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

Caribbean To See Economic Gains For 2012 – 2013

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
April 18, 2012 (CUOPM)

The Caribbean economy is expected to grow in this year and next year. So says the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF). It says Latin America and the Caribbean is “on a glide path to steady growth” as the global economy picks up pace. But the financial institution is warning that “dangers remain.”

In its latest, World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said the swings in risk aversion in global markets over the past six months have had significant effects on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) forecasting  “moderate” growth of 3.75 percent in the region this year and four percent in 2013.

Specifically, the Caribbean economy is expected to grow by 3.5 percent.

“High public debt and weak tourism and remittance flows continue to constrain the outlook for the Caribbean. The outlook for Central America, like that for Mexico, is closely tied to developments in the United States,” the IMF said, noting that “spillovers to the region, both real and financial, from renewed crisis in Europe are likely to be limited.”

The IMF said that among commodity exporters in LAC, strong domestic demand growth moderated, as tighter macroeconomic policies began to bear fruit and the external environment weakened.

And while economic activity in LAC is still subdued, strong real linkages with the United States “offer some upside prospects as the United States slowly recovers,” according to the report.

“Spillovers to the region through trade, financial, and banking channels were active during recent months but with only limited effects on activity,” the report said.

Related posts:

1. IMF Caribbean Head Disputes Economic Growth Figures
2. Caribbean Economic Growth To Slow In 2008
3. ECCB Monetary Council Predicts Sustained Economic Growth
4. Caribbean Development Bank Predicts Growth In Nevis
5. National Economic Growth Forum For St. Kitts – Nevis

Minister of Education – Nigel Carty
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
April 03, 2012 (SKNIS)

Officials from across the region have gathered in St. Kitts to participate in a conference for The Early Childhood Development initiative which will formulate ways and means of reaching out to vulnerable youth.

Early Childhood Development Coordinator, Mrs. Jacquelyn Morris stated that the Caribbean Development Bank sponsored initiative  could not have come at a better time as the Caribbean region are focusing on increasing access to quality early childhood development for children who are poor, disadvantaged and experiencing other forms of vulnerability at this time.

The theme for the conference is Towards Poverty Reduction: Maximizing the Returns on Investment in Early Childhood Development in the Caribbean. In keeping with this theme the conference will deliberate on policies, strategies and actions to optimize early Childhood Development in the Caribbean.

Dr. Martin Baptiste, Operations Officer of Education at the Caribbean Development Bank noted “We need to decide whether our task is to reach the children now or to catch them later on.” He emphasized the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. “By reach we mean we want to be preventative and we are not talking about simply providing opportunities to participate in ECD we mean opportunities to be successful in ECD.”

Locally, on March 5, the Ministry of Education entered into a cooperation programme with the Republic of China – Taiwan – which will realise a state-of-the-art day care centre for the residents of St. Paul’s Village and its environs. Minister of Education and Information, Hon. Nigel Carty remarked “this day care centre will aid significantly in our children developing their basic values, attitudes, skills, behaviors and habits and the support of their learning.” He added that the implementation of the centre shows the ministry’s support to the Early Childhood Unit’s philosophy and curriculum and the government’s mandate.

“A better start is likely to lead to a better finish,” commented Minister Carty. “Therefore, investing in early childhood care and education can make a crucial difference to the future competitive ability of children who start life in disadvantaged situations.”

The three day event will be held at the Marriott Hotel.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Government Emphasizes Early Childhood Development
2. OAS Donates To Early Childhood Education On Nevis
3. St. Kitts – Nevis’ Early Childhood Program Emulated
4. Nevis Celebrates 25 Years Of Early Childhood Program
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Leads Region In Early Childhood Education

Nicole Slack Liburd – Ministry of Health on Nevis

Charlestown, Nevis
February 05, 2012

Nevis will join a number of organisations including the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in the observance of World Cancer Day (WCD) on February 4th, 2012 under the theme “Together it is Possible”. Health Officials on the island have collaborated with a number of partners to engage in activities throughout February to encourage the prevention, detection, care and treatment of Cancer.

Health Planner in the Ministry of Health on Nevis Mrs. Nicole Slack Liburd told the Department of Information on February 3rd, that they had commenced the activities ahead of Saturday’s observance with cervical cancer screenings at the Gingerland Health Centre on February 2nd.

Cancer messages were held at schools on the island and the Pink Lily Foundation set up an informational table at the Memorial Square in Charlestown on February 03. Minister of Health Hon. Hensley Daniel also delivered a speech in observance of WCD.

“Although we at the Ministry of Health have always been engaged in Cancer initiatives, this year we are having quite a number of activities in partnership with Pink Lily, the Nevis Maternal Health Fund and also the Ministry of Health in St. Kitts to bring a bit of awareness to this disease.

“It has affected our population for quite a number of years and continues to do so. In 2011 right here in Nevis 27 persons were diagnosed with Cancer and in 2010, 25 and those numbers are alarming,” she said.

However, Mrs. Slack Liburd was of the view that the Ministry of Health’s proactive approach had helped to spur the public to take advantage of their status with the disease.

“With our screening initiatives, with the Pap smear screenings for example at the Health Centres and Prostate Cancer Screening at the [Alexandra] Hospital, we have been able to identify quite a number of our cases at the early stages. So although our numbers are increasing, we feel that it also has something to do with our prevention and our early detection initiatives,” she said.

The Health Official pointed to the many risk factors for Cancer and indicated that the Health Promotion Unit and all Health Departments on the island had engaged in the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

She noted that Nevis had quite a number of diabetic and hypertensive cases and those were diseases predisposed to Cancer.

“So cancer is here, it is in our population and we at the Ministry of Health are trying to get everyone on board to play their part in reducing Cancer here on Nevis hence the big promotion, the big campaign in 2012,” she said.

According to the Health Planner, it was the first time that Nevis was observing WCD with so many awareness activities in partnership with other organisations. She explained that this year’s theme was one of oneness and as such, everyone could contribute in whatever way possible to the fight against Cancer.

Mrs. Nicole Slack made mention of a presentation of five neck ties from the St. Pauls Anglican Church to members of the Nevis Island Administration Cabinet. She said she was certain the ties would generate some level of discussion as they were worn by the Ministers during the month of February as she explained what the colours on the tie denoted.

“The different colours on the tie representing the most prevalent cancers here on Nevis and those include prostate, breast, lung and cervical and there is also a purple colour there for the survivors of cancer and we do have quite a bit of survivors and they are supported by organisations such as Pink Lily. So to honour our survivors and the support organisations there is a purple colour on the neck tie,” she said.

Other activities in the Cancer awareness month include a Cancer based discussion  on  Choice Radio’s Good Old Days on February 4th, an Oncology Symposium at the St. Pauls Anglican Church Hall from 8:30-11:00am on February 8th and a Cancer based Church Service at the St. Pauls Anglican Church on February 12th. There will also be Health Tips read by Nurses on local radio stations and a number of Cancer Education sessions at all Health centres.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Joins In With Observance Of World Cancer Day
2. Nevis Health Minister Claims Cancer Registry Will Aid Resource Allocation
3. Nevis’ Pink Lily Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Women Given Information To Fight Cervical Cancer
5. Nevis Observes World Mental Health Day