Nevis Can Learn From Guernsey, Says Premier

by Claire Sims, The Guernsey Press And Star

23 September 2003

This story is reproduced by kind permission of This Is Guernsey at http://www.thisisguernsey.com

A Caribbean island leader visited Guernsey to tell people what his jurisdiction has to offer.

Premier of Nevis the Right Honourable Vance Amory held a seminar about the opportunities in his home island, which he has led for the last 11 years.

He also went to Jersey to meet other islanders involved in the international financial services industry, promoting Nevis as an offshore financial services jurisdiction.

‘Apart from Nevis’ charm as a tropical island and its wonderful weather, it offers business opportunities for investment. It is an effective professional area with which to do business in financial services with a minimum of bureaucratic red tape,’ said Mr Amory.

He said that Nevis saw Guernsey as one of the leading jurisdictions.

‘As Guernsey is of a similar size, I think there are lessons we could learn. We are up and coming and looking to improve the structure. It’s good to learn from a jurisdiction which has been successful.’

Mr Amory, a 54-year-old former head teacher, was born in Nevis. He is also the finance minister, overseeing all financial activities including the Nevis Offshore Financial Services Sector. He is well-known in the Caribbean for his involvement in cricket. He has been president of the island’s cricket, football and athletic associations.

He said that the 36-square mile tropical island with its beaches, forests, mountains and a population of 12,000 was the ‘next best place to paradise’ and a safe place to go on holiday.

After tourism, financial services are the island’s biggest industry and one that has been growing mostly over the last 10 years.

‘We are looking to expand the business and have introduced new products and approaches to the whole industry.

‘One of the things we feel good about is to have more of our own people involved and to see the growth of the industry,’ said Mr Amory, whose party is the Concerned Citizens’ Movement.

He said that the government’s mission, to provide a better way of life for its people through the development of the economy, services and infrastructure, had been largely achieved. A former British colony, the island has been independent for 20 years.

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