Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 20, 2015 (SKNIS)—Government is in the process of reviewing the number of concessions given to hotel developments in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“At the end of the day we want development but we also want to make sure that our people are not shortchanged,” Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay Grant said on the government weekly radio program “Working For You” last Wednesday.
“It’s a delicate balance that we have to strike and the Cabinet is working progressively to determine what we do in that regard,” the minister added.
Meanwhile, in response to the same caller, Mr. Grant commented on the concern raised about the need for the hotels to purchase local agricultural produce to provide an income for farmers. While this is needed, the minister was keen to point out that the quality of local produce must also be of a high quality for it to pass the grade in the hospitality sector.
“It is not just that because you are farmers, the hotel must take your produce, but you must make sure that you produce the kind of quality that the industry will accept as a quality standard,” Mr. Grant said. “Your quality and standard is not for St. Kitts and Nevis, your quality and standard is for the international arena.”