After Four Years ........ Many Success Stories

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Wednesday, June 06, 2001 – Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony is reporting a number of success stories after his government’s fourth year in office. Speaking with the local media Wednesday, Dr. Anthony, outlined the many achievements of this administration, including that government has reversed the economic decline it had inherited, and restored the country to a measure of economic stability.  

He noted that there has been a positive shift from total dependence on bananas, to tourism and the service sectors.  “The results are already beginning to show even while our tireless efforts continue towards restructing the banana industry to maximise results in the changed international circumstances.  We were criticised for commercialising our banana industry. Three years later both St. Vincent and Dominica have seen the wisdom and have decided to follow Saint Lucia’s lead and commercialise their banana industries as well.    We have ushered Saint Lucia into the financial services sector thereby strengthening Saint Lucia’s efforts to diversify its economy,” Dr. Anthony said.

According to the Prime Minister, during his administration’s four years in office, the tourism sector has taken off, with many new hotels under construction, others expanding and renovating, resulting in greater employment for many more persons.  In the words of the Prime Minister, “This sector is a dominant economic pillar for Saint Lucia.”

Dr. Anthony pointed to his government’s private sector development strategy suggesting that the private sector has never received so much support by way of incentives and direct government support.  In fact, he added, government has established the Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) and has allocated six million dollars towards the strengthening and development of the private sector.  

“To date, the Saint Lucia Hotels and Tourism Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Saint Lucia Employers Federation and the Saint Lucia Industrial and Small Business Association have received 4.6 million dollars in direct, approved assistance for training and product quality improvement,” elaborated Prime Minister Anthony.

One of the successes close to his heart, the Prime Minister told the press conference, was that the Public Utilities have greatly improved their services with many communities throughout the island receiving basic amenities for the first time.  “Between 1998 and 2000, over 5,800 customers were connected to the water mains for the first time.  Similarly, in the case of telephones, since 1988 over 28,300 customers received telephones.   In the case of electricity, between January 1998 and December 2000, over 7,600 new households and businesses received first time electricity services, including the communities of Bouton, Gayabois and Park Estate,” Dr. Anthony said.

Government, Dr. Anthony said too, has also mounted a massive assault on poverty with a number of government and non-governmental organisations embarking on poverty alleviation projects across the island.

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