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

New Charlestown Primary School Cafeteria

Charlestown, Nevis
April 27, 2012

The Charlestown Primary School (CPS) has now been outfitted with an ultra modern million dollar cafeteria, thanks to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and a group of civic minded citizens called  the Private Initiative for School Lunches headed by Mr. James Gaskell and Mr. Hastings Daniel. The facility was officially handed over to the school during its 20th anniversary celebrations on April 25th, 2012.

Area Representative Hon. Robelto Hector in his remarks at the official ceremony on the school’s grounds, referred to the cafeteria as one that would bring much benefit to the island’s children. He pledged his continued support to ensure that the school meals programme already in other primary schools would be successful there.

“Let me as representative for the area, offer special thanks to Mr. Gaskell and Mr. Daniel for their hard work in bringing to this school, this parish a structure and a programme that will bring tremendous benefits to our children. It is my wish that you both continue with the vision and steadfastness that you have both employed up to this point.

“I offer my public pledge of support to this building and project and my intention to make sure it remains a success,” he said.

Mr. Hector, who is also responsible for Agriculture in the NIA, recalled his earlier comments at the launch of the school meals programme at the St. Thomas Primary School some years ago that there had to be a great linkage between the agricultural programme and the National Dietary Guidelines.

“Today, I want to reiterate the point that our farmers must produce with this programme in mind. They ought to make every effort to complement our education initiatives aimed at achieving healthy students. We must not forget that the primary assumption of any school feeding programme, in that education and learning depends on good nutrition,” he said.

The Minister also added that the handing over of the cafeteria should also be seen in conjunction with the National Food Policy and the food based dietary guidelines launched by the Ministry of Health in September 2010, as one which could improve the general health of the Federation’s population.

“By starting with our primary schools, it is a great step towards preventing undernourishment in our society. Taking this to its logical conclusion, we are indeed making a conscious effort to secure our nation’s health and ensure there is a decrease in the overall disability and death within one generation.

“Our Chief Medical Officer has asked that we be mindful of what he describes as the twin towers of death in St. Kitts/Nevis – high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. More importaantly through our school feeding programme we can aim to decrease the great cost associated with health related programmes,” he said.

Meantime, in an overview of the project delivered by Director of Projects in the Ministry of Communication and Works Mr. Denzil Stanley, it was disclosed that the NIA expended almost $1.5milion constructing the 120ft x 66ft structure while an additional; $500,000 was spent on the procurement of appliances and equipment for use in the cafeteria [by Mr. Gaskell and Mr. Daniel].

He further stated that the CPS now had the most modern school’s cafeteria among the schools that currently run the hot lunch programme and urged those who used the facility to care for it.

“With such an investment, it is only fair that the school, both staff and students alike, should take good care of it and ensure that it is put to effective use. Only so can the goals that were set be realised,” he said.

According to Mr. Stanley, the agreement for the construction was signed between the NIA and the contractor Mr. Eric Stapleton in October 2010, actual work commenced soon after and continued nonstop through to completion in July 2011.

“Mr. Stapleton’s mandate was to construct this building complete with a kitchen or food preparation area, a large eating area, an office space, a change room, space for a walk in chiller and freezer and space for storage or office on the lower floor,” he said.

Mr. Stanley further stated that throughout construction, the Project Management Unit provided a continued presence and was on hand to clarify any issues, guide the contractor along whenever it became necessary.

However, he described the work relationship as mutual and respectful with both the contractor and the management team learning from each other.

“The contractor Mr. Stapleton worked diligently and professionally throughout the project and the quality of work is evidenced here today,” he said.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting was done by former CPS Principal Mrs. Alice Swanston.

Related posts:

1. Nevis School Opens Much Needed New Wing
2. Nevis Premier Parry Opens School Sports Meet
3. Nevis To Build Million Dollar Asphalt Plant
4. Nevis Opens State Of The Art Primary School
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Has A New Multi-million Dollar Cinema

Nevis Health Minister – Hensley Daniel

Charlestown, Nevis
February 09, 2012

The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) continued to show its commitment in the fight against Cancer on Wednesday February 08, 2012, when it hosted an Oncology Symposium through the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Pink Lily Cancer Care. The event, the first of its kind on Nevis, was held at the St. Pauls Anglican Church Hall in Charlestown with the theme “Together it is Possible”.

Minister of Health on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel in remarks at the one-day session which formed part of a month-long observation of World Cancer Day, told participants that given the incidence of Cancer on Nevis and the high cost associated with the treatment and care of the disease there should be a pool of financial resources set aside to ensure assistance to all those afflicted with the illness.

“What we need most urgently is a pool of funds similar to the NIH in England where everybody who gets sick is assured of some degree of assistance, as opposed to what we have now everybody who gets sick and who is unable to meet the cost, we in the Ministry of Health we make moral decisions to help people we would like with the Health Insurance to make an economic decision because we would have a pool of funds.

“If we take Dr. Martin’s assessment of cost of care on board, it means therefore that we have to have a pool of funds somewhere… So we should take tthe proactive approach in endorsing the Health Insurance so that everybody is covered and everybody is guaranteed some level of medical care,” he said.

While the Health Minister thanked Pink Lily for its efforts in the fight against Cancer, he noted that the meeting should serve to energise everyone who received the opportunity to better understand the disease and its implications and it should give all a missionary zeal to move forward to wage war on Cancer.

He added that the session should most importantly guide the participants toward prevention, treatment care and support of those who were affected by cancer and noted it was an opportune time for them to extend the pool of volunteers who could help to help others cope with Cancer.

“If we give one hour per week – a week has 168 hours and we give one hour per week to help people cope with such a difficult disease, we could all benefit because if it is that the incidence is anything to go by then we could reasonably assume that we will have persons who are close to us who will be diagnosed with cancer,” he said.

Notwithstanding, Mr. Daniel questioned what would be the next step for those already involved in the fight against Cancer.

“The question now of the Ministry of Health and perhaps of our Pink Lily we have heard of what they do, I would simply end by asking the question: What next? Where do we go from here? Do we continue our efforts to enlargen the awareness of the people and do we continue to take on board, encourage all of the individuals to take the necessary steps to prevent cancer.

“I believe we have with us in Nevis the human and financial resources to at least provide palliative care when it becomes necessary for persons who are afflicted by Cancer…Together we have begun doing something, together we must coontinue to do the things that make a difference,” he stated.

During his remarks the Health Minister also praised the fortitude of the Cancer Survivors on Nevis, three of whom gave testimony of their experience with the illness financially, emotionally and otherwise.

He said it was easy for one not afflicted by the disease to say that it was not a death sentence but the Survivor’s account of their experiences was a clear demonstration that Cancer was indeed not a death sentence.

“So if anything, they [Survivors] could at least in time and over time as people become ill with the disease they will serve as inspiration for them,” he said.

Mr. Daniel also used the opportunity to laude the efforts of all the Doctors Health Service Providers and their support staff at the various Health Centres and Hospitals who had to deal with patients afflicted with Cancer and addressed the issue of Cancer in a meaningful way.

However, he noted that given the incidence of Cancer on Nevis, he was certain that Medical Practitioners would welcome the opportunity for some detailed research in Nevis, to determine the cancer causing agent whether it was via heredity or whether it was via the environment.

Mr. Daniel also spoke to the establishment of a Cancer Registry from which contact tracing could be done. He explained that in that way a case could be built for persons who were related and their risk factor for Cancer could be determined.

He said it was one area the Ministry of Health planned to pursue in the ensuing year.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Women Given Information To Fight Cervical Cancer
2. Nevis Health Minister Claims Cancer Registry Will Aid Resource Allocation
3. Nevis Joins In With Observance Of World Cancer Day
4. Nevis Observes World Cancer Day
5. St. Kitts – Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer Says Cancer Is Not A Death Sentence

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