August 6, 1997 - A number of Government Ministries will soon undertake new and greatly improved
initiatives. This much has been revealed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, Education, Human Resource, and Community Development and Culture
during a National Commission for UNESCO meeting, on Tuesday August 5, 1997.
With regards to the Ministry of Education, Hon. Mario Michel outlined government’s
vision for his ministry. The minister discussed that greater attention will be given to
human resource development.
"We are a small country of two hundred and thirty eight square miles,
possessing none of the attributes which have normally been referred to as natural
resources, such as minerals and oil, nor do we have the sort of land mass which is
particularly suited to agriculture, What we do have is a population of about one hundred
and fifty thousand people with over seventy percent below the age of thirty five years;
and wee believe that it is this resource which we can and must develop in order to
position our country to become and remain a viable and sovereign entity in the new and
challenging ere of trade liberalization, declining aid flows and increasing
marginalization of small and weak nations whose traditional currency of ideological
subordination has been devalued by the collapse of the advent of a single dominant world
super power."
With this new thinking the government will construct additional schools with the shortest
possible time so as t provide universal, secondary education to all persons within the
eleven to sixteen year age range. The accessing of appropriate computer hardware and
software to ensure basic computer literacy among St. Lucians, particularly the young; as
well as revising the school curriculum to ensure that the island’s education system
is linked with the economic and social realities and possibilities of our region are two
other areas to be given serious attention. The Adult Literacy system will also be upgraded
with a view that basic literacy and numeracy skills are prevalent throughout the working
population of St. Lucia.
The Ministry of Community Development’s main priority is the development of the
island’s cultural sector. The Ministry is in the process of formulating a ten year
National Cultural Plan. St. Lucia will also seek support to implement an OECS Cultural
Desk. Hon. Damian Greaves outlining the way forward says "sensitizing the government
ministers of the need to have cultural policy following ministers of the need to have
cultural policy following which a committee will be established for the coordinating of a
national cultural symposium so that everybody can be involved in the policy for St. Lucia
are some of the plans his ministry will implement. Hon. Greaves says a team will also be
responsible for sensitizing the various communities on why the formation of a national
cultural policy."
And coming from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon, George
Odlum, there needs to be a new look at the people’s attitude towards work ethic. Mr.
Odlum stressed that most people lack the "rhythm" of work. "We just
don’t have the wish to produce, we haven’t got the sense of excellence, the
sense of creativity which will tell us I will do that job and do it well - I will do it
for my country - and I will be admired by my fellowmen and that will be my reward."
The Minister says Foreign Affairs has a serious role to play in giving St. Lucians the new
vision. The Ministry is now seen as the development of the people and the quality of the
life of the people.
"When we talk about people now, we’re not only talking about the people
within the two hundred and thirty eight parameters of land. We’re thinking about St.
Lucians abroad too who probably identify with St. Lucia more than St. Lucians who live in
St. Lucian - because distance gives an added dimension."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now targeting St. Lucians overseas and will soon
establish consulate in places like Barbados, Martinique, and St. Croix and "take
care of returning residents, encourage them to come home, encourage them to bring their
money for investment back to St. Lucia. We will free up the duty free "boogie".
Let them bring all the tools of their trade back home without charging them duty for
it."
The Minister also emphasized the importance of giving St. Lucian businessmen and women the
same kind of incentive give to foreigners. With that added pool of creativity the minister
is assured that, "that might excite some of the dullness we see here, some of that
lack of motivation, some of the hanging about, the lack of self esteem we see in our
community, because it is frightening now."
Mr. Odlum warned St. Lucians, that there is no longer any free rides. "Everything
that you get you’ll have to work for."
