THE Board of Directors of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet held a brief meeting last Friday immediately following the executive luncheon at which the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy Antoine spoke.
The meeting took an open discussion format, with Prime Minister Chastanet updating the Chamber on his governmentās progress in areas of critical interest to the Chamber among them, the governmentās intention to pursue public sector reform to impact on the Ease of Doing Business in St. Lucia, key economic infrastructure development initiatives and attracting foreign direct investment.
The Prime Minister advised the Chamber of his governmentās plans to reform the controversial Citizenship by Investment Programme.
The Prime Minister discussed some of his proposals, without providing detail, which he will be presenting when he addresses the nation including; the lowering of VAT, the introduction of a two tier but higher Airport Departure Tax, establishing a Tourism Authority to replace the St. Lucia Tourist Board as well as ideas about how that Authority would be funded, in addition to updating the Chamber on prospects for new policy initiatives.
Welcoming to the Chamber was the governmentās intention to involve, not only the private sector but the wider civil society in developing a national strategic planning framework and the development of a four year development plan for the nation.
The Chamber Board also sought and received updates on initiatives discussed at the two parties first meeting including, the strengthening of law and order and introducing National Health Insurance.
The Prime Minister suggested that the business community would be pleased with the VAT proposals being advanced by the government and pledged to continue to involve and engage the private sector in the critical planning and reform initiatives which government is expected to pursue. The parties agreed to continue their ongoing engagement in the months ahead.