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Wednesday, February 7, 2007 – Minister for Foreign Affairs,
International Financial Services and Information and Broadcasting, Honourable
Rufus Bousquet, on Tuesday February 06th, paid a familiarization visit to the
Financial Sector Supervision Unit housed in the Financial Centre Building on
Bridge Street.
Accompanied by his Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary, the
minister met with the general staff and discussed with them the way forward for
the financial services industry in Saint Lucia.
“I had all these lofty ideas of really developing this sector in a way which
would have a meaningful impact on our economy and on the bottom line, in terms
of the expenditure that was used and all the ancillary benefits that we would
have gotten here in Saint Lucia,” the minister noted, “however, we have not
really moved in the manner that I'd expected but of course it's never too late.”
Honourable Rufus Bousquet was referring to a previous stint in public office, in
which he was involved in the early establishment of the financial services
sector
Meantime, Director of the Supervision Unit and Registrar of Insurance Nestor
Alfred, says the minister's visit will be followed by close collaboration
between the Financial Sector Supervision Unit and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
“I think the minister's call was simply one where he is reacquainting himself,
given that he was very instrumental in the whole international financial
services during the existence of his government many years ago. Therefore he is
trying to create an atmosphere that indicates that in order to move forward, we
need to work together.”
International Financial Services also known as the off-shore industry is viewed
as an engine of growth, playing a meaningful role in the economic development of
the country.
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