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

Windfall For Labour Party Coffers

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 28, 2012 (SKNIS)

Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas opened his first monthly press conference of 2012 on Wednesday January25, 2012 with expressions of high praise for the Value Added Tax initiative introduced in St. Kitts and Nevis in November 2010.

The Prime Minister said with pride that VAT had exceeded the government’s expectations in more than one way – the first being the number of businesses that registered for the programme in VAT’s first year – November 2010 to November 2011. According to the Prime Minister, also the Minister of Finance, the revenues collected from VAT in both islands have exceeded projected figures.

In Nevis, government projected VAT revenue of 24 million East Caribbean Currency Dollars for 2011, but the amount actually collected was EC$29 million, 5 million dollars more than was projected. In St. Kitts, the VAT amount projected to be collected for 2011 was EC$79 million, but the amount actually collected was EC$104 million, some 25 million dollars more than was projected.

In December of 2011, government declared a special VAT day in order to reduce the cost of Pre-Christmas spending for consumers. The level of response by consumers also far exceeded expectations.

“Some 12.8 million dollars in sales took place at 7% VAT that particular day, and the government returned to consumers through this reduced VAT, some 1.004 million dollars” said Prime Minister Douglas. “One million dollars was given back to consumers by the government on that particular day in December.”

As to the future of the VAT programme, the Finance minister said that the Government will continue to examine the logistics of the programme through consultations with traders and consumers. He underscored however, that the VAT revenue was critically important to “keep the engine and machinery of government turning over” and will be used to ensure the continuity of services provided by the government like paying teachers, keeping hospitals open, feeding children hot meals, providing school books and uniforms and paying student examination fees.

Businesses also came in for high praise from the Inland Revenue Department for their cooperation in the initiative.

“The Inland Revenue Department would like to thank businesses who, having registered and cooperated in the implementation process ensured that the appropriate taxes were collected and submitted in a timely manner in accordance with the VAT Act” said Acting Comptroller of Inland Revenue Department Mr. Edward Gift. “Though some businesses are still not in full compliance, the Inland Revenue Department is still willing to assist in bringing them to a state of full compliance with the VAT Act.”

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis VAT Rakes In The Cash
2. Nevis’ Inland Revenue Department Gets Legal Assistance
3. Nevis Government Ready To Enforce Value Added Tax
4. Labour Government Gives Senior Civil Servants The Axe
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Government Claims Inflation Reduction

UNESCO Sponsored Workshop About Autism

Charlestown, Nevis
January 27, 2012

Autism was the focus of a two-day workshop for a mixed group of 30 Preschool and Special Education Teachers, Day Care Supervisors and Nurses on St. Kitts and Nevis which concluded at the Department of Education on Nevis on January 26, 2012. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with funding from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Participants were exposed to a range of issues related to Autism but most importantly were taught to recognise children with autism at an early age.

During the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Principal at the Special Education Unit on Nevis Mrs. Violet Clarke said the workshop was part of a project which sought to develop an early intervention centre in St. Kitts for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disorders.

“The centre will be set up as a demonstration environment to provide training for parents, nurses, preschool providers and teachers. Children will have the opportunity to be screened and receive intervention programmes designed by a multi professional team,” she explained.

Finding and treating very young children through programmes specifically designed by specialist teachers, nurses, therapists, counsellors and early child care givers will be the basic goal of the project.

“The main thrust of an early intervention programme for children with Autism is the development of social and communication skills supported by occupational and speech therapy. These programmes can provide increased hope for both parents and children.

“Demonstrating the success of these programmes to parents and early child care providers is an essential aspect of this project. Parental understanding and participation can determine the success of these programmes which is why the project seeks to empower parents to help their own child,” she said.

Mrs. Clarke further stated that a fundamental feature of the project was its ability to pull together Ministry Departments and encourage them to think and operate in a collaborative way.  It also strengthened systems of communication between departments, pooled expertise and maximized limited resources through the creation of a multi-professional team.

She said each member of the team would be able to see the child and the challenges they faced from their own unique vantage point, discuss it with others and collaboratively design programmes tailor-made for each child.

According to Mrs. Clarke, Autism affected 1 in 150 children and was characterised by difficulties in language, communication skills and the ability to relate to others. It was also shown to have a strong hereditary factor which meant that children with siblings with the disorder were at higher risk of developing the disorder themselves.

She expressed that children with Autism had experienced great difficulty with the education system on St. Kitts and Nevis.

“They have no obvious physical disabilities yet display emotional and behavioural challenges many teachers find difficult to understand. Their behaviour can be viewed as disruptive and disobedient resulting in these children being left out of the learning experience.

“Their abilities can be so diverse that children can range from being mentally challenged to gifted, from non verbal to articulate with many specific behaviours in between. This project recognises the complexity of this group of children and seeks to increase their educational opportunities by teaching proven intervention techniques to those who come into contact with them,” Mrs. Clarke explained.

Children with (ASD) and other related developmental disorders were a growing concern within the Federation, the Special Education Unit Head noted but pointed out that early intervention was a well documented advantage.

“The National Institute of Mental Health has reported that many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders can be diagnosed soon after their first birthday. Others with the disorder may appear to develop normally until that age and then falter or regress during their second year.

“Early screening is a critical step in assisting children with Autism. Time is of the essence for these children and clinical studies have proven that the earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the potential for successful intervention and effective behavioural adjustment,” she said.

Other remarks came from Education Officer for Special Education Ministry of Education St. Kitts Ms. Clarice Cotton and Dr. Lucy Liddie UNESCO Consultant for the project.

Other presenters for the workshop were Ms. June Wallace, Ms. Judy Gumbs, Ms J. Claxton-Richardson and Ms. Charmaine Blanchette.

Related posts:

1. Hearing Aid Mission In St. Kitts – Nevis Draws Attention
2. Anger Management Workshop Commences On Nevis
3. Nevis Disaster Manager Calls For Greater Government Attention
4. Caribbean Leaders Welcome UN High-Level Meeting On Disease
5. St. Kitts – Nevis’ Development Threatened By Disease

VAT Taxes Help Labour Government

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 26, 2012 (CUOPM)

The number of registrants under the Value Added Tax (VAT) Programme is just over 700 with 525 in St. Kitts and 182 in Nevis.

Speaking at his monthly press conference on Wednesday, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas disclosed that in December when the Government declared a special VAT Day in order to reduce the cost of pre-Christmas spending for consumers, VAT, which was reduced  from 17% to 7%, amounted to EC$12.8 million in sales.

“The Government returned to consumers, through this reduced VAT, some $1,004,151.00,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who is also Minister of Finance.

113 businesses – 87 in St. Kitts and 26 in Nevis registered to participate in the reduced VAT Day.

VAT filings have been quite strong with a rate of 95 percent in November 2011 compared to 99 percent in November 2010.

Prime Minister Douglas told reporters and the Nation that actual VAT revenues since the fiscal measure was introduced in November 2011 have also exceeded projected VAT revenues.

“In Nevis, for example, we had projected some EC$24 million in VAT revenues for 2011.  The amount actually collected, however, was EC$29 million. EC$5 million more than projected. Similarly, in St. Kitts, we had projected EC$79 million in VAT revenues for 2011. The amount actually collected, however, was EC$104 million. EC$25 million more than projected,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who is also the Minister of Finance.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis….Big Rush For Cash
2. St. Kitts – Nevis Citizens Urged To Cash In On Sports Tourism
3. 1st Quarter Economic Performance Good For St. Kitts – Nevis
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Extends Stimulus Package For Restaurants
5. St. Kitts – Nevis PM Denies Government Received $91 Million Check