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Contact:
Julita Peter
Monday, January 17, 2005 - The government of the St. Lucia is hoping to
make a significant dent in the unemployment figures this year. In his New Year’s
address delivered on the weekend, Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony
announced that reducing unemployment was at the top of seven national priorities
for 2005.
The second priority according to Dr. Anthony is to finalize Saint Lucia’s entry
and participation in the Single Market and Economy, whilst the third is to
intensify the fight against crime.
“Priority number four is to meet the challenge of hosting the World Cup;
Priority number five is to intensify our efforts to repair, and rehabilitate our
road infrastructure. Priority number six is to prepare the Banana Industry for
the inevitable transition to a tariff only trading regime; and Priority number
seven is to improve our water supply and in particular, ease the plight of the
Dennery communities,” Dr. Anthony said.
In reducing unemployment the government has decided to employ four strategies,
which include intensifying investment in tourism, encouraging more investment in
the Information Technology Sector, particularly Business Process Outsourcing,
encouraging self-employment through the establishment of small businesses; and
fourthly, expanding opportunities in public sector construction.
According to the Prime Minister, the Tourism Sector is unquestionably a great
absorber of labour and investment in this sector, and is exceedingly promising:
“The Sandals Chain has already announced the construction of the new Beaches
Property on the Pigeon Island Causeway. According to Sandals, some 250 persons
will be employed during construction and on completion some 600 persons are
expected to be employed. On January 27, a consortium of local and foreign
investors will provide details of their plans to construct a luxury condominium
resort/marina at an estimated cost of US$120 million again, near the Pigeon
Island Causeway”, the Prime Minister announced.
That project, according to the developers is expected to provide 500 bedrooms in
220 luxury condominiums in a resort setting. It is estimated that 500 jobs will
be created during the construction phase and a further 500 tourism related jobs
after the resort is opened.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the creation of additional jobs as a result
of the expansion and construction of some hotels among them, Discovery at
Marigot Bay, Calabash at Marisule, Plantation Beach at Cas-En-Bas, Bay Gardens
Hotel, Coco Creole, and the “Coconut Bay” in Vieux Fort, formerly Club Med,
which when re-opens in February, some 300 Saint Lucians are hoping to be
employed there.
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