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

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 31, 2010 (SKNIS)

Three weeks of tennis skills development concludes today with a promise to streamline the growth of the sport.

Director of Sports Dave Connor told SKNIS that his Department is working closely with the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on a number of initiatives designed to revive player and public interest in what Coach Ludis Francis termed “the forgotten sport.”

The comments were made during a tour of the Government’s annual Summer Tennis Initiative on Thursday. The camp was once again sponsored by the Venezuelan Embassy and attracted dozens of children between the ages of 6 to 16. Most of the students are part of the schools’ tennis programme implemented by the Department of Sports.

The final week of the camp was devoted to the top 20 participants who were exposed to more advanced training.

Venezuela’s Resident Ambassador His Excellency Cruz De Jesus Bello was treated to an exhibition by several players when he visited yesterday. He noted that he was pleased with the advancement of the attendees and announced that plans were being considered for exchange visits between tennis athletes from both countries.

Ambassador Bello remarked that his country is using sport to help celebrate its 200th year of Independence being commemorated in 2010. Arrangements are being made for a sports gathering between teams from Venezuela and St. Kitts and Nevis that will contest volleyball, football and cricket. Additionally, this year’s Independence Mini-Marathon which is hosted in September by the Embassy of Venezuela in honour of the Federation’s anniversary of nationhood will be made special, the diplomat promised.

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Charlestown, Nevis
July 30, 2010

Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry discussed issues related to Value Added Tax (VAT), at a meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Head of Departments, the Ministry of Finance and technical persons.

A full discussion was centered on the existing taxes that would be included in the VAT process. It was noted that the proposed VAT will replace the Consumption, Hotel and Restaurant, Cable TV, Insurance Premium, Import Duty, Public Entertainment, Lotteries, Gaming Machine, Traders and Parcel Taxes and Vehicle Rental and Telecommunications Levies.

The Premier noted that all of the mentioned items were already collecting taxes.

According to the Premier, VAT will only be charged on businesses earning gross revenue of EC$150, 000 a year.  Other businesses whose earnings are less, could voluntarily participate in the scheme.

It was also revealed that a number of basic goods would be zero-rated in order to make them more affordable for consumers. Among the goods under consideration for exemption from VAT, were milk , infant formula, diapers, rice, sugar and certain medicines for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, among other basic  and important supplies.

A Ministry official revealed that a number of transactions including the sale of real estate property attributable to a dwelling subject to stamp duty may be exempt from VAT, while all goods for export are to be exempt from the application of VAT as well.

Meantime, during the meeting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Laurie Lawrence explained that the revenue sharing process that will be used to determine payments.  He revealed that a basic revenue sharing of the VAT system would be important because St. Kitts-Nevis has free movement between the islands.

Mr. Lawrence noted that the method for revenue sharing was based on a GDP with a population constraint.  He explained that the population shares between St. Kitts and Nevis were 76 and 24 percent respectively, the GDP shares were 79 and 21 percent and the revenue share of either island should not depart by more than 2 percentage points from its population share.

“As part of the procedure for the joint clearing account are to be the Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance-Nevis”, noted Mr. Lawrence and he added that the signatories for the Refunds Management Account would be the Comptroller in St. Kitts and the Deputy Comptroller in Nevis who would take care of the funds.

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Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 29, 2010 (SKNIS)

Public and private sector officials reviewed ways of strengthening the sports tourism product, and capitalizing on the potential benefits as Government seeks to enhance the Federation’s image in this sector.

Last Thursday, Grassroots Basketball Advisor and Coach John Spezia met with Minister of Tourism Honourable Richard Skerritt, Minister of Education Honourable Nigel Carty and representatives of the Ministry of Sports to highlight the successes of the Reach One, Teach One Basketball Camp. Since the camp began in 2006, ten scholarships have been facilitated for athletes to attend schools in the United States or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Coach Spezia told the gathering – which included representatives from camp sponsor Digicel, local sports administrators, coaches, athletes and parents – that he was committed to continuing the relationship with the Department of Sports and the Bird Rock Sports Club.

Spezia has been with the camp from inception and has used his post as president of the National Junior College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association to bring American coaches and current and former NBA and WNBA players to work with the local talent.

In November 2009, working in collaboration with the Department of Sports, he arranged for a squad of players from the camp to travel to the United States for a one week exhibition tour of competitive basketball against four colleges.

Coach Spezia explained he would like to see the initiative expand where American schools, including NCAA Division 1 progammes, can tour and train in St. Kitts once an indoor stadium is constructed. Dr. Mark Robinson, a colleague of Coach Spezia, has made a commitment to realize this dream.

Minister of Sports Honourable Glen Phillip told SKNIS that in addition to the construction of a multipurpose, state-of-the-art indoor sporting and cultural complex, which Government will build for local events, a recommendation was made by Dr. Robinson to have a dedicated training facility for basketball erected.

At the opening of the annual camp on Tuesday, Minister Phillip disclosed that Dr. Robinson outlined plans to raise funds in the United States to help build the facility. The Minister of Sports welcomed the pledge and said that while discussions are in the early stages, all options are being considered and Government will review the proposals when completed.

He remarked that these developments will significantly strengthen the Federation’s bid to attract international teams much like the Warner Park and Jubilee stadia have done every year.

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