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

Senior Minister – Dr. Timothy Harris

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 28, 2010 (SKNIS)

Healthy lifestyles and the importance of protecting the body from toxins and harmful influences were highlighted in Molineux, on Saturday (August 28).

The Community Leaders Advancing Molineux and Phillips’ (CLAMP) transformed an open area, to a safe play park, enclosing it with a picket fence, and erecting monkey bars, swing set and benches.

The project was one outcome of the PANCAP/CARICOM Youth Ambassador-administered Mini-Grant Programme, which tackles issues associated with HIV/AIDS. At an official launching ceremony, CLAMP’s President Elmar Martinez told residents that he was proud to open the park where individuals and families can go to relax, stay fit or have friendly competition.

Mr. Martinez indicated that the benches and other structures will depict HIV/AIDS messages that will serve to educate users of the facility with a view of promoting behavioural change. Other aspects of the project included an HIV/AIDS quiz among church representatives, and also working with a community dance group to develop themed performances that highlight social issues associated with the disease, such as stigma and discrimination.

CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Ian Richards commended CLAMP for the huge scope of the project. He cited figures from the 1997-98 Caribbean Youth Health Survey of 10 to 18 year olds which revealed that some 34 percent of the 15,695 youth across nine countries, had already had sexual intercourse.  Sixty six percent engaged in sexual behaviour before the age of 13.

Additionally, 25 percent of the youth respondents admitted that they always used contraception. The study was highlighted in the 2009 Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) which Mr. Richards said is an urgent call for action from young people.

Youth Ambassador Richards also cited a recent report that indicated that HIV/AIDS cases in 16 African countries are declining among 15 to 24 years old. This is attributed to a decrease in multiple sex partners, an increase in abstinence, and increased condom use. Mr. Richards challenged youth across the Region to emulate their African peers in helping to reduce the spread of the epidemic, thereby possibly delisting Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean as the number one and two respectively ranked areas in the world with the highest incidences of the pandemic.

Parliamentary Representative for the community, Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris, recalled that it was just 10 days ago that he attended the closing of a another CYA collaboration with CLAMP, which involved deterring young people from crime by equipping them with income generation, anger management, conflict resolution and goal setting skills.

Senior Minister Harris, remarked that the challenges of antisocial activity and job employment is not unique to St. Kitts and Nevis, the Region or many countries the world over. He praised the local CYA programme and CLAMP, and pledged support to similar activities being undertaken by youth groups. An appeal was also made for other entities and individuals to encourage the young people wherever and whenever possible.

Related posts:

1. Youth Groups Praised By CARICOM For Work On HIV-AIDS
2. St. Kitts – Nevis Youth Groups Take Stand On HIV/AIDS
3. Saint Kitts – Nevis Has New AIDS/HIV Awareness Policy
4. Youth Advocates Honored For Positive Message
5. Enthusiasm Builds For New St. Kitts – Nevis TV Game Show

YES Programme Graduates – August 2010

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

More than 700 young people have been certified as competent in various technical skills acquired through the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) Project.

The third and final ceremony was held on Thursday (August 26) at the St. Johnson Community Center. The proceedings were chaired by Accountant General Levi Bradshaw who reflected on the March 2009 launch of the social development, work-experience and job placement programme for persons between the ages of 16 to 35 years. He highlighted the importance of the project.

“We need trained technicians. We need trained mechanics, we need trained persons in hospitality, trained persons in construction,” Mr. Bradshaw stressed, citing the growth of various industries. “To date Project YES has facilitated well over 1,200 participants. We have also been able to provide opportunities for persons with special skills [who] functioned as trainers and facilitators and we have had the benefit of having persons attached to well over 38 businesses. … this has been a success and we are here today to [celebrate] that.”

The graduates were drawn from the various focus areas included in the Project. Minister of Youth Empowerment Honourable Glenn Phillip assumed the Ministerial portfolio responsible for the YES initiative on February 07, 2010. He told the graduating class that this was a proud moment and encouraged them to do some soul searching.

“I would like to encourage all the graduates to think positively of the future that lies before you. Each of you must think of maximizing the benefits of your training which not only provided you with technical skill … but also with self disciplinary concepts and attitude that will help you to achieve success in life,” he remarked. “I want also to encourage you to impress and influence your [peers] with the acquisition of such positive skills and attitudes so that they too would desire to acquire similar experiences … and ultimately contribute to the growth of our nation.”

Director of the National Skills Training Programme (NSTP) Fritzroy Wilkin encouraged the participants not to view this as an ending but rather, a step towards a professional career.

“You should see this as a beginning because you have now laid a foundation in your respective occupational areas and you should begin to build on that foundation whether it is to start your own business or to advance your studies,” he emphasized.

Those who are continuing their education were encouraged to consider enrolling in the NSTP, the Advanced Vocational and Education Center (AVEC) or the Technical Division of the C. F. Bryant College.

YES graduates that did not attend in the graduation ceremonies can collect their certificates at the YES Secretariat. The YES Project continues for the remaining participants.

Related posts:

1. Minister Congratulates Trinidad Trained Graduates
2. Co-ordinators Report To Cabinet On YES Programme
3. Nevis Minister of Utilities Calls On Graduates To Improve
4. St. Kitts – Nevis To Train 1,200 People In IT
5. Nevis Premier Congratulates Graduates of Electrical Training Course

OAS Representative – Mr. Starret Greene

Charlestown, Nevis
August 31, 2010

Harnessing the wind to generate electricity that will drive the wheels and engines of the economy was an exciting development of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. That view was expressed by Organisation of American States (OAS) Representative for St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Starret Greene at a ceremony to launch the official start of the WindWatt Wind Farm on Friday at Maddens Estate in Nevis.

He said Nevis’ move toward renewable energy was the right thing to do in an era in which the development of alternative and cleaner forms of energy was the number one priority for developed and developing countries on every continent and in every region of the world.

“Taking action to make our economy more efficient, modern and competitive is not only the right decision moving forward but also it is a momentous act that lays the foundation for long term growth and development of this island and by extension the Federation well,” Mr. Greene said.

The OAS Representative commended the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and the people of Nevis for what he termed was a milestone achievement which had many implications for the island.

“This is a local accomplishment with numerous implications for the revolutionizing the energy sector at the Local Federal, Sub-Regional and Regional levels. Today marks a proud moment for all the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, as this wind farm signals the first step towards reducing the Federation’s dependence on the use of fossil fuel to meet its energy needs,” he said.

Mr. Greene also pointed to the social and economic benefits of the energy generating project, among them the opportunity for job creation; the acquisition of new skills for this and future generation of workers and it would win support from the citizens in both St. Kitts and Nevis.

He said it was hard to argue against an electricity generating project that was environmentally friendly and would be far less expensive to operate than the use of fossil fuel.

“Taking the lead in this region in the production and use of alternative and renewable sources of energy speaks not only to the creative thinking of our elected officials and technocrats but it also places this small island in the perfect position to attract inward investment into an emerging energy sector,” he said.

Mr, Greene added that the wind farm project set the stage for the forging of partnerships with countries and companies that had a proven track record of developing, distributing and using alternative sources of energy. These partnerships he contended had the potential to bring untold benefits to Nevis and to the Federation as a whole.

Meantime, the OAS Representative used the opportunity to register his Organisation’s satisfaction with the long collaboration with St. Kitts and Nevis, in the pursuit of sustainable solutions for the energy challenges which they faced.

The initiatives included the OAS’s support for the preparation of a National Energy Policy already on the way, the investigation and sequent legal and policy support for the geothermal project on Nevis and the wind project that has benefited from critical technical and legal support through the expert advice and counsel of Mr. Cletus Springer, Mr. Mark Lambrides, Mr. John Armstrong and Mr. Kevin de Cuba.

Mr. Greene said the expert’s collaboration with members of the Nevis Island Administration and other key public figures had been instrumental in making the historic energy project a reality.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Government To Officially Open Maddens Wind Farm
2. Nevis Government Praised For Wind Farm Project
3. Love Of Nevis Brings Wind Farm To Island
4. Maddens Wind Farm On Nevis Is A Prime Location
5. Nevis Wind Energy Farm Enters Testing Phase