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

Holland America’s M.S Westerdam

Charlestown, Nevis
January 30, 2009

The 2009 Cruise Ship Season got off to a great start as the 2,000 passenger cruise ship, M.S. Westerdam, made its inaugural visit to Nevis on Thursday, January 29th, 2009.

Premier and Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Joseph Parry said the M.S. Westerdam is a major development to the local cruise industry and it is indicative of efforts to enhance the quality of visitor experiences in the twin island Federation.

Speaking at a brief ceremony on board the ship, the Premier commented that he was pleased that the Holland America M.S. Westerdam had added Nevis to its itinerary on its second Caribbean cruise.

“Nevis is interested in creating mutual partnerships in the tourism industry that will benefit the cruise line and the island. We have to ensure that our products and our services provide exceptional and positive experiences for all guests,” stressed Premier Parry.

While visiting the ship, the Premier and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Nevis Tourism Authority and employees of Nevis Television (NTV) were treated to a tour of the Holland America Line‘s series of the Vista-Class craft.

Assistant Secretary in Tourism, Mr. Carl Williams said the ship embraces the most modern of environmental technologies and a beautiful collection of Dutch Heritage Art, ranging from Historic Dutch Ships to huge Jazz portraits which were displayed throughout the ship.

Mr. Williams went on to explain that the trip was a chartered Jazz cruise with such Jazz artistes as Dianne Reeves, Herbie Hancock and other notable jazz musicians on board.

While talking to the media, Premier Parry noted that the cruise industry in Nevis must be tempered by various considerations including capacity and the environment.

According to Premier Parry, “It is important that the Ministry of Tourism and other local Authorities partner with the cruise industry to develop and improve our port facilities, so that they could be adequate for all parties involved.”

Related posts:

1. Nevis Premier To Boost Cruise Ship Arrivals
2. Nevis Premier To Expand Cruise Tourism
3. St. Kitts – Nevis On Par For Record Cruise Ship Season
4. More Carnival Cruise Passengers For St. Kitts – Nevis
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Expects 6 Cruise Ships This Week

Francis Garnier – French Naval Transport Ship

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 30, 2009 (CUOPM)

A French naval transport ship, Francis Garnier, which is to be decommissioned later this year, is on its first visit to St. Kitts and Nevis.

“We have been in the Caribbean and have never visited St. Kitts. This is our final call before returning to Europe later this year and so it is a good occasion to visit and meet you, Prime Minister,” said the Commanding Officer, Lt. Benoit Dubois during the visit on Friday morning.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, in welcoming the French naval officer noted that St. Kitts was France’s first settlement in the Caribbean in 1625.

“It is from here that other French and European powers established their settlements,” said Dr. Douglas.

He expressed thank to Lt. Dubois for the humanitarian assistance the ship and its officers have been giving to Grenada, following Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and to Jamaica in 2004 and recently to Haiti and other countries affected by natural disasters.

Dr. Douglas wished Lt. Dubois would have fond memories of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean.

Related posts:

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2. Director Of Maritime Affairs Visits Ship Registry Offices
3. Celebrity Solstice Visits St. Kitts On Inaugural Cruise
4. St. Kitts – Nevis On Par For Record Cruise Ship Season
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Flagged Ship Hijacked Off Somali Coast

Caribbean Film Festival Organizing Committee

Charlestown, Nevis
January 30, 2009

Cuban Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis Her Excellency Mrs. Ana Marie Gonzales said the Travelling Caribbean Film Festival will offer Nevisians an opportunity to experience the culture of others in the region through film and would help to foster cultural integration in the region which was necessary in hard economic times.

She made the comment on January 29, when she met with the press at the Community Centre in Bath during a visit to promote the event. The Ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Marlene Phillips chairperson of the organising committee for the Travelling Caribbean Film Festival in St. Kitts. They were joined by Director of Community Cohesion Mr Abdul Kareem Ahmed, Community Coordinator Mr. C.J. Bartlette and Director of the Nevis Cultural Foundation Ms. Tonya Powell.

“These films will allow us to share and to have more information about the different cultures. For the Caribbean down to the south it is a necessity especially in this world situation and in fact the economic situation to integrate as soon as possible and one of the ways is through cultural integration.

“Cuba as usual has been a link with this festival with the rest of the Caribbean films and we are ready to support all this movement in St. Kitts and here in Nevis,” she said.

According to the Ambassador, the movement to promote Caribbean cinematography had been ongoing for a few years and Jamaican like Cuban, Martiniquan and Curaconian film makers had played an important role.

She outlined three key objectives of the film showcase – to promote cinematography andd film makers in the region and Latin America; to impart educational messages to children and to promote cultural integration.

The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase is a non profit cultural project which already commenced its second tour of presentations through 31 countries in the region. It is ongoing in St. Kitts and is scheduled to be launched in Nevis on February 1st at the Pinneys Beach Hotel.

This year its focus is on children and youth in three categories 5-8, 8-12 and those older than 12 and includes shorts, features, documentaries and animation from the spectrum of countries in the greater Caribbean including 12 island nations and Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, Belize and Costa Rica.

The film showcase has received sponsorship from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the University of the West Indies and other regional institutions.

Mr. Bartlette listed the schedule and noted that students of the Maude Crosse Preparatory, Belle Vue Primary School and Charlestown Primary School view the films at the Cultural Centre on Monday February 02.

On Tuesday February 03 the students of the St. Thomas Primary School, Lynn Jeffers and the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School will view the films at the Cultural Centre and various school rooms.

Students of the V.O. J. Nicholls Primary School and St. James Primary will be viewing at their schools on February 04.

On the following day February 05 students of the St. Johns will view the films at the Nelson Mandela Centre while Ivor Walters Primary Schools students will view at their school.

On Friday February 06 students of the Gingerland Secondary and Charlestown Secondary Schools will view at their respective schools. The first public viewing will commence at 7pm at Night Moves in Charlestown and at the same time at the Cultural Complex on February 07.

Related posts:

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2. Caribbean Lottery Forms Partnership
3. Saint Kitts – Nevis Music Festival Meets Expectations
4. PBS To Film Documentary About Nevis Born Alexander Hamilton
5. Nevis Culturama Festival 2008 Schedule