuring that the SIDF remains a viable area to give support to training programmes like these and to advise you and assure you that it serves the entire country, St. Kitts and Nevis alike,” said Dr Morton-Anthony.
Speaking in reference to a calypso presented at this year’s Culturama festival in Nevis, the SIDF Chairman said: “All of the programmes that occur here (St. Kitts), and which occur in Nevis are also financed through the SIDF. So maybe the calypsonian was using the poetic licence, but the entire country is benefitting from the SIDF.”
Dr Morton-Anthony was the guest speaker at the weekly seminars organised for the Women in Construction Trades under the theme, ‘From the Basement to the Attic’, where she expressed how pleased she was to see women making remarkable progress in a non-traditional area.
“As an educator I realise that you are not only learning the technical aspect of construction, but you are also learning public speaking, you are learning to work as a team, you are learning a new motivational aspect to your life, which is why you are here to achieve and nobody is going to stop you,” advised the SIDF Chairman.
She pointed out that when she saw the Women in Construction Trades (project) on paper, she immediately associated herself with it and wanted it off the ground immediately because construction was becoming one of the driving economic forces in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“At a time when the economy was slowing, it appeared that construction was holding its way at about 18% of the economy,” noted Dr Morton-Anthony. “Therefore why shouldn’t women benefit? Why are we withholding ourselves from ensuring that we achieve from that kind of economic growth? And so this is why this project is here. My challenge has been in educating, inspiring and motivating. Join with me so that we can get this country and its economy working.”
According to Dr. Morton-Anthony, the Women in Construction Trades, which is coordinated by Mrs Celia Christopher of PEP, and facilitated by Mr Walcott Hillock, proprietor of All Solutions International, has become the talk of the town, and very much the pride of PEP because it is a non-traditional area in which women are participating in a bid to change their lives.
“Your programme is called From the Basement to the Attic,” noted Dr Morton-Anthony. “Already it appears to me that some of you are on the first floor or above. I do not know how many floors are in it, but I know some people are close to the penthouse, and I want you to continue to strive to achieve.”