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

Social Minister – Ms. Marcella Liburd
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 5, 2012 (SKNIS)

The Cabinet of Ministers in the Federal Government was impressed with the progress of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) during a visit to its community farm.

The Sugar Industry Diversification Fund (SIDF) sponsored pilot programme is separated into two main parts – hydroponics food crop production and life skills training. It specifically targets “at risk” youth in the community. A total of 35 young men so far have immersed themselves in leaning about self-improvement and receiving counseling.

Hon. Marcella Liburd, Minister of Social Development, under whose ministry STEP falls, has been actively involved in bringing this programme to the young people of the community.

“What we did was we opened it up to applications and I went around telling them how they could apply” said Minister Liburd. “It isn’t that we went and handpicked any of them, we went around and told them this is a project that we are thinking about and tried to encourage them to become interested, because a lot of them were not doing anything so that they could go and apply through Youth Skills.” “I think around thirty something of the fifty something who applied turned up to the orientation and those were the thirty something that started here.”

Minister Liburd said although young men currently participating in the programme are satisfied with it; it is still a work in progress. She also said the greater response thus far has been from males.

“Well, they are satisfied with it but, it’s a work in progress in the sense that I don’t think some of them really understand the opportunity that they’re getting” said Minister Liburd. “It’s a two-part thing. There are some at the community center doing self-improvement and counseling. If they don’t get over that hump, they would not be able to use this opportunity that is presented to them.”

“I tried my best to get women involved in this because it was not just for men” said Minister Liburd. “I actually spoke to young women in the area and asked them to go and apply. I think only like two or three of them did apply and none of them showed up for the orientation so it just happened that it turns out to be all men.”

The programme is expected to have a downward effect on crime and the country’s import bill. Participant Brian Griffin in a comment to the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) described the programme as a wonderful experience and sees himself as an upcoming fruit and vegetable producer in the future of St. Kitts and Nevis.

“Well so far I think that the programme has been wonderful and it has been a wonderful experience for most of the young men to come together” said Brian Griffin. “The best thing I got out of the programme is the teamwork as everybody got together and worked to accomplish one goal. In the future I expect to see myself as one of the biggest fruit and vegetable producer in St. Kitts. We are just trying to make sure that the nation is healthy and rich and keep it wealthy.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Media Recruited To Help Fight Crime
2. Canadian Police To Help Fight Crime in St. Kitts – Nevis
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Citizens Urged To Join Crime Fight
4. St. Kitts – Nevis PM Determined To Fight Crime
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Expands CCTV Use To Fight Crime

Police Commissioner – Mr. C.G. Walwyn
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Charlestown, Nevis
April 26, 2012

“I don’t get involved in politics, I deal strictly with law enforcement but I can tell you I have the full support of Premier Parry and Prime Minister Douglas none of them has ever called me to interfere with what I am doing.”

Those were the words of Commissioner of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Celvin. G. Walwyn in an interview with the Department of Information on Tuesday April 24, 2012 regarding the Nevis Island Administration’s support to the law enforcement agency.

“When I do something it’s done and that’s it but as far as giving us materials they gave what they can, the community also gave what they can but I can tell you they are 100 percent behind what we are doing,” he said.

The Commissioner was at the time visiting the primary and secondary schools in Gingerland one day after meeting with villagers of Brown Hill and ahead of a planned walk through in the village of Rawlings on Saturday April 28th, 2012 to meet with residents in the area.

He attributed his recent increased presence on Nevis to the strengthening bonds between the police and the public.

“The reason why I came to Nevis is because I want to make sure the police and the community continue to engender a relationship that would lead to a decrease in crime. We have seen the support slowly coming to the police over the last few months and I would like to make sure that this stays and gets even better,” he said.

According to Commissioner Walwyn, he would continue to do all he could to reach every day people in the fight against crime.

“I am the Police Commissioner but I am also a person and even though this is supposed to be a high office, I am willing to come down to earth with the people because I am one of the people and embrace the people in the fight against crime.

“Last night I believe well over 65 persons had turned out in Brown Hill. That was great, you know with that kind of turnout, it tells me that the people are concerned about crime and the police/community relationship and if that can come out then it is my duty to come and meet and to answer any questions that they may have,” he said.

Since Monday night’s meeting in Brown Hill, the Federation’s highest ranking Police Officer said some changes had already been implemented based on the questions he received then.

Regarding his meeting with the students at Gingerland, he said it was important for the police to embrace the island’s children and teach them to make a difference in the society.

“We have to get with the children embrace the children and teach them ways to make a difference because they are the future but as we have seen, a lot of our crime has been with teenagers and if we can reach these children now we won’t have to apprehend them later so I’d rather reach than apprehend,” he said.

The Commissioner further indicated that steps had already been taken in the Federation through a mentoring programme called Magic.

“We mentor, advise, guide and instruct children and the programme came to us from Orange County Florida. We brought an instructor in at no cost to the Federation, to train officers in St. Kitts and Nevis to help deter children, Kindergarten to 3rd Grade, ages 10-13, to deter them from a life of crime.

“As I spoke to the children this morning I told them I have noticed in the last couple of weeks and last month, we have had a lot of people who have been coming to get Police Records to get their Green Cards. We know times are hard here in this country right now and people would like to do better for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to give you a certificate saying you don’t have a criminal record when you have one. As a result they cannot get their Green Card. So whatever struggles they are having right now they will have to endure. Crime does not pay and it affects you for the rest of your life,” he explained.

During his visit to Nevis, the Commissioner was accompanied by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Nevis Division Robert Liburd and officers stationed there.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Police Commissioner Speaks To Students
2. Nevis Government Assures Support For Police Force
3. Nevis’ Assistant Police Commissioner Retires
4. Federation’s Police Commissioner Calls For Help In Fight Against Crime
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Police Commissioner On Local Gangs

Nevis Premier – Joseph Parry

Charlestown, Nevis
April 12,2012

Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry has declared Monday, April 16, as a “day of prayer and fasting for our nation’s challenges”. The Nevisian leader has beseeched Nevisians “to drop everything and fold your hands to pray”.

“Nevis needs healing,” Parry said during his weekly program, In Touch with the Premier. “We have been besieged by financial debt, political divisiveness, criminal activity and a number of challenges.”

Parry invited members of his Cabinet, the Opposition in Nevis, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) to issue similar proclamations, “encouraging their constituents to pray that day for unity and righteousness for our nation and mankind.” He wants other politicians and residents of Nevis to join him at the Charlestown Methodist Church at 6pm after a day of prayer and fasting from 6am-6pm, organized by a committee of pastors and lay persons.

The Service is billed as a “non-denominational, apolitical, Christian prayer meeting,” hosted by the Nevis Island Administration.

“As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of we so richly enjoy,” said the Premier.

Meanwhile, the Committee Chairperson- Mrs. Patsy Hanley, told the Department of Information on Thursday afternoon that the island needs “spiritual healing”.

“Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on April 16, residents of Nevis will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose,” said, Mrs.Hanley.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Premier And Opposition Leader Vow To Fight Crime
2. Federation’s Police Commissioner Calls For Help In Fight Against Crime
3. Nevis Premier Calls For Action To Halt Crime Wave
4. Nevis Government & Local Businesses Fight Crime
5. Nevis Police Get 5 New Jeeps To Fight Crime