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A TIME FOR MODERATION AND MODERNISATION

Keynote Address to the 51st Annual General

Meeting of the Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation

Delivered by

Dr. The Hon. Kenny D. Anthony

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs,

Planning & Social Security

Thursday 20th September, 2012

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INTRODUCTION

[Protocol Acknowledgements]

Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen,

I’m pleased to be here today to share with you some

thoughts on the future of the labour force and the

economy of our country. Employers throughout Saint

Lucia, as a matter of course, must take keen interest in

the economic space which they operate and occupy. And

so, your organisation has chosen to honour me by

speaking to this matter, and the possibilities that exist in

our common future.

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Still though, some of you may well think your organisation

has taken quite a risk inviting me to address you today. Of

course, there is always the courtesy extended to a newly

appointed Prime Minister. Still, this may not negate the

fact that some may well feel that since I lead a party that

prides itself on its working class roots, this may well be an

infinitely tortuous lecturing on the rights of workers. I

promise you there will be none of that today but I must

confess I will be lengthy.

As someone said recently, I delivered a rambling speech

somewhere out of Saint Lucia, and this too may well be

described as another rambling speech.

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I think it well known that brevity is not always my

strongest point.

So you have not chosen the shortest path to lunch.

Perhaps the hope is that I may have to curtail my address

to run off to deal with the myriad of issues which will

emerge when the VAT Bill comes into effect on October 1,

2012. You may well have timed this AGM just at the right

time.

But whichever the logic, I’m glad to be here among you

and as for the rest, let time tell!

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RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY SLEF PRESIDENT

Mr. President, your remarks have afforded me to clarify

two issues and I welcome the opportunity to do so.

First, I must tell you that I am exceedingly pleased, and

so am I by the comments of the minister [for Education,

Human Resource Development & Labour], about the need

for tripartite discussions in our country. Perhaps I should

tell you that in one of my earlier encounters with the

Trade Union Federation, they too asked for a tripartite

body to be established, to begin to reflect on the options

that face us in these perilous times. I believe I did

mention that to the Chamber of Commerce so it appears

that all parties have common ground, and we can now

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proceed to examine the possibilities. And so I wanted to

tell you I really welcomed your remarks.

The second matter I wanted to touch on is the EPA

agreement. Many of you would know that Saint Lucia did

sign the EPA Agreement some four years ago. Believe or

not, we were the only country in the Commonwealth

Caribbean that had not ratified the agreement. Therefore,

up until three weeks ago, Saint Lucia could not access the

so called benefits under the EPA, because the EPA was not

in force in relation to Saint Lucia. I have had to rectify this

situation and Saint Lucia has since ratified the agreement

and now we are in the process of setting up an EPA Office

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to implement the agreement. So in fact, we are starting

from scratch where that is concerned.

FINDING PEACE AND HARMONY

Among you, I am sure there are many who are

experiencing the crunch of the economic crisis. Some tell

me that bank overdrafts are nearing limits; others will

quickly retort “already gone past the limits.” While some

of you are counting your dollars, others may ask which

dollars? All of you I am sure, are wondering how we can

turn this economy away from low or no growth

trajectories onto a sustained 7% to 8% year-on-year

growth required to double our economy in a decade.

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Even so, ladies and gentlemen, we must never lose sight

that the raison d’etre for all our efforts at growing and

maintaining a stable economy: that is to ensure that

wealth and prosperity can be enjoyed as equitably as

possible, so that the society can find peace and harmony.

This has never been an easy feat. How to achieve this is

still the crux of human pursuit, the cause of revolutions,

the toppling of governments, the establishment of

international organisations and so on.

Over the past two centuries, the world has generally

found a path towards faster growth. Now, in this cycle of

civilisation, crises abound; and whether these crises are

real ones or perceived, they are enough to cause panic,

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consternation, fright and flight in the capitals and cafés of

the world. It is clear that the economic models of the past

can no longer serve the needs and aspirations of our

generation.

ARISE GIANTS OF THE SOUTH

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, as a small island, our

horizons are invariably set towards the rest. We live in a

world that continues to experience great change. And so,

whereas we would have traditionally set our gaze to the

skyscrapers of the north, within a flash the global skyline

has changed. India, China and Brazil, which were sleeping

giants just three decades ago, have arisen and are roaring

proudly in the face of the old dominions of the West.

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Despite its depressed history of colonialism, conflict,

ethnic warfare and rivalry, Africa too is rising out, rapidly.

Many of the world’s fastest growing economies now found

there. Oil production around Africa is expanding, as well

as the continued expansion of non-energy mineral

outputs.

However, as concerns over global food prices continue to

loom, the run on land in Africa is also an ongoing and

commonplace practice. This is no longer associated solely

with the northern colonial rulers of the nineteenth and

twentieth centuries, but now countries and companies as

far as India and Korea are in search of land grabs for

agricultural production.

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A CONVERGENCE OF CRISES

Ironically, much of the worldwide increase in food prices is

associated with the rise in energy prices. Modern

agriculture is strongly dependent on fossil fuels,

particularly for fertilisers and in transport. This food price

rise has been further exacerbated by the United States,

the producer of 40% of the world’s corn, now using two

fifths of its corn production for ethanol, as a response to

their own energy concerns. The ripple effects are felt on

supermarket shelves in Gros Islet, Castries, Cul de Sac,

Vieux Fort, indeed, the world over. And so, the growth in

commodities such as food, fuel and raw minerals

continues to grow as consumption continues to increase

worldwide, particularly in Asia.

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While the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) allays

fears that export production is fine and that the world is

not facing another imminent food crisis, it is clear that

continued expansions in the diets of our fellow men across

the world will not be abated.

The demand for energy is still high and though we have

been granted some reprieve from the 2008 peak year of

nearly one greenback for every litre of crude oil, world oil

prices will continue their upward trend despite new

producers like Mozambique, Mauritania and closer to

home, possibly Suriname and Guyana.

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And so, before we can get too hopeful over projected

growth of 3.8% in the world economy, we see that much

of the growth that the world is experiencing at this time is

in the commodity-driven, export oriented nations; and that

there is no immediate strong wind in the sails of small

states with few natural resources, heavily dependent on

tourism and services. This convergence of crises of fuel

and food, together with the financial concerns driven by

high debt levels, poses extreme challenges for small states

like ours. We are indeed in difficult and turbulent times.

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ALL OUR BUSINESS

Some of you may be wondering by now, why the need to

discuss this and that, and whether we are still here to talk

about the business of employers in Saint Lucia. Ladies and

gentlemen, the truth is, this is all our business and it

should concern all our future efforts.

The truth is, we have lingered and lazed about far too

long on some major reforms to the way we do things in

this country, and throughout the Caribbean region for that

matter. As we witnessed quite recently, the rest of the

world will not wait for us, at their expense.

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There is little comfort, for instance in bragging that we’re

the best place to do business in the Caribbean, when the

entire Caribbean has slid down the ranking ladder,

suggesting that other countries are doing far better than

we are.

Government has by no means been given a clean sheet to

craft a response on. We are now faced with tackling the

severe issues of employment. We have inherited a

debilitating fiscal deficit. We face mounting debt, made

more challenging by the failure of the economy to register

any significant growth in the last five years. The appetite

for foreign direct investment has waned, not only because

of global contraction but because of self-inflicted wounds.

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In the midst of all this, we have to summon the will and

courage to undertake unprecedented reforms if we are to

recover and survive.

PUTTING ASIDE PASSIONS OF THE PAST

One of the reforms that we should have tackled earlier is

that of labour and the workplace.

It is my humble opinion that we did ourselves a disservice

for not moving forward expeditiously with the Labour

Code, or as some may prefer Labour Act. Whichever the

nomenclature you select for the time being, it should not

have taken five years to make a few minor amendments,

some of which were palpably misguided. And certainly, it

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speaks to a veiled contempt for the betterment of our

country’s affairs.

Either way, this Government has brought the Labour Code

into force because we believe the country needs to move

forward. We need to begin implementing the provisions of

the Code in the interest of all Saint Lucians, because

everyone, be she employer or employee, needs a safe and

healthy work environment. Everyone needs fair treatment

at the workplace. Everyone needs a fair income.

We all need to modernise the way we do things, and the

Labour Code was precisely about this. As we move toward

implementation, I think we can all agree that it is time to

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put aside the passions and disagreements of the past. It is

time to for all of us to work together in the interest of the

common good. This is my hope; this is my agenda.

RESTRUCTURING AND RECALIBRATING

Please don’t think that Government as an employer is not

very aware of the challenges that you face. We do face

many of the same challenges. However, Government,

both past and present, has steered clear of austerity and

retrenchment in an effort not to worsen our already

obscenely high unemployment rate. We know that many

of you have done the same and are holding on as much as

you can, perhaps only in the national interest. And for this

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I must express my personal gratitude and that of the

state.

However, the challenge is the maintaining of employment

levels while not promoting greater strain on our wage bill.

The projected cost to Government’s wages, salaries,

National Insurance Corporation and retiring benefits in

2012/2013 is in excess of 47.2%% of recurrent

expenditure or nearly $441.6 million.

This is not to say that Government necessarily has the

right quantity of critical positions, or the best people in the

right positions. It also does not mean that we are always

getting value-for-money from all employees. Restructuring

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and recalibrating performance measurements and

strategic management is now an absolute necessity.

MODERATION IF WE ARE TO MANAGE

Of course, this situation has obvious consequences to

Government’s ability to respond and act to ongoing

demands for increases in wages and salaries. This is the

season for understanding, sacrifice and moderation in

both the public and the private sectors. It will also mean

that we need to look carefully at how we can restructure

to cause for a client-centred, dynamic and output driven

Public Service that promotes best practice in the utilisation

of state’s human resources.

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Public Sector Modernisation is exceedingly important to

this Government because we know that the country

deserves the best value for its tax dollar. In some of your

businesses, you are doing just that: running modern

businesses that are current in the tools and techniques

applied to delivering goods and services to the client.

While this has not always been the mantra of

Governments, it is clear that public and private sector

need to be on the same page.

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY

Saint Lucia needs to be part of this new and exciting

world. For instance, we cannot consider ourselves to be

the mere passive consumers of technological advances.

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Internet use at the office must be more than a search for

entertainment, sports news, or envy-driven espionage à la

Facebook. Our people must be able to leverage

technology to the benefit of greater productivity and

creative development.

And even with so much technology, even when you may

think that the whole island is abuzz on their blackberries

and performing mobile banking, the reality is that there is

indeed another Saint Lucia. It is one in which many people

in our society are technophobic – like I was at one time –

or simply have no access because of cost. They are timid

and do not yet understand that these new devices have

already changed their lives indirectly, and can in fact help

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to change their life in absolutely positive and direct ways.

And so, perhaps one of the roles of this twenty first

century Employers’ Federation would be to begin

highlighting technology in the workplace.

Perhaps it is time to conduct annual technology surveys to

find out where our businesses are at in terms of

technology skills, use and availability. For what its worth,

thanks to the Census, we knew in 2010 that over 40% of

Saint Lucian households have computers and that about a

quarter have internet access. As to how many businesses

are actively using ICTs in sales, production and

management, how many businesses have websites and

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engage in E-Commerce, how many have trained personnel

on staff to handle tech issues, is still quite hazy.

It would be a good time to assess our readiness for this

new world. I know these can sometimes be very touchy

issues for some businesses, but at the end of it all, you

should collectively be in a position to help each other.

CAJOLING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MODERNISE

In some ways, and as ironic as it may be, the Government

through its introduction of the Value Added Tax is cajoling

the productive sectors to modernise parts of their

operations. As you already appreciate, the nature of VAT

means that it has to be managed and accounted for

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carefully and without software, which is already

commonplace worldwide, it is an arduous task. With

software tools, however, it is made immensely simple.

Additionally, there are many businesses which need to

ensure that they’ve got staff who are tech-savvy and who

can manage point-of-sale and accounting software. The

VAT Office estimates that there are well above 2,500

businesses that should become VAT-registered. As we go

through the next six months, a number of companies will

have better and more accessible accounts and so too will

the VAT Office.

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Further, as you know, there will be a capital allowance to

allow for such upgrades.

WE CANNOT INSULATE OURSELVES FROM THE REST

This modernisation that we speak of, ladies and

gentlemen, should not be feared. Businesses around the

world make such investments, and for the better. In fact,

being current, modern and even avant garde is where we

should always seek to be.

That’s the nation that I know. That is the country that I

know. That is the proud legacy that a Sir Arthur Lewis and

a Derek Walcott have bequeathed to us. I have said

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before and I will repeat again, this is a country that does

not know and must not accept mediocrity.

Of course technology causes jobs to be lost. But

technology also creates jobs as well. And even in the face

of the old concepts – that it makes people lazy – it also

can make people a lot more productive as well. We cannot

insulate ourselves from the rest of the world. Both

employer and employee have to know the opportunities

that technological change brings and embrace them to

remain competitive.

I do accept that Government has the responsibility to lead

the change in this regard and to facilitate the promotion of

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a modern society as much as we can. However, in like

manner, I trust that the Employers’ Federation can be

persuaded, in concert with the Government, to champion

the need for a modern Saint Lucian workforce.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, this is all in our

common interest.

THE RESKILLING OF THOUSANDS

This modernity would of course take the re-skilling of

thousands of persons already existing in our workforce.

Some fundamental actions are required to bring more

citizens forward. For instance, we should seriously

considering a partnership that will involve using agencies

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such as the National Skills Development Centre and the Sir

Arthur Lewis Community College to re-skill existing

workers on a cyclical basis to ensure basic computer

literacy as well as teaching the use of specialised

computer-based software. I am anxious to develop a joint

programme, phased over time, to begin the process of re-

orientation, re-skilling and re-tooling our workforce.

I accept, without hesitation, that this is no simple task in a

country that has a workforce of about 90,000 persons and

with a population where 65% have no form of

qualification whatsoever.

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So, even with universal secondary education and proposed

improvements to our education systems, it means that the

greater challenge is in training people on the job, getting

people into the groove of life-long learning, and exposing

the wider population to knowledge and new skills.

I am aware of the limitations of small business to invest in

training and human resource development, but we must

find ways to ensure that this happens. I know that many

of you are already utilising the net to enable webinars and

online courses for your staff and this must be

mainstreamed to become an ordinary, daily practice.

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It is in the interest of the Employers’ Federation to have a

strategy for increased training and development of

employees. Further to this, you may also want to consider

the value in having your own web-based jobs hiring

agency to support your members. You may find that you

may want to complement this with training and

scholarship offerings in areas where the market is small.

Seemingly small steps such as these could go a long way

in improving the efficiency of the labour market, even

while we wait for the apparently more grandiose steps of

labour market information systems.

COOPERATION ON LABOUR ISSUES IN THE OECS

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Another major activity over the next few months which

may have an impact on business is the OECS Single

Market and Economy.

As you know, cooperation on labour issues in the OECS

has been ongoing for some time now. Since 1999, there

has been an OECS Decent Work Agenda in conjunction

with the International Labour Organisation, which is

meant to focus on four main priorities.

These include the following:

1. The revising and updating of national labour

legislation, which of course was one of the bases for

the new Labour Code here in Saint Lucia;

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2. The strengthening of labour market information

systems, a tool which is still required if we are to

realise increased movement and targeted

interventions in the labour market;

3. The promoting of inclusive workplace policies,

particularly the need to embrace persons with

disabilities – and I believe a seminar was held on just

such a theme quite recently; and finally

4. The strengthening of social dialogue between and

among partners and the society.

This of course clearly complements the free movement of

people across the Eastern Caribbean. As you know, Saint

Lucians can now move freely into any independent OECS

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member state and stay indefinitely, become employed and

set up businesses if they choose.

I noted, through you Mr. President, that your Federation

expressed the wish to find out more about the issue of

work permit requirements for OECS nationals here in Saint

Lucia. This situation is still live because we in Saint Lucia

have been the ones with some degree of apprehension

and anxiety.

This has largely stemmed from members of the business

community expressing concern over the practice of

“economic citizenship” or citizenship-by-investment

programmes being utilised by two member states with the

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possibility that two others may go that route – Antigua

and Grenada. The fear expressed in some quarters is that

these “economic citizens” can be backed, with capital

supplied by the Governments of their original countries, to

set up and operate businesses in Saint Lucia.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, the issue is far from

easy. It is sensitive and complex. It is fraught with

problems. This is so because it touches on a very sensitive

matter – the rights of states to grant citizenship and to

expect reciprocity in the treatment of the exercise of that

right. Perhaps I should translate what I’m trying to say.

When the Government of Saint Lucia grants citizenship to

an individual in Saint Lucia, the Government of Saint Lucia

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expects the Government of Saint Vincent [and the

Grenadines], the Government of Dominica, the

Government of Grenada, wherever they might be, to grant

that individual that they have conferred citizenship the

same rights like their citizens and we expect them to treat

those individuals fairly.

Those who champion the economic citizenship

programmes, on the other hand, say that when they

exercise their right to give citizenship to individuals in their

countries or from other countries, they expect reciprocity,

that we in turn will grant full respect to the persons on

whom they have confirmed citizenship. However, I am

pleased to advise that the OECS Heads have, at the urging

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of Saint Lucia, agreed to undertake a study of this

emerging phenomenon. And once the report of that study

is in, we would be in a better position to make decisions

on the future of this matter.

In the interim, we cannot repudiate a commitment to the

thousands of other citizens of the Eastern Caribbean

whose Governments already allow Saint Lucian citizens

the rights of free movement. As well we also recognise the

desire of Saint Lucian businesses who also want to benefit

from a larger economic space, including a larger talent

pool.

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But may I say this. In expanding across the region, I want

to indicate to companies that they need to do so with the

full support and cooperation of the Government. I do not

mean that you should come to the Government and ask

the Government for permission. I do not mean that at all.

What I do mean is that we have a shared interest. We are

happy when we see you expanding beyond our own

borders into the OECS, and we are available to give you

both technical and political support as you move in that

direction. I am one of those exceedingly proud prime

ministers when I consider the advances that have been

made by our companies in other OECS states. I do not

only refer to a Super J, but I also to a Bank of Saint Lucia

that has now purchased majority shares in the NCB bank

of Saint Vincent. Finally, what we spoke about many years

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ago is beginning to unfold and I want to do so arm-in-arm

with you.

In terms of setting up a business or subsidiary in another

territory, Article 27 of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre is

quite straight forward on the rights of establishment of

businesses, and for employment. The OECS will soon

establish the Economic Affairs Council which shall oversee

implementation matters relevant to these aspects of treaty

implementation.

DIALOGUE ON THE OECS SINGLE ECONOMY

Furthermore, during the 54th Meeting of the OECS

Authority which I chaired in Saint Lucia in January of this

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year, there was a commitment by heads to ensure the

engagement of the private sector as part of the rollout of

the Single Economy. In the words of the communique:

“Heads endorsed the establishment of a regional

consultative process in the OECS involving the public

and private sector to articulate and drive an agenda

focused on recovery, growth and development for the

region over the next two to five years.

Heads [also] directed that this process should entail

consideration of detailed proposals and approaches

for a Consultative Forum for public/private sector

engagement and collaboration to help consolidate

gains from the OECS Economic Union.”

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In effect, in the next few weeks, you will see some form

of engagement between Governments and the private

sector in the OECS, as we begin to build this new forum.

There is undoubtedly a need for Saint Lucian citizens and

businesses to branch out and strengthen economic activity

across the Eastern Caribbean. Already, some businesses,

as I have indicated, have begun to make partnerships and

acquisitions. In time, I expect more companies and

contractors will also seek opportunities throughout the

single economy. How to facilitate this better is worthy of

more dialogue and I hope to see the commitment of the

Heads to achieve exactly this possibility soon.

Furthermore, I am advised that once the working group

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on free circulation becomes active, the Employers’

Federation will be invited to be a part of Saint Lucia’s

delegation.

EMBRACING THE SELF-EMPLOYED

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I’m also keen to

know that this Employers’ Federation can embrace more

fully the self-employed and also the micro-employers who

individually may have just handfuls of employees. I want

to urge you, to encourage you to begin to find ways to

embrace this sector.

A broad and inclusive Employers’ Federation membership

base could be an important change agent in helping

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micro-employers and entrepreneurs be aware of their

responsibilities.

LACK OF RESPECT FOR CONTRACTS

For instance, a matter which concerns me is the

widespread lack of respect for contracts. Can the

Federation be part of the answer to inculcate a greater

respect for the sacred nature of contractual obligations? At

the heart of a transaction of purchase goods and services

lies a contract. So too, at the heart of every employment

relationship is the contract. Too often have I experienced

individuals freely entering into contracts, only to repudiate

their obligations because they have failed to adequately

cost their services. So, in the face of remarkable

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recalcitrance and nonchalant attitudes towards following

of contracts, institutions in society must promote the rule

of law as they can and when they can.

CONFIDENCE WILL NOT BE HAD BY COWERING

And so, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, your

organisation undoubtedly has a critical role to play not

only in our economy but also in our society.

We have now passed the halfway mark in the financial

year. We have taken a major step in tax reform with the

introduction of the VAT in a few weeks time. Government

continues to be concerned about its fiscal position, and

furthermore also has to exercise responsibility as a major

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economy within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, in

the interest of monetary stability.

Again I want to pause. I do not know how many of you

are in a position to grasp the awesome responsibility that

falls to Saint Lucia at this time. I want you briefly to

review with me the scenario in the region.

In St. Kitts and Nevis, the Government has had to

undertake a major debt restructuring, and our financial

institutions in Saint Lucia have had to take a haircut on

investment instruments made in that country. Antigua has

been compelled to enter into an agreement with the

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International Monetary Fund so as to engage in a major

restructuring of its economy.

In Grenada, the situation is equally dire. I think some of

you must have heard the debate recently, when the

Government of St. Vincent has had to make certain

tranches of its reserves at the Eastern Caribbean Central

Bank available to the Government of Grenada to meet

salaries of public officers in Grenada. That initiative by the

St. Vincent Government was met with the rebuttal in St.

Vincent that the money should have gone to meet

increased salaries of public officers in St. Vincent.

Dominica has had to go through a major restructuring.

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The reality is that the two countries that are largely

responsible for the foreign exchange reserves of our

Central Bank are Saint Lucia and Antigua. Saint Lucia

therefore remains critical to the continued viability of the

OECS region. Whatever decisions that we make here, we

not only make it for ourselves, but the truth is we make it

for the entire region. It is a burden and a responsibility

that our Government, as indeed you have, because of the

stability of the system going forward depends heavily on

the decisions that we make.

I do not have to tell you that in recent weeks the Central

Bank, as well as the OECS Governments, has had to

intervene to save two financial institutions. Happily, it

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appears that solutions are on the horizon; but the fragility

of the situation cannot, therefore, be ignored. So, when I

plead, when I cajole, when I explain, I hope that you too

can understand that always, there are larger issues that

both of us need to understand.

Investor confidence will not be had by cowering people

and politicians. It can only be had if we are confident in

our own abilities as a people and as a country.

Yet, we cannot and will not believe that we can do this

alone. The Government has its role and so does the

private sector. As we begin the time for review looking

towards the next financial year and beyond, Government

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is seeking greater synergy in its initiatives that are

targeted at growth and development.

JOBS-INTENSIVE STIMULUS

As you know, Government has taken upon itself the

responsibility of providing some jobs-intensive, economic

stimuli, primarily through job placements in the public

sector and through targeted small construction projects,

where there exist infrastructural deficits. The National

Initiative for Creating Employment has reached its 1,200

job mark, and we want to see 2,000 jobs created before

year end. As NICE continues to roll-out over the remainder

of this financial year and up to FY 2014/15, there exists a

wonderful opportunity for the Employers’ Federation to be

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engaged to develop a package of training and job

placements within the private sector, assisted by

Government. This would of course involve Government

supporting the cost of salaries for new employees in

agreed types of commercial activities. I trust that the

Federation will grab at this opportunity to expand

strategically, even in the face of tight fiscal constraints.

As we move forward into the medium term, it is likely that

Government will create an employment agency, with the

shared responsibility of assisting with internship

placements, modern apprenticeship, and cooperative

programmes. The ILO has identified youth unemployment

as one of the greatest challenges to governments

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worldwide, and we know our precarious situation here in

Saint Lucia.

The alignment of the labour and education portfolios was

a deliberate step because the type of employment and

education are highly correlated in knowledge driven

economies. We need to begin capitalising on opportunities

that exist now with the introduction of the Caribbean

Vocational Qualifications or CVQs. The Ministry of

Education is now invariably charged with the responsibility

of ensuring that the output markets to which students

graduate into – that is the world of work, that is you and

the businesses you run – have a say in the education of

the nation. I think the time is ripe for a serious rethink of

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our curriculum, our modes of teaching, and opportunities

for learning for our young people. Again, as you embrace

more membership from micro-employers and the self-

employed, your organisation, I am sure, will also embrace

a more youthful base.

CONCLUSION: PEACE AND HARMONY

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I fear the patience of

you all must by now have run its course. Though I warned

you, I must apologise for holding you captive for so long!

I thank you for this opportunity, one which I hope will not

be one-off, but rather, the genesis of a renewed dialogue

between the state and the employers of our state. This

will certainly involve your input on major issues, not just

of 53

on employment but on many sectors including education,

healthcare, investment and foreign policy, tourism,

agriculture and planning. Now may be a time for

moderation, yes, but also a time for modernisation as we

look to the future.

I hope that you would champion the many issues that we

have discussed, to see how we might craft that more

perfect system for achieving peace and harmony – peace

and harmony between employer and employee, peace and

harmony between producer and consumer, peace and

harmony between Government and its people, peace and

harmony for all. I wish you all the best in the rest of your

deliberations. I thank you.

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