Basseterre, St. Kitts (PMO)– During a special meeting with nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis residing in Sint Maarten, Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew underscored the invaluable contributions of the diaspora and emphasized the government’s commitment to deeper engagement.
The Prime Minister, who is currently in St. Martin for the 76th Meeting of the OECS Authority, shared insights from a recent United Nations study, which revealed that the most loyal diaspora group in the Caribbean hails from St. Kitts and Nevis.
“They did a study. And just recently, they came to St. Kitts and Nevis to meet with me and other officials from the government… From this study, they have found that the most loyal diaspora group from the Caribbean… Who do you think it is? Of course, it is not Jamaicans. It is not Guyanese or Bajans or the obvious ones that people would think, but from their study… they picked up that from the Serpent,” Prime Minister Drew remarked.
The Prime Minister noted that this finding is a testament to the strong national pride and unwavering connection that Kittitians and Nevisians maintain with their homeland. However, he stressed the need for this engagement to go beyond sentimental ties and extend to tangible contributions that support the nation’s development.
“You feel so connected to your country already, for nothing else, that you want to go back, and that says a lot. But we don’t only want you to reconnect when you’re ready to bury your navel string… We’re going to find ways for you to connect. You don’t necessarily have to come back home physically, but you can contribute significantly to all development, your country’s development, wherever you are in the world, and specifically from right here in Sint Maarten.”
Prime Minister Drew highlighted that St. Kitts and Nevis nationals have made a profound impact on Sint Maarten, particularly in business, academia, and community development. His conversation with the President of the University of St. Martin, Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez, reaffirmed this, as Dr. Baez acknowledged the excellence of Kittitians and Nevisians in education and entrepreneurship.
The government’s efforts to strengthen diaspora engagement are not just about inviting nationals back for elections, but about fostering long-term, meaningful contributions.
“We are going to set up ways in which you can contribute even from where you are, because no matter where you are, as was said tonight, you can take me out of St. Kitts but not St. Kitts out of me, and at the end of the day, we are proud people.”
As St. Kitts and Nevis advances its Sustainable Island State Agenda, Prime Minister Drew assured nationals that new avenues will be created for them to invest, participate, and shape the future of their homeland.