BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas praised local workers and management on Wednesday for making the twin-island Federation the largest exporter of goods to the United States amongst the OECS and Barbados.
“I commend the workers of Lutron Liamuiga, Harowe Servo, Kajola-Kristada, CSR/DDL, St. Kitts Brush Company and Caribelle Batik for working with management to produce the quality of products, with the level of efficiency, to make St. Kitts and Nevis, the smallest nation in the western hemisphere, the largest exporter – amongst the OECS and Barbados – of goods to the United States of America,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
In praising the local workforce for their dependability, diligence, and proficiency, Prime Minister Douglas said that the US$54 million in exports to the United States from St. Kitts and Nevis is greater than the exports of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines all combined together.
“This is a very positive reflection on the calibre of worker that exists in St. Kitts and Nevis, it is a positive reflection on the quality of leadership shown by management, and it is indicative of the attractiveness of St. Kitts and Nevis as a place to do business and invest,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
St. Kitts and Nevis exports to the United States were valued US$54.39 million, while St. Lucia exported US$26.02 million; Grenada, US$7.27 million; Antigua and Barbuda, US$4.87 million; Dominica, US$2.32 million and US$32,648, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Combined, those 5 countries exported goods to the value of US$45.14 million to the United States compared to US$54.39 million for St. Kitts and Nevis.
The British Virgin Islands exported US$10.75 million to the United States; Anguilla, US$4.34 million and Montserrat, US$38,648.
The balance of invisible trade in St. Kitts and Nevis with the United States is minus US$69.5 million which is the smallest among the OECS and Barbados.
St. Kitts and Nevis companies exporting to the United States and their products are Lutron Liamuiga (dimmer switches and fan speed controls); Harowe Servo (St. Kitts) Ltd (small motors, PC Board Assemblies, Rotor Assemblies and resolvers); Kajola-Kristada (connectors, filters, trap and surface mounts); for the Cable TV and Communications Industry); CSR/DDL (CSR rum/brandy and Brinley flavoured rum products); and St. Kitts Brush Co (semi-finish products for polishing dentures and jewelry).
Mr. Maurice Widdowson told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) that although Caribelle Batik does not directly ship its products in boxes to the United States, Americans accounted for sixty percent of his sales which amounted to EC$1.5 million between April 2007 and May 2008.
St. Kitts and Nevis imported goods to the value of US$123.20 million during 2008, less than the British Virgin Islands (US$309.89 million); St. Lucia (US$241.04 million); and Antigua and Barbuda (US$182.56 million).
The import bills from the United States for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Anguilla, Dominica and Montserrat were US$82.67 million, US$84.44 million, US$81 million, US$104 million and US$8.56 million respectively.
