BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Apr 26 2017 – The leader of the main opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil Douglas Tuesday called on the government to establish a programme aimed at stimulating economic development in the twin-island federation.
Speaking on his weekly radio programme, Dr. Douglas said that the country has recorded its worst decline in the export of goods and service to the United States in 2016.
He told radio listeners that there is increased concern not only by the business community, but also residents that the government lacks a policy for stimulating economic development.
“We have seen a downturn in the economic prospects of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas, adding that the “government has failed to lead in the economic stimulation and continued progress of the progressive economy that the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party administration left two years ago”.
He quoted from figures provided by the United States Census Bureau that showed that the value of goods and services exported to the United States from St. Kitts and Nevis for 2016 was US$49.1 million compared to US$56.8 million in 2015. The export figure was the same in 2014 and 2012.
“It is also the biggest decline since 2010 in the export of goods and services to the United States which was valued in that year at US$50.6 million or EC$136.6 million,” said Dr. Douglas who said the value of goods and services exported to the U.S. was US$54.3 (EC$146.6) in 2013 and US$54.7 million (EC$147.7 million) in 2011.
He said the comparative analysis points to a serious decline experienced in 2016, a trend which seems to be continuing in the first two months of this year.
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