Good evening citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis. This evening I bring you the post cabinet briefing for cabinet meeting held today Monday 26th January 26, 2009.
DIXON-BYRD GROUP
Cabinet finally approved the establishment of a new University and University Hospital to be operated by the Dixon-Byrd Group out of the United States of America, after giving approval in principle to the project a few weeks earlier. The school will be located near Ottleys and will bring development and economic opportunities for the people of that part of the country and for Kittitians and Nevisians generally. As announced in an earlier cabinet briefing, the government sees the establishment of tertiary level institutions in the country as part of the development of the tourism industry, the construction industry and the expansion of the services industry in the Federation.
Government will sign a formal agreement with the Dixon-Byrd Group shortly. The agreement will set out the high standards by which the medical university and hospital are to operate. It will also secure a number of scholarship positions on an annual basis for nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis to pursue training in medicine at the university, and the appointment of local professionals to the Board of Directors of the University. Government is keen to ensure that local people are advanced as it attracts development of various kinds into the country, and sees the scholarships and board of directors’ positions as important avenues for advancing the development of our people.
LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPERS
Cabinet approved a proposal by a local housing development company to assist in the provision of low income housing solutions for the population. Government has already inspected and approved a model home developed by the local company after which the low income homes will be modeled. The homes built by the local company will be in addition to the 500 homes that are scheduled to be built by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and which are to commence construction shortly. In a special meeting held on Friday January 23, several parcels of land throughout St. Kitts were identified for the construction of the NHC homes.
Government continues to believe that the NHC must continue to play a critical role in the provision of housing solutions for persons in the low income bracket who would have an extremely difficult time in building their homes without the government’s assistance.
Simultaneously, homes are being constructed for ex-SSMC workers meeting certain long service criteria, and who do not yet own their own homes. The government is committed to completing this project in short order.
The End
This brings to an end the post cabinet briefing for cabinet meeting held today Monday 26th January, 2009. I thank you.
