Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2984/-1/135/
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MORE ST. LUCIAN WORKERS FOR ANGUILLA Praised For Good Behaviour
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Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, outlined the island’s development programme at the opening of the OECS Authority meeting on Sunday, November 6. During his address he said the opportunity would be taken to discuss how the Heads of Government could assist Anguilla and how the Anguilla Government could help them in their development.
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L-R: Prime Minister Kenny Anthony and Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming
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By the next day, The Anguillian learned that efforts are being made by the Anguilla Government to recruit a number of additional workers from within the OECS sub-region, among the first being St. Lucians.
Speaking in an interview at a cocktail reception at the Governor’s residence on Monday evening, November 7, Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, of St. Lucia, said he and Chief Minister Fleming had discussed the recruitment of a number of St. Lucians to Anguilla. According to him, his island is experiencing some employment difficulties and working in Anguilla would be of much assistance in relieving the situation. He was grateful to the Government here for employing the current batch of St. Lucians already in Anguilla and the undertaking to employ others.
“I am very grateful to Anguillians for receiving my St. Lucian nationals, for accommodating them and I am really very pleased to hear that they have fitted in exceedingly well here in Anguilla,” Dr. Anthony commented. “It is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond of friendship and to develop cooperation among the member states of the OECS community.”
Asked what message he had for his country folk in Anguilla, Dr. Anthony said: “I am very proud of them, proud that they have settled so well and giving of their best. All the reports I have had are complimentary. I have heard that they are excellent workers and they are working in the finest St. Lucian traditions.
“Equally, I want to emphasise to them how important it is to respect the country and the people of Anguilla; continue to build bridges of friendship with them. The experience that they are acquiring here is an experience that will stand them in good stead. They are such outstanding examples that the Chief Minister and I are discussing the possibility for additional St. Lucian workers to be recruited to come to Anguilla. This would not have happened if they did not give a solid account of themselves that they were good citizens. I want them to keep it up and maintain the integrity of St. Lucia and, more importantly, to reach out in friendship to the people of Anguilla for facilitating them at this time.”
Questioned about the matter, Chief Minister Fleming, who has responsibility for Immigration and Labour, said the Anguilla Government was facing a serious problem involving a shortage of workers in the hospitality and construction businesses.
“I spoke to Dr. Anthony about the possibility of bringing workers in those disciplines from St. Lucia to Anguilla. I told him that fortunate for him and his people, we have recently seen a number of work permit applications for masons, carpenters and other workers out of St. Lucia. The permits are coming through and we need help. I think before we go anywhere outside the region we should look around us and get some help and if St. Lucia has the workers we need, then we will have them.
“It is not St. Lucia alone but all the islands in the OECS. Right now we have a lot of people from St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Kitts-Nevis and now we have a new stream of people coming from Antigua. The only OECS member from which we do not have any workers is Tortola. Other than that, we have workers from all the islands from Grenada down.”
Meanwhile, Labour Commissioner, Evalie Bradley, has already been in contact with her St. Lucian counterpart about the recruitment of workers for both the hospitality sector and the construction industry.