Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 30, 2023 (SKNIS): The new Ministry of Economic Development and Investment will play a critical role in St. Kitts and Nevis’ economy, bring relief and create more opportunities for citizens and residents, said Senior Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas.
“The Ministry is one which will bring the necessary support to these activities coming to the fore and thus bringing real relief and opportunities for our people. For example, we speak of housing for our people – if we do not bring in the investors or use the existing investors in our country then that particular mandate is not fulfilled,” said Senior Minister Dr. Douglas, during his statement on March 30, 2023, at the Prime Minister’s Press Conference at NEMA. “So, we have to make sure, therefore, that we can encourage people to invest in these various sectors in our country.”
The Minister of Economic Development and Investment said that creating these opportunities requires reaching out to the local, regional and international markets.
“We have to go far and wide and also within the region and even within the domestic country to ensure that there are investors who are being given the necessary support in terms of incentives in order to support the government’s overall strategy for the development of our country,” he said.
Senior Minister Douglas spoke about the number of establishments that were either closed, abandoned, or incomplete for various reasons.
“This government, with this ministry, has taken on the responsibility and the task of getting these going again. We have, for example, the situation in Kittitian Hill that was abandoned by the previous government after millions of dollars were invested in it. That has been picked up now,” said Dr. Douglas. “We are pursuing quite vigorously new investment opportunities to carry forward the vision of Kittitian Hill and the vision of developing the Whitegate area for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, especially the people in that part of the country who would have been the beneficiaries of the Sugar Industry that was closed back in 2005.”
Dr. Douglas said that the ministry is new, and its buildout is nearing completion. He noted that they were able to identify the important persons who will be charged with “rolling out the effectiveness of the ministry so that we would see opportunities, economic development, and investments in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
