Charlestown, Nevis
September 10, 2007
A number of persons from every sector of the Nevis economy, will have the opportunity to engage the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) through its Ministry of Finance, when they meet to discuss the island’s economy at the Four Seasons Resort on Wednesday September 12, 2007.
The one-day consultation headed by Minister of Finance and Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry, under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Development and People Empowerment”, will bring together over 100 stakeholders from the public service, youths, service clubs and the private sector.
During an interview with the Department of Information at his Bath Plain office on Monday September 09, 2007, Mr. Parry said the meeting was designed in accordance with the Nevis Reformation Party led NIA’s guidelines entitled The People’s Agenda, which underscored the importance of people empowerment.
He said the consultation which was the first of its kind, was of equal importance as the annual end of year Budget Address but would take the form of presentations and interactive discussions.“It is the first time that we are having an exercise of this kind and I must say it is as important as the budget presentation at the end of the year. What we are doing, is to bring together all the stakeholders who are involved in the development of the economy of Nevis.
“It is important because what we hope [to do] here is that not only will the Minister of Finance present the state of the economy and where we hope to take the economy to, to create sustainable development but the stakeholders too, would be able to discuss and make their impute so that at the end of the consultation we can determine the way forward not only for government but for all the people of Nevis,” he said.
The Finance Minister noted that it was important for the media to take the matters discussed at the consultation to all the people of Nevis. He said Nevisians should follow these matters closely since the outcome of the forum would affect them in some form or another.
“We [at the consultation] would be discussing the various areas of investment both in infrastructure as well as in tourism, agriculture and all the other areas. We will be discussing the direction of education and it is so important that the direction of education parallel itself with the development of the country. I invite all Nevisians to take part either by listening on the radio or television,” he said.
Mr. Parry also added that the young people of Nevis would later understand the relevance of the training programmes already in place for them and how they would help them in the future and with the development of Nevis.