Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Some Of The Donated Gym Equipment

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 15, 2012 (SKNIS)

The Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium has been outfitted with gym equipment and a new ice tub thanks to a donation from Athletics Canada – the sport governing body for track and field in Canada.

A handing over ceremony was held at the stadium on Saturday (January 14) where the Minister of Sports Honourable Glenn Phillip was joined by Carla Nicholls and Carolyn Taylor of Athletics Canada to cut the ribbon to open the new facilities.

The visiting officials are here as part of an athletic delegation that journey to St. Kitts and Nevis every year to train at the track and field stadium. The annual visits, which first began in 2008, are organised by expatriate Desai Williams, who now is officially employed by Athletics Canada.

The Head Coach of Athletics Canada, Alex Gardiner, explained that St. Kitts and Nevis is a very special place for the organization.

“We know that the conditions here are world class,” he emphasized. “… We have an opportunity to train at unrestricted times, with a superior hotel (to stay at) and superior nutrition (food). These are elements that are absolutely fundamental and essential to world class performance.”

Mr. Gardiner cited the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games and added that “this is the year when we (Athletics Canada) … try to hit the podium and with your help the road is going to be that much easier.”

Minister Phillip saluted Desai Williams for his efforts in bringing the twin-island Federation and Canada closer in track and field. He noted that local athletes stand to benefit greatly from this donation, as they can “train the right way” at the Silver Jubilee Stadium, under the watchful eyes of coaches and officials of the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) rather than at a local gym.

The Minister of Sport disclosed that the trust and confidence that Athletics Canada demonstrates in local authorities is testament to the hard work and vision of the Government and partner agencies such as the SKNAAA and local Olympic Committee, to ensure that sports development and sports tourism have a greater contributing impact on national development.

SKNAAA President Glen Jeffers also expressed gratitude to Athletics Canada for the donation which will help with the training and rehab of athletes. He added that the new equipment represents a significant step forward in moving the stadium to a “high performance center.”

Related posts:

1. Canadian Athletes Train At St. Kitts – Nevis’ New Stadium
2. Visit Of Sports Experts To St. Kitts – Nevis Was Educational
3. St. Kitts Athletic Stadium Construction On Schedule
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Athletes Leave For Hampton Games
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Welcomes The Best In Track & Field

Medical Supplies Arrive At Alexandra Hospital

Charlestown, Nevis
January 14, 2012

The Development Projects Foundation Incorporated on Nevis has done it again. This time the humanitarian organisation’s Director Mrs Myrthlyn Parry, handed over another 40foot container to Deputy Premier and Minister of Health on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel, on January 12, 2012 at the Alexandra Hospital. The container was parked to capacity with medical supplies and equipment for use in every area of the island’s main health facility.

The donation came on the heels of another container load of medical supplies donated by another charitable organisation based in the USA. Director of the Development Projects Foundation Incorporated on Nevis Mrs. Myrthlyn Parry said the project would not have been possible in the absence of immense assistance from donors both locally and internationally.

“The container was donated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, a charitable organisation in Springfield, Illinois, UAS. The Development Projects Foundation Inc. was introduced to this organisation by Mrs. Shereen Abdel-Meguid of the Mount Nevis Hotel and we were recommended to the organisation by Dr. Guilbert Daniel of Accent on Health in Washington, DC and Mr. Edmund Sadio of Century 21, Achievers Reality in Brooklyn, new York.

“The contents of the container are valued at US$112,369.57. Shipping and handling charges for this container amounted to EC$34, 735.56. The Development Projects Foundation Inc. embarked on a fund raising drive and invited individuals and businesses on Nevis to partner with us in this humanitarian effort because we are well aware that the Alexandra Hospital offers its services to everyone on the island of Nevis,” she explained.

Mrs. Parry referred to the response of her organisation’s fund raising drive as heart-warming and generous and pointed out that contributions also came from Nevisians who did not own businesses but donated to the cause generously. Some of those persons she said opted to remain anonymous but nonetheless she expressed gratitude to them along with all those who made the project a reality.

The other 40ft container with medical supplies and equipment which the Foundation handed over to the Ministry of Health in October 2011, for the Alexandra Hospital was donated by Global links, also a charitable organisation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The contents of that container were valued at US$75,212.68. The shipping and handling charges were paid for by Dr. Wayne Bossola and other friends of the people of Nevis.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Hospital Receives Donations From Global Faith Alliance
2. Nevis Hospital Receives Vital Sign Monitors
3. Alexandra Hospital Receives Timely Donation
4. Nevisians Called On To Assist With Development Projects
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Approves Medical University – Hospital

Monkeys To Be Used As Guinea Pigs

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 13, 2012 (CUOPM)

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis said while it is concerned about the threat by monkeys to farming and animal rights, the green monkey population is a unique resource to biomedical research and drug development.

“Preserving the resource, making it more available to the international research community through sustainable management and in compliance with international regulations such as CITES, and supporting the existing primate research facilities on the island are priorities for the government of St. Kitts and Nevis while remaining sensitive to the impact of monkeys as pests to crop farmers and to concerns about animal rights,” said Minister of Information, Sen., the Hon. Nigel Carty in the Post Cabinet Brief.

He disclosed that a recent survey of the monkey population estimates that there are about 18,000 monkeys in St. Kitts although it is popularly believed that the population is much larger.

“The monkeys, while presenting a threat to the development of crop farming, are used for biomedical research at two facilities on the island,” said Minister Carty, who disclosed that a recent survey of the monkey population estimates that there are about 18,000 monkeys in St. Kitts although it is popularly believed that the population is much larger. The monkeys, while presenting a threat to the development of crop farming, are used for biomedical research at two facilities on the island,” said Minister Carty.

Noting that these establishments have experienced some challenge with respect to the use of the monkeys for research and the shipment of live monkeys overseas for the same purpose, he said an animal welfare group has been active in the international media in denouncing the trade of monkeys from St. Kitts and their use in biomedical research.

“The primate research facilities on St. Kitts are important to us for a number of reasons. At one facility, there are about 42 full-time employees earning above-average incomes and supporting their families of a total of about 207 persons. Various employees at the foundation have over the years received scholarship for higher education in the United States. Other benefits such as health insurance have been extended to the employees and their families,” said the information minister.

He said Minister of Agriculture, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris,  in presenting on the subject matter to the Cabinet at its first meeting for the year on Monday, intimated that it must be acknowledged that there will always be a vocal animal rights movement that will object to any application of primates for biomedical research to promote human health, but that the advance of modern medicine has been built on the prudent, humane use of this important biological resource with which St. Kitts and Nevis is richly blessed.

Related posts:

1. Survey To Be Done About St. Kitts’ Monkey Population
2. St. Kitts – Nevis To Institute Drug Testing In Schools
3. Vervet Monkey – A Threat To Nevis Agriculture
4. St. Kitts Medical School To Expand Research Facility
5. Collaboration Among Education and Research Institutes Desired