St Kitts and Nevis: PM Harris held consultations with business owners ahead of cruise season

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris, held a consultation session with the various business owners of Port Zante on the way forward for the upcoming cruise season.

Prime Minister Harris stressed to business owners that he supports the need to welcome Port Zante to cruise ships but stated that the main priority of his government is to protect the lives of all citizens and residents of the Federation.

"Clearly, there is always value in consultation. If the government does not listen and does not hear from our various actors, then we can not formulate a policy that would benefit you." said the Prime Minister.

He said the consultations would continue to be part of the modus operandi of this government. He said the policies could change from time to time because of the pandemic.

"When the situation changes, there will be a change of policy because this is the reality of the world in which we now live." said the Prime minister.

During the consultation session, the business owners expressed the need to get the cruise lines back to Port Zante so that they could reopen their businesses and start the economic activity after 16 months of partial closure.

PM Harris informed Port Zante business owners who were present at the consultation that the upcoming cruise season will be discussed at the cabinet level on Monday, August 16, 2021.

Prime Minister Harris said COVID-19 is still a development phenomenon, and the government has taken a 'Life First' strategy to manage the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is an externality with which we are now learning how to live, and we have not tried to learn about it for a long time. Some of the things, for example, when we started this pandemic we are now just starting to answer. " said the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, he said there was a time when there was doubt that pregnant women could get the vaccine and while the answer came only recently.

Prime Minister Harris noted that the government's focus is on a 'Life First Strategy', and there will always be a delicate balance between life and quality of life.