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

Ambassador Tsao Speaking At Ceremony
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 27, 2011 (CUOPM)

Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Miguel Tsao said the electrification of Government Headquarters by solar energy signifies the commitment his Asian nation places on the everlasting friendship with the twin-island Federation and as a partner and ally – to provide new technology where possible.

Delivering remarks at a ceremony to activate the solar panels mounted on the roof of Government Headquarters to the national grid, Ambassador Tsao noted that the project comes following a visit to Taiwan in march by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Minister of Energy, the Hon. Dr. Asim Martin, when they visited a solar power plant and renewable energy factory.

“It reflects and demonstrates the emphasis and importance of their visit today during this ceremony. Certainly fruit has been borne of their tangible visit to my country,” said the top Taiwan diplomat, who noted the Right Honourable Prime Minister’s energy policy which is to achieve 60% energy generation from green energy sources by 2015.

“This project is consistent with that objective, and we hope what we do today can redound to benefit all for tomorrow. A popular Taiwanese saying is: “If we don’t do today, we will regret tomorrow” and also as the saying goes we will “throw out a sprat to catch a whale.”

Ambassador Tsao noted that due to limited roof space for solar panels, the project is meant to be a demonstration project and is also a stepping stone.

“My knowledge of solar panels is not vast but I was reliable informed that electricity from the solar panels are enough to power all lighting and most office machines with the solar panels lasting for total of 25 years,” he said.

The Taiwanese Ambassador also informed the fathering that solar power will also be incorporated into the Newton Ground Demonstration Farm project – whose design Prime Minister Dr. Douglas have had a hand in shaping.

“Again, I applaud your vision and passion in always putting your people’s interest first,” said Ambassador Tsao and used the opportunity to express thanks to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Lenrick Lake for the support given to the bilateral cooperation projects.

He also thanked Madam Tai-Hui Wu, Commissioner of Taiwanese Overseas Compatriot Affairs and owner of Solar Power Industries Inc. – one of the most thriving growing company in the USA – ceiling fan market.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts Government Headquarters Installs Solar Panels
2. Nevis Premier Observes Taiwan Trade Expo
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Looks To Solar Energy For Sustainable Development
4. St. Kitts – Nevis PM Says Recent Visit to Taiwan Highly Productive
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Farmers Team Up With Taiwan Technology

Nevis Premier – Joseph Parry

Charlestown Nevis
December 24, 2011

Premier of Nevis, the Hon Joseph Parry has reminded Nevisians that investors, both local and foreign, cannot set up businesses in a country where criminal activities are common and when that happens the government will not be in a position to develop the island to its maximum potential.

“Do we understand that it is difficult to develop a crime-ridden country?” Premier Parry posed on Thursday, December 22nd during the official opening ceremony of the Cotton Ground Police Station in the parish of St. Thomas. “Why would the visitors feel comfortable here if we have a bad reputation?”

Premier Parry said that criminal activities are not perpetrated by politicians but by ordinary people from across the entire political divide. He said that what might appear to be simple crimes, end up tarnishing the country when such information gets on the internet.

“When one comes to me and says my daughter needs a job, my son needs a job, I really don’t have that job to give them,” said Premier Parry. “But if the country is peaceful, and if people are behaving themselves, and investors local and foreign feel comfortable you will have jobs because they will invest in this country. We need to make the connection.”

On the other hand, he has requested the public to allow the police to have a freehand at performing their duties. Saying that people should realise that when the police carry out their duties, they are not being favoured, and when criminals are not apprehended it does not mean that criminals are being favoured.

He gave the example of when the police recently accosted a suspicious young man, and there was an outcry that the police were rough and not reasonable, and when members of the Delta Force (made up of police officers and defence force personnel) were sent to Nevis after a spike in criminal activities, persons claimed Nevis had gone back to the days of Premier Robert Bradshaw.

“Just a few months ago Nevisians were afraid to be out as late as six o’clock at night,” commented the Premier. “Just a few months ago expatriates were going crazy because they were so afraid of crime. Just a few months ago people were attacking the police and the government for doing nothing, and then we have these two incidents.

He said that the people of Nevis need to put their support behind the police.

According to Premier Parry, people need to understand that with the behaviour and actions of some of the criminals and their easy access to guns, the police have to make the criminals respect them. If the public goes against the police, they are strengthening the criminals, and that way undermining their own selves, because the police are not going after the criminals to help themselves, they are helping the community.

“Delta Force came over and the criminals disappeared,” reported Premier Parry. “What does that have to do with a man (Premier Bradshaw) who died thirty years ago? They are over here to protect us. They are over here to make those who want to raid,  rob and break in and do the wrong things, go in their holes and hide. That is where they belong, in their holes and if they come out, the police must make them go back in. Isn’t that what we want as a community?”

Built at a cost of EC$1.3 million, the Cotton Ground Police Station is the third major investment by the NRP-led Nevis Island Administration to make the work of the police in Nevis much easier. Police barracks have been built at Butlers and at Belle Vue. The Premier thanked former police commissioner, Mr Austin Williams, former Superintendent of Police in Nevis, Mr Samuel Seabrookes, and the current Superintendent Mr. Hilroy Brandy for their contribution towards the building of the police station.

“The work that we have done as a government, we have done it not because we simply love the police, but because as a government we have certain objectives for the country,” stated the Premier. “The first objective is for all our people to be gainfully employed. Whatever we do, it boils down to the point that we want to see all Nevisians working.”

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis PM On Creation Of Anti-Crime Unit
2. Nevis Premier Continues Work On Crime Prevention
3. St. Kitts – Nevis’ Attorney General To Lead Fight Against Crime
4. Nevis Police Get 5 New Jeeps To Fight Crime
5. Nevis Premier Addresses Crime Problem On Island

Four Seasons Closure Hurt Economy

Charlestown, Nevis
December 19, 2011

Premier and Minister of Finance, the Hon Joseph Parry, has said that his government introduced stimulus packages during its first term in office to mitigate against the fallout that would have impacted on the island’s economy negatively with a prevailing recession and the closure of the Four Seasons Resort.

Speaking on Friday, December 16 at the reopening and renaming ceremony of the Charlestown Public Market after extensive renovations, Premier Parry said that the project was part of the government’s stimulus packages to ensure full employment in the country. He noted that a number of people questioned what a stimulus package was and what his government was doing.

“And when (US President) Barack Obama spoke about stimulus packages I am quite sure people were surprised that we did it in Nevis first,” observed Premier Parry. “We were in the middle of a recession and the Four Seasons Resort was closed — we needed to find employment for the people of Nevis, and we borrowed $10 million and created employment so that in the heart of the recession Nevis had full employment because of the Nevis Reformation Party.”

The refurbished market has been renamed the George Mowbray Hanley Market Complex, in honour of a man who was its keeper for over 30 years. Premier Parry, who was accompanied by his entire Cabinet at the function, recalled that he knew Mr Hanley, from Government Road, very well adding that he was a citizen of this country who did his job well.

He informed that Mr Hanley lost his wife when the children were still young, and he became their father and mother and that is the reason most of them had returned to Nevis for the occasion, to pay respect to an outstanding man, who was also an outstanding parent. Premier Parry called all of them by name recalling that some went to school with him while he taught others.

“Mr Mowbray Hanley was an example to all of us and I hope we will take that into consideration even as we go through difficult times,” said Parry. “He was a great man and I am pleased to be associated with his name; I am pleased to be associated with his children; I am pleased that we are able to honour him.”

Addressing a large crowd that had turned up to witness the reopening and renaming of the market, Premier Parry said that his government felt that money borrowed had to be put in projects that would have a great impact on people. Among the projects include community centres, primary school meals kitchen in Charlestown and expansion at the Charlestown Secondary School and the Sixth Form College as well as the Gingerland Secondary School.

Before the start of the programme, the Premier visited all the stands at the market and shook hands with the market vendors, whom he said were happy and pleased by what the government had done in Charlestown. He said to the vendors: “We are treating you well and now you will have refrigeration and all the nice facilities: enjoy it; value it, treasure it, keep it clean.”

Related posts:

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2. St. Kitts – Nevis Extends Stimulus Package For Restaurants
3. Eleven Restaurants Get Approval For Stimulus Package
4. Full Service Stand Alone Restaurants Stimulus Package
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