Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands:
AFTER 360 years of sugar as a way of life, the Government of St. Kitts has closed its factories and is now focusing its efforts on the viable tourist industry as a revenue generator for the economy.
The closure of the factories has had significant impact on the island, with some 15,000 sugar industry workers displaced and the beginning of the next chapter in the country's history.
The Government was forced to borrow EC$44 million to make severance payment to the workers, in what has been dubbed an 'extremely expensive exercise' by Richard 'Ricky' O. Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture.
Speaking at a press briefing during the Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-28) in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, the Junior Minister told journalists that his Government had implemented a number of training and counselling programmes for the people who have been displaced.
"Some of the workers have been placed in the transportation sector as taxi operators, some in other sectors in the country," he explained.
According to him the Government hands were tied, as the sugar industry was reporting an annual loss of EC$30 million for production of the crop owing to the global reduction in prices.
He said fortunately St. Kitts had been blessed with its natural beauty, a fact the country intends to capitalise on. "We are pursuing many new projects that will enhance our tourism product, but with the utmost care and consideration for sustainable development,' he promised.
Already the Government has announced tourism investments of US$670 million (J$41,540 billion) to take place over the next five years.
Trinidadian investors are constructing a Boutique hotel, villas and condominiums valued at US$140 million (J$8,680 billion) at Kittitian Heights, while the Cable Bay Resort and Villa Development which has been on the books for years has been given an injection of US$70 million (J$4,340 billion) by Canadian investors. Construction is set to commence in January 2006.
"There are exciting times ahead for St. Kitts," remarked the Minister. "The South East Peninsula of the island is virginal and has the potential for elements of sustainable tourism."
He disclosed that in excess of US$400 million ($24,800 billion) is to be spent on a super Yatch marina and three boutique hotels.
