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

Mark Tippett – North Star CEO and Founder

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 17, 2013 (CUOPM)

Representatives of North Star are currently on St. Kitts to move forward plans to implement a wind farm at Belle Vue.

“The next step is for the GOSKN and North Star to finalize a handful of open items that can be concluded in only a few days with the dedicated efforts of GOSKN and North Star representatives.  Our representatives are on island now and will remain until these negotiations are concluded. The project will then move to financial closing and then construction,” said Mark Tippett, Founder and CEO.

He disclosed that during the meeting with Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in New York, last week, the Prime Minister took the time to explain the importance of the wind project in his Government’s overall energy plans and initiatives, emphasizing that this wind project is only one part of a long-term plan to increase power generation and decrease the cost of electricity.

“North Star is in total agreement with the Prime Minister’s initiatives and agrees that the wind project is an important first step. The Belle Vue Wind Farm represents a small portion of the island’s overall energy needs, but it’s a critical demonstration of the Government’s long-term commitment to energy cost reductions both through lower-cost renewables and also through very important conservation initiatives. North Star is anxious to deliver on this project for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts,” said Mr. Tippett.

Cabinet proposed some refinement on pricing terms that were analyzed by North Star and, in a meeting with the Prime Minister on June 9th, 2013, North Star communicated that they are in agreement with Cabinet’s pricing proposal.

He pointed out that following very informative and productive Cabinet presentations in March and April of 2013, North Star received, what can only be described as a positive development in the Governments renewable energy initiatives.

Mr. Tippett said the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is of the view of significant benefits to be had from implementing the Belle Vue Wind Farm and encouraged North Star to finalize its negotiations with the Government.

Related posts:

Establishment Of Wind Farm At Belle Vue Under Review
St. Kitts – Nevis Wind Farm Project Is Progressing Nicely
Nevis Government To Officially Open Maddens Wind Farm

Ban Handguns Now

Charlestown, Nevis
June 17, 2013

Among other measures, Premier of Nevis and Minister responsible for Security Hon. Vance Amory in an address on June 14, 2013, said he had written to Prime Minister and Federal Minister of Security the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and requested him to enlist the support of the regional and international communities, to provide assistance in the fight against crime. He further stated that the nature of violent crimes on Nevis appeared to be replicated in St. Kitts and appeared to form part of a pattern, which could be wider than the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Premier Amory’s address came just three days after the latest shooting death on the island, that of Spring Hill resident Denrick Hanley, on Tuesday June 11, 2013. The Premier said this clearly called for a concerted effort on the part of every person in the Nevisian community to stem “this rampant, senseless killing of young men” and the negative impact it was having and could have on the population of Nevis and the Federation as a whole.

“I am expecting to have a positive response from the Prime Minister, as this problem which we are seeking to address here in Nevis is one which is also affecting the entire Federation and requires a total Federal response,” he said.

The Premier recalled that in the aftermath of the last shooting incident in May, the Cabinet of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) met with the Commissioner C. G. Walwyn and Superintendent Hilroy Brandy of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, to discuss and put in place a strategy to deal with the spike in criminal activity.

“It appears that this series of shootings is not random but is part of a pattern based on the manner in which they occur and clearly involves a number of persons, who may have a vendetta to carry out…The Police have put in place the road blocks and increased theirr presence in the communities, but it is clear that persons who are perpetrating these crimes have shown scant regard for the presence of the police and we now have to consider stepping up on those patrols and taking additional measures which could help in stemming, if not, totally eradicating this violent criminal activity from our community.

“I have also discussed seriously, the mounting of surveillance systems throughout the whole of Nevis at strategic points. I have discussed the possibility of this being funded by a friendly government agency and have received a favourable response to my request. This will be mounted as soon as we have some time to order the equipment and to design the locations of where these surveillance systems will be located,” Premier Amory said.

He noted that he was giving the full commitment of his government to doing all in its power to reduce crime to a minimum to preserve the peace, stability and security of the residents of Nevis.

Mr. Amory also called on home owners to protect their properties and spoke to the steps his Administration had taken to assist in that regard.

“Individual home owners can prevent crime against their person and their property by investing in simple, inexpensive surveillance equipment and my Administration has decided that concessions on duties and so on will be granted to all persons and business owners who wish to import such equipment to protect their property from invasion. This is an effort to provide some protection to our citizens and businesses but also to assist the police to investigate and to solve the crimes, if they do occur.

“Any citizen who wishes to have this concession for use of equipment in their possession could apply to the Nevis Island Government and register their intention to the police so that this becomes part of our total strategy to seek to eradicate crime from our midst,” the Premier said.

Mr. Amory urged all citizens, in particular parents, to assist in the fight to save the island from criminal activity, by assuming a zero-tolerance to crime.

“I am asking parents especially, to keep a close watch on their children’s behaviour and to get assistance if there is any suspicion of involvement in any gangs or in any criminal activity. A simple early intervention to correct any anti-social or any deviant behaviour of our children, can help to prevent them from a life of crime and save lives…Most crimes are preventable but it requires information too be shared with the police,” the Premier said.

He encouraged anyone who had information which could help to stem the criminal activity to call one of the island’s police stations or the hotline: 1-800-8477 to report the information.

“This anti-crime policy has to be a total effort of the entire community. We cannot afford another shooting death…and we cannot afford to hear that anotherr business place has been robbed or another home has been invaded and people’s personal jewelry, money, valuables taken because of criminal activity,” Premier Amory said.

Related posts:

Nevis Suffers Another Youth Murder
Nevis Government & Local Businesses Fight Crime
St. Kitts – Nevis Racks Up Murder #15 For 2009

Beautiful Postage Stamps From Nevis

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 16, 2013 (SKNIS)

Post offices remain relevant and should embrace technology as a tool to enhance its operations.

That was the key message which emerged from the 16th annual Caribbean Postal Union conference held from June 10-14, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

Lea Emerson, Executive Director of International Postal Affairs in the United States Postal Service, told SKNIS that like many countries around the world the USPS is facing many challenges that has resulted in a reduction of staff and hours of operations.

“The postal service has had to downsize because the letter volume is declining and most of our infrastructure in the past, all of these letter processing plants were all geared around letters and as those have declined dramatically, we are changing and consolidating our network,” Ms. Emerson said. “There are promising signs that the packages, express mail and other parts of our services are growing and that is helping to offset the decline in letters.”

Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Bishar Hussein explained that technology represents an opportunity for post offices to expand their services and increase efficiency. He said that rumours of the demise of post offices by advancing technology have been greatly exaggerated in the past.

“When the telegraph or telephones came in they thought the post offices were going to die,” he stated, adding that the same was repeated with the invention of fax machines and the internet which allows electronic mailing. “Over the years the post office has survived using the same technology.”

Mr. Hussein added that he has used his position as the head of the UPU to advocate for greater support for postal services as they provide a critical function in society.

“My wish would be to see that the postal network is viewed or appreciated by the member countries as a fundamental infrastructure for the social and economic development of nations regardless of their size,” he stressed. “So my priority here is to see that the agenda of the post office is taken up at the highest level of government. In fact this must come from the top of the presidency, right to the cabinet ministers and then to the post office. Everyone must appreciate the role.”

The UPU Director General compared the service of the post to that of other sectors including health and roads.

Related posts:

Nevis Government Assures Support For Postal Service
St. Kitts – Nevis Post Office To Offer Internet Access
St. Kitts – Nevis Residents Urged To Use E-Srvices