THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!
November 30, 2011Â
Harris At Large!Â
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!Â
Congratulations are in order for all the victorious candidates in the recently held general elections in Saint Lucia! However, the real victory belongs to the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony and his team fought a good fight and the task to lead the country for the next five years is theirs.
The quote that is very apt at this juncture is by the late President John F. Kennedy – “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your countryâ€. The quality of life is always a result of the people doing their best for their country. The time has come when it is necessary to put all hands on deck, challenging our best minds to be creative, and  adopt a spirit of community.Â
In moving forward I get the impression that we are about to witness a new approach to governance which will be an inclusive one, where everyone regardless of their political persuasion will be given a fair opportunity to make a contribution to the national good. That is preaching from the outset, a doctrine of unity.Â
I also hear from the victorious party leadership, the urgent need for Jobs. It is JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! In my last article I spent some time exploring entrepreneurial opportunities and will attempt in this one to deal with fresh issues. I join with all citizens who are interested in the development of our nation to contribute to a process that will be a game changer in the social, political and economic future of our country. I have always alluded to the fact that St. Lucians are not short of ideas, what many need is the opportunity to put their ideas to work. The government will need to challenge the citizens to rise to the occasion to make a difference, to think outside of the box, to look outside of St. Lucia to augment our small market size, and to employ relevant technology in all aspects of life.Â
It is time to implements measures that will allow the government and the rest of the nation to do more with less. Cut wastes. This is a period of austerity and everyone must get on board. Don’t give the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank reasons to tell us that we must tighten our belts. We are witnessing with every passing day that the developed world is at the brink of another economic crisis. We must take note of the state of the world economy. We cannot afford to ignore the fact that all is far from well. Oil is knocking at the door and it is very likely that we will begin to see increases before the New Year. Cost of living is rising. It is not only about food security, it is also about import substitution. We must produce more and expand production to include many of the things which we can produce but are not producing. It is time for action!
I am so happy that I am hearing that ENTREPRENEURSHIP will be the main driver as the government seeks to find jobs for the unemployed, especially the youth. It is time to make an assessment of the performance of the many entrepreneurship programmes introduced in recent years. Entrepreneurship training has to be a process and I am convinced it must begin in schools. In the meantime, those persons in our midst desirous of becoming Entrepreneurs must be assisted to do so with urgency. The Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) within the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs must be expanded to include practical application to Entrepreneurship. Apart from the existence of the St. Lucia Industrial and Small Business Association (SLISBA), National Research and Development Fund (NRDF) and SEDU, there is need for additional agencies and companies to facilitate Entrepreneurship Training nationwide.
While we welcome the new Government and place upon the shoulders of the Cabinet of Ministers, the responsibility for BETTER DAYS, let us pray for them and remember always to Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and expect Daily Miracles!
Edward Harris
Freelance Journalist, Realtor, Business & PR Consultant
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: www.stluciapropertydeals.com www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com
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