Douglas is of the opinion that the French people have brought into being a new government – a Socialist Government (led by Francois Hollande) “where we believe that the leaders of this new government would be much more sensitive to the plight of workers and citizens generally in France.”

He said the change in government in France and several other countries comes in the middle of a long standing economic debate that has engulfed countries in the Caribbean and the rest of the world for the last four years.

He said the question people have asked is, “Should a government during this very difficult period of adjustment as a result of the global economic and financial crisis, simply reduce budget spending or should they find other means to stimulate growth and economic development that will generate jobs for people all over the world?.”  

Dr. Douglas, who is also Minister of Finance, said St. Kitts and Nevis “believes that there is the best of a balance between these two, where we have been very conscious as a government, as a people, to be cognizant of the challenges that we face in balancing the budget, reducing spending, increasing revenue collection as much as possible, but at the same time, providing stimulation for economic activity for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis so that less workers would be losing their jobs.”

He said workers around the world have been badly affected by the global economic and financial crisis over the last five years.

He then pointed out that the global financial and economic crisis that started in 2008 and which is still continuing has resulted in the closure and downsizing of businesses and layoffs and a dramatic increase in the unemployment rate all over the world.

Speaking on the occasion of Labour Day in St. Kitts and Nevis on Monday 7^th May, 2012, Dr. Douglas said, in celebrating another Labour Day and reflecting on the plight of workers and the situation of citizens around the world, and in St. Kitts and Nevis in particular, his government recognizes that the foundation that has been laid for us by those who have laboured in the past in the Labour Movement, whether to ensure that the rights of workers, the dignity with which they provide their services, that those will be maintained.”