Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5391/-1/140/
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HARRIGAN: "ANGUILLA'S INVESTMENT CLIMATE NEVER BEEN BETTER" ECCB Climaxes Financial Literacy Month
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“The investment climate in Anguilla has never been better for entrepreneurs,” says Carl Harrigan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Member of the Board of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
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Banking and Financial personnel in Anguilla
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Mr. Harrigan made the bold, but true, statement as he officially declared open a Financial Fair on the grounds of the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium on Friday, November 2, which climaxed the ECCB’s Financial Month of activities held in October.
He told the gathering that in Anguilla there was consumer demand for just about everything. “There is liquidity in the banking sector, and at the Development Board, for any worthwhile project,” he went on. “There is work available for all who wishes to work and a number of training opportunities offered to the public this year were not taken up.
The latest tourism statistics continue to show increasing arrivals and with this comes greater opportunities for trade, commerce and investment in tourism related facilities…Available statistics show that the Anguilla economy is on track to having a fourth year of double digit growth in 2007.”
Mr. Harrigan noted that the Anguilla Government’s revenue target of approximately $175 million for 2007 would be achieved before the end of November. “Recurrent and Capital expenditure are projected to exceed the 2007 Budget but there will still be a positive recurrent surplus for the year if the trend continues for the remainder of the year,” he added.
He hoped that Financial Literacy Month was successful and that many persons in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union were better informed and had learned some new techniques in managing their financial resources.
During the fair, which was rained out the previous Friday, the four commercial banks and other financial institutions displayed various promotional material and answered questions.
The ECCB’s Resident Representative, Marilyn Bartlett-Richardson, said that Financial Literacy Month was now in its sixth year. She stated that the aim was to continue presenting themes that would stimulate public interest, generate debate on economic and financial issues through radio discussions, youth forums and ultimately promote awareness and understanding of complex financial issues.
She reminded her listeners that this year’s focus was on instilling in the public a culture of saving, hence the theme “Save for Your Future.”
The ECCB Representative acknowledged the presence of – the Caribbean Commercial Bank, the National Bank of Anguilla, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Scotiabank, the Anguilla Development Bank, Social Security, the Companies Registry and D-3 Enterprises.