BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 26, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Discussions on how nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis living abroad can play an even greater role in the crafting and implementation of an inclusive sustainable growth strategy in their homeland commenced today, Tuesday, June 26, at the first ever St. Kitts and Nevis Diaspora Conference and Expo being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
The three-day conference, which is being staged under the theme, “Building Partnerships towards Sustainable Development,” has drawn participation from a diverse group of hundreds of nationals residing at home and abroad, including from academia, the government, the private sector and civil society organizations to facilitate networking between the Diaspora and national entities through interactive sharing and exchange of knowledge.
During the opening ceremony of the historic conference, held under the auspices of the Governor General’s Deputy, Mr. Michael Morton and Mrs. Morton, Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Shawn Richards highlighted the fact that Diaspora populations play a critical role in supporting sustainable development in their home countries, particularly through remittances.
The deputy prime minister said, “The Team Unity Government recognizes that you have long been our partners by helping to support spending on education, health care and a wide range of consumption. We recognize that your support has been resilient and stable even when other capital inflows to the country have stalled or reversed most notably during the global financial crisis of 2007.”
It is hoped that the conference will result in the establishment of improved mechanisms and structures for facilitating Diaspora engagement.
Deputy Prime Minister Richards, who was delivering remarks on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, further stated that the Government intends for the conference to also heighten awareness of investment opportunities “and also lead to the establishment of a database of Diaspora expertise and an approved Diaspora Policy that will provide a legislative and regulatory framework to facilitate Diaspora investments.”
Moreover, Minister Richards noted that the Team Unity Government will consider economic incentives to stimulate more Diaspora philanthropy, particularly directed at organizations and institutions focused on early childhood and adolescent development such as the St. Christopher Children’s Home.
He added, “The Government will also consider whether we should raise financing from our overseas nationals by issuing Diaspora bonds – which both India and Israel have had much success with and which development economists such as Dilip Ratha of the World Bank are proponents of – to fund infrastructure projects and social investments.”
In an effort to increase investment opportunities, the deputy prime minister stated that the Government is also actively considering offering tax incentives and duty-free concessions for Kittitians and Nevisians coming back home to engage in agriculture, real estate development and other key activities.
The opening ceremony was followed by a Cabinet Panel, moderated by St. Kitts and Nevis’ High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Non-Resident Ambassador to Vietnam, His Excellency Dr. Kevin Isaac. The Cabinet Panel featured presentations by Minister Richards, the Honourable Lindsay Grant and the Honourable Eugene Hamilton.
Today’s session will also feature an Open Forum surrounding the topic, “Growing to Give Back,” as well as a Youth Forum on the topic, “Building Capacity Today for Success Tomorrow”.
A welcome reception and cultural extravaganza for the visiting nationals will take place on the evening of June 26, at Government House, following the Opening Ceremony, Cabinet Panel and Open Forum, which took place earlier that day.
