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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 16, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), Mr. Faron Lawrence, has hailed the efforts of the Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Administration to increase its engagements and strengthen its relationship with the Chamber as a major stakeholder and partner in the country’s socioeconomic development.

 

 “Our country continues to benefit from very open, frank and honest discussions and engagements between the Chamber and the Government, spearheaded by Prime Minister Harris on the Government’s side,” Mr. Lawrence said on Saturday (October 13) while addressing leaders within the business community and senior Government officials at the 35^th Private Sector Banquet at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

 

“He [the prime minister] has been ready, willing and available to engage the Chamber even on issues we do not agree,” the Chamber President added, while noting that the CIC looks forward to completing the journey that was started with the National Economic Growth Forum.

 

Mr. Lawrence also commended the Government’s efforts to improving the business environment in St. Kitts and Nevis.

 

He asserted that many of the areas for improvement that will positively impact the country’s score on the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business Ranking’ are primarily for the Government to attend to, but insisted that the Chamber stands ready to work through its members to effect change as part of the process.

 

“Based on discussions during our recent National Economic Growth Forum, I am satisfied that the Government is taking this ranking seriously and is making a deliberate and concerted effort to continuously improve our position in the world in this regard,” President Lawrence said.

 

On the issue of crime, the Chamber President recognized the strong efforts and substantial expenditure made by the Government in law enforcement to address and arrest this scourge.

 

Mr. Lawrence urged the Government to take much further “tough and unrelenting action as is necessary within the law” to take violent criminals off the streets and called on the Chamber’s membership, and the entire private sector, to co-operate with and be supportive of the security forces.