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

High Performance Officer – Andy Pick

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 02, 2011 (SKNIS)

St. Kitts and Nevis continues to stand out as an excellent location for sports tourism, as Day 1 of intensive cricket training for the inaugural ICC Americas High Performance Camp got underway at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium on March 02.

Two players each from Argentina, Suriname, Canada, the United States, Bahamas and Bermuda are participating in the camp, designed to hone the skills of players and expose them to the rigors of international cricket, its related standards, and expectations. They will be joined at the 8-day sessions by Akheam Fox of St. Kitts and, Adelvin Phillip of Nevis, are enjoying full participation in the training.

Tour Manager Wendell Coppin stressed that St. Kitts was ideally poised to host this extensive development course.

“When the ICC Americas Regional Office decided that we were going to house a camp, St. Kitts was the first name that came up and the last one,” he disclosed at a brief welcome ceremony held at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. Mr. Coppin referencing the local infrastructure said, “We are extremely excited about the venue. We are excited about St. Kitts and the hospitality we have received.”

ICC Americas High Performance Officer Andy Pick revealed that he was in St. Kitts with a junior squad from Canada one year ago, and was impressed with Warner Park.

“It’s a Test Match facility. We don’t have facilities in any of the countries in the Americas Region remotely close to the quality of the facility here … and the quality of work you can do is influenced by a huge degree, by the quality of the facility,” he stressed.

Coach Pick added that the layout of the ground, the quality of the pitch, the separate batting and fielding practice areas and other amenities such as locker rooms, simplified his decisions while designing the course for the 14 participants and what would be done at various stages throughout the day.

Minister of Sports, Honourable Glenn Phillip welcomed the visiting coaches, players and support members that include a physiotherapist and sports psychologist, and expressed his Government’s pleasure at hosting this developmental activity.

“A camp like this can help rejuvenate the game of cricket here and it will help us to see firsthand the new methods [and techniques] in cricket,” he stated. Minister Phillip made mention of the opportunity for local players Fox and Phillip and thanked the ICC Americas officials.

“Part of our negotiations … months ago requested that two players from [the Federation] be a part of this camp.” Fox and Phillip “will be fully integrated within the camp structure i.e. they will stay at the same hotel as the guys and they will get all the training that is afforded by the ICC.”

The Minister noted that local coaching will also benefit by this course as they shadow the various activities. As the Camp works to prepare the young players for the future, ICC Americas is already looking to expand the relationship with the twin-island Federation.

“We do hope … that in years to come we can look back at this afternoon and say yes it was the beginning of what will become for us at the ICC, and for you here in St. Kitts an annual event,” Tour Manager Coppin stated. “… I can say at this stage, that when the ICC Americas is looking for a home for its camp in the future that St. Kitts and Nevis will be on the shortlist of countries.”

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Nevis’ National Christmas Tree – 2010

Charlestown, Nevis
December 23, 2010

Former cricketer and businessman Mr. William Griffin was the man in the spotlight when Premier of Nevis the Honourable Joseph Parry; Minister of Social Development the Honourable Hensley Daniel; residents of the St. Paul’s parish; and their Area Representative, the Honourable E. Robelto Hector gathered for the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree in the capital city.

The ceremony, chaired by General Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority Mr. Spencer Hanley, was held on the apron of the Nevis Public Library where officials overlooked the Christmas tree in the Memorial Square.

In addition to expressing season’s greetings on his family’s behalf, the social development minister challenged Nevisians to spread the Christmas cheer by maintaining a culture of peace that is “free of all crime and violence.”

This, he said will make “residents and visitors alike feel that we are doing the things that are necessary to make all of us happy.”

“The charge for all of us this Christmas season [is] to ensure that we keep our communities peaceful and spread the peace and joy of Christmas in every parish, in every village, in every family and among every relative so that as the song says, we will ensure that the peace begins with us.

“Crime and violence destabilizes our society and I want all of our young people to make this Christmas season a very peaceful one,” he said.

In admitting that Nevis had experienced “a difficult year economically,” Minister Daniel assured onlookers that his government demonstrated that it had Nevisians’ best interest at heart.

“I believe you can be proud of your government that we have been able to keep everybody employed and to keep disparity at a minimum and ensure that all of the people of Nevis were still able to get food, clothes and shelter; all of the basic necessities of life and as we move beyond the recession, you want to be grateful for your government for that,” he exclaimed.

Patron Griffin, in his remarks, echoed Minister Daniel’s sentiments and said that although many communities had “departed somewhat from the straight and narrow pathway,” a collective effort of the entire island will “make the change back to an atmosphere of purity.”

“We are all responsible. We need to now take the scourge that is destroying us in our hands and collectively make the change back to an atmosphere of purity. Our continued life of prosperity depends on this. We must do it. We can do it and we must begin now,” he said.

Mr. Griffin also recorded his appreciation

“I am happy that the Department of Community Affairs; an arm of the Nevis Island Government, has seen it fit to have me as the patron for this evening’s activity. I take it as a special acknowledgement that this is not given to many of our citizens so to them I say thank you.

“Many of us are silent “doers” who do not do things because we wish to be known but rather to make our communities a better place to live, to love, to respect, to be peaceful and to share with one another without prejudice.

Premier Parry and Minister Hector also provided remarks at the ceremony.

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1. Date Set For Sandy Point Tree Lighting Ceremony
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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.

Related posts:

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