Published 12 February 2019
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Manufacturing sector in St. Kitts and Nevis is dynamic, PM Harris praises workers
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 12, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Manufacturing sector in St. Kitts and Nevis is dynamic, stable and strong and remains competitive in export manufacturing as ‘made in St. Kitts’ products continue finding their way in the aerospace industry in the USA and in Europe, observes Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.
“It is a highly sophisticated and competitive industry, and all of our products are of a high standard and that is why when decisions are being made regarding where to expand, St. Kitts and Nevis for 2018/2019 has been the preferred site for that,” said Prime Minister Harris on Monday February 11 at the end of a tour of five factories that marked the start of events on Team Unity Administration’s fourth Anniversary Calendar of Activities.
Celebrating under the theme ‘TEAM UNITY: Making Dreams a Reality in Every Community!!!’ Prime Minister Harris led members of Cabinet, accompanied by officials from the Department of Labour, on visits to three factories in the CAP Southwell Industrial Park, one in West Basseterre, and one in Sandy Point where they met and held talks with management and workers.
“This has been our first official event to mark our anniversary activities and we have chosen today to go out, interact with the workers who are doing so much good for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, and of course for themselves,” said Prime Minister Harris at the end of the final visit at Harowe Servo Controls St. Kitts Ltd in Sandy Point. “We have chosen to visit the manufacturing plants and we were very impressed by what we have heard today.”
The visits had started in the morning at Lutron Liamuiga Limited at the CAP Southwell Industrial Park, which is due to close its operations on March 01, this year. Prime Minister Harris reported that they heard good news that all the workers have been offered alternative work at Jaro Electronics and that fifty-three of the fifty-nine employees have taken that offer.
Accompanying the Prime Minister were Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Shawn Richards, Senior Minister and Minister of Labour the Hon Vance Amory, the Minister of Health, Agriculture, Human Settlements et al the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce the Hon Lindsay Grant, Attorney General the Hon Vincent Byron, and Minister of State for Health the Hon Wendy Phipps.
Also present were Cabinet Secretary, Mrs Josephine Huggins, and Deputy Speaker, the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett. The Department of Labour was represented by Permanent Secretary Mr Ron Dublin-Collins, Labour Commissioner Ms Shermel James, and Deputy Labour Commissioner Mr Deon Webb.
After Lutron Liamuiga Ltd, members of Cabinet visited the neighbouring Kajola Kristada where they were welcomed by the General Manager Mr Jose Rosa. They first held a meeting with the senior staff before they were taken on a factory tour and later addressed the rest of the staff. The next stop was at Jaro Electronics where they were welcomed by the company’s Vice President Mrs Doris Archibald-Webbe, and were taken on a tour of the factory floor by Plant Manager Mr Irvine Daniel.
From the CAP Southwell Industrial Park, the Cabinet visited Carib Brewery (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited where they were welcomed by Managing Director Mr Mark Wilkin and taken on a tour of the plant by Mr Kevin Wilkinson, Lead in Health, Safety and Environment. In the afternoon the team visited the Sandy Point-based Harowe Servo Controls St. Kitts Ltd, where Mr Carol Evelyn took them on a tour of the factory.
“It has been a very useful day, and one in which we have spent with hundreds of employees throughout the length and breadth of the country, to wish them well, to let them know that the Team Unity Administration is one on which they can count, one on which they can depend,” concluded the Honourable Prime Minister.
“The fact that we have prioritised them is an indication how well we have conceptualised our programmes and policies, how much we have put job growth at the heart of the economic agenda for St. Kitts and Nevis. We have come to ensure that workers are happy, that they are productive, and that they set for themselves high standards.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Prime Minister Harris, members of Cabinet and officials from the Department of Labour pose with management and staff at Kajola Kristada.
2: Prime Minister Harris addressing workers at Lutron Liamuiga.
3: Minister Eugene Hamilton (holding the mike) answering questions that had been posed by staff at Jaro Electronics.
4: Prime Minister Harris and members of Cabinet observe as a Carib Brewery employee controls cases coming off the conveyor line.
5: Mr Carol Evelyn (2nd left), explains to members of Cabinet the workings at Harowe Servo Controls St. Kitts Ltd in Sandy Point.
