[align=left]
Prime Minister Dr Denzil
Douglas[/align]
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
[align=left]BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS: St Kitts and Nevis as a small island state has benefited from its membership within the Commonwealth, said Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas in a message to mark Commonwealth Day.[/align]
[align=left]Dr Douglas said the organisation's commitment to give small states a voice on the international stage has helped strengthen the Federation’s resilience in a fast moving global environment.[/align]
[align=left]“The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has greatly benefited from being a part of the Commonwealth network, and we feel stronger knowing that we will continue to do so in the future. On this Commonwealth Day, let us all rededicate ourselves to the association and to the values and goals it represents,� Dr. Douglas said in a message as the people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis join the citizens of the 52 other member countries of the Commonwealth in celebrating membership in an association of independent nations that has brought significant benefits to the quality of life of people in the Commonwealth.[/align]
[align=left]“This family of nations is noted for its shared values, commitment to peace, democracy and human rights and their determination to co-operate with each other in the spirit of solidarity. Of emphasis in this year’s celebration is the recognition and promotion of the role education plays in building strong communities, generating growth and creating opportunities for all Commonwealth people,� Dr. Douglas said.[/align]
[align=left]He added that the Commonwealth is a modern, vibrant network of people who, through their knowledge and expertise, help each other to grow. These partnerships contribute to a global dialogue in which citizens from every part of the Commonwealth benefit from each other’s skills and experience.[/align]
[align=left]“The people of St. Kitts and Nevis feel stronger knowing that through the Commonwealth, we are connected to countries that share a working language, certain fundamental values, similar institutions and a joint commitment to build peace and deliver prosperity to all our people,� said Prime Minister Douglas, adding:[/align]
[align=left]“The Commonwealth is also a unique forum for global diplomacy, which uses the power of consensus to make multilateralism work.�[/align]
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by SKNIS News

Posted: Mar 15, 2005 13:36 UTC

BASSETERRE (SKNIS) - A senior European Union official says St. Kitts & Nevis and Barbados are ahead of the Caribbean nations tackling the enormous challenges posed by the first phase of sugar price cuts.

Head of the Bridgetown-based European Commission Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, His Excellency Amos Tincani said while the majority of Caribbean countries are not moving fast enough, agricultural diversification strategies, including ideas such as cane fuel and “branded� sugar in Barbados and St. Kitts & Nevis are putting those territories ahead of their regional counterparts.

He told Caribbean Net News that the political leaders in Barbados and St. Kitts & Nevis and key sugar stakeholders “have a good understanding of the challenges ahead and the need for a speedy transition out of raw sugar production and into other more competitive and higher value added products and activities, agricultural and otherwise.�

“Their well educated work forces and their already largely diversified economies, particularly in the case of Barbados, should greatly facilitate the necessary adjustment,� said Mr. Tincani, who added that countries need to put an end to their tactical attempts to postpone the reforms and start working on national strategies to tackle the challenges.

The European official said while the precise details of the reform have yet to be finalised, it is clear that the reform will happen and the Caribbean must prepare for it.

“Time is of the essence in order to establish the best possible basis for our adaptation support that is sufficiently tailored to individual country’s needs,� he said.

After an initial proposal by the European Commission to reduce the raw sugar price by 37 percent over three years, starting this year, the implementation date has now been postponed to 2006. The proposal is still being discussed at the EU Council of Ministers, where it could be modified.

At any rate, the EU Sugar Regime will almost certainly be reformed by July 1, 2006, the date by which the existing legislation expires, and the Sugar Protocol will be revised in the context of Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations entering into force in 2008.