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

PAM Leader – Lindsay Grant

March 22, 2012
Peoples Action Movement
St. Kitts – Nevis

Sandy Point was the venue for a meeting of the Peoples Action Movement last Sunday evening and Old Road followed on Thursday night.

The main speakers at both meetings were Dr. Charles Warner, Deputy Political Leader Hon Eugene Hamilton, Deputy Political Leader Hon Shawn Richards and Political Leader Mr. Lindsay Grant.

The messages from the meetings focused on issues affecting our people during their everyday life. These included topics covering Crime and solutions; economic woes and remedies; the havoc of our National Debt and ways to restore our financial credibility and programs that benefit people and engender hope and opportunity.

Listeners heard how the present Labour Party is unrecognizable by its members who are one by one publicly condemning the Leadership of their party and country for ignoring the history of Labour and for losing sight of the policies and programs that gave birth to the Labour Movement in the Federation.

Listeners heard how the present Government has adopted policies that have condemned citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis to a lifetime of poverty and enslavement, while at the same time staking claim as a Government that loves those who are poor.

The examples of how Housing and Social Services Levy deducted from wages on the false claim to construct houses that have been used to rip off poor unsuspecting occupants were given. The example of locals who live here, having to pay VAT of 17% while those who stay at our hotels are only required to pay VAT of 10% was given. The example of electricity consumption of 200 units per month was billed at $85.00 before the General Election of 2010 and that same consumption of 200 units is now at a cost of $199.00 was given; an increase of 170%.

Listeners heard how the Government has allowed millions of dollars to be paid into bank accounts of individuals or corporations that are not entitled to such payments.

The example of $250 million (claimed to be spent on La Vallee Golf Course that has had one day of Golf played) that has found its way in the pockets of undeserving players, that has produced no income or sustainable employment whatsoever was given. The example of Beacon Heights that has so far sucked over #80 million from our Social Security Pension Fund that has no earnings projections satisfying an investment return was given. The example of SIDF raking in over $600 million USD that ought to be in the Consolidated Fund of the State but is used as a slush fund of the Political Directorate was given. The example of $11 million dollars paid out in 2007/2008 for so called Hydrofoil debt that has been Statute barred for over 16 years was given.

Listeners heard some examples of the way forward with PAM; a way of hope, opportunity and Good Governance; a way in which every citizen can participate and grow as the Nation grows.

The example of a National Health Insurance Scheme that would help save the lives of those who cannot afford Health Coverage and the cost of Health Care was given. The example of Venture Capital Funding for those with bright, realistic ideas whose circumstances militate against them accessing funds from the traditional sources was given. The example of sunshine in Government facilitated by such legislation as Integrity in Public Life and Freedom of Information was given.

On Sunday March 18th at the 47th Convention of PAM that will be held at the party headquarters there will be an opportunity for those who missed the PAM message to listen and appreciate the need for change.

While we expect that seated will be treated, we have arranged for the live broadcast of the Convention so that those, especially those who live in the Diaspora can relax and listen.

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CTO Chairman – Richard Skerritt
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 04, 2011 (CUOPM)

Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Sen. the Hon, Richard Skerritt has warned the region not to allow local political partisan interests to undermine the Caribbean’s main income earner.

Sen. Skerritt, who is also Minister of Tourism and International Transport in St. Kitts and Nevis, said given the challenges of the current world economy, there is an urgent need for all sectors in each island to work closer together.

Speaking at a tourism seminar in Grenada, he said local politicians must put aside their own partisan interests to ensure that the region’s tourism sector survives these times.

“Our tourism must be protected from the partisan tribalism that often divides us in these islands. We don’t have to like each other to work together in the national interest,” Skerritt explained.

“We just need to like what we do and love our country. We don’t have to agree on everything in order to improve our product standards and island experience for our visitors.”

The St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Minister said the common national interest of preserving the crucial tourism sector must trump all other considerations.

Skerritt said an eminent danger to regional tourism is what he called local “political stupidity.”

“We don’t have to vote for the same party in order to recognise the value of tourism expenditure in our economy,” he said.

“We must therefore not allow the vital needs of tourism to be compromised by shortsighted political stupidity. Political stupidity is prevalent across our region.”

The CTO Chairman also warned about the eagerness to cut back spending on market competitiveness because of the crisis.

He said what the industry needs now in a time of crisis are wise investments.

“And while we have to be prudent in our own expenditure we must not allow overly obsessed cost cutters in our businesses and government to ignore the need for people development or in market competitiveness,” said the tourism minister.

“We should have passed the stage of debating this but across the region you will be surprised how many people do not understand this. You will be surprised at how many leaders in our industry, government and private sector do not understand that tourism wealth actually alleviates poverty,” said Skerritt in the CMC report by Rawle Titus in Grenada.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Tourism Minister At Caribbean Tourism Summit
2. Skerritt Disappointed By PAM’s Carnival Politics
3. Churches Urged Not To Get Involved In Politics
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Tourism Increases Since Last Year
5. Skerritt Elected as Caribbean Tourism Organization Chairman

St. Kitts – Nevis PM – Denzil Douglas
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
September 20, 2011 (CUOPM)

A call for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to be ever mindful of the importance of self-respect, tolerance and compassion to protect the overall interests of the twin-island Federation.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in his official address to mark the 28th Anniversary of political independence urged nationals as they enter the 29th year “to find a way of injecting the concept of tolerance into the thinking of those for whom rage is, unfailingly, the first response.”

“And may we be inspired and motivated to embrace, and put into action, the compassion that was so ably demonstrated by all those who came before,” said Prime Minister Douglas in his national broadcast.

Dr. Douglas in calling on nationals to defend the right to vote secured by National Heroes, Their Right Excellencies Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, Sir C. A. Paul Southwell and Sir Joseph N. France.

“We see countries being torn asunder because their people have spent their entire lives without ever once having had a chance to vote.  And so they now risk their lives – in their hunger for the rights that National Heroes Bradshaw, Southwell, and France so valiantly secured for us all, so very long ago. And like you, I see neighbourhoods,  drenched in blood because fathers,  and brothers, and cousins were long ago hauled off by governments and locked away, out of the reach of spouses, out of the reach of friends, out of reach of their children, simply for having one political view or another and for daring to express them. We are, indeed blessed, blessed we are to live in a country where, in the words of our national anthem, our people do, indeed, ‘stand free’,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

“I long for an end to the death and destruction.  And this makes me give thanks, in the privacy of my own heart, that we are able to live in “a country where peace abounds”.  Like you, I understand the value of living in a land in which, despite our political differences, despite our religious distinctions, despite whatever superficial details may distinguish us one from another, we have, and have long had, what the people in many countries are literally – and tragically – dying to achieve,” Dr. Douglas told the Nation.

He referred to the trauma and tumult taking place in other countries, pointing out that some nations are being shaken to the core by rage over political prisoners, denial of rights, and the absence of the vote, others are being brought to their knees by trade imbalances, fiscal shortfalls, massive debt, unmanageable deficits, unemployment and socio-economic desperation.

“Yet here, through the grace of God, we stand on these two islands.  Not impervious to the tumult in the world, but nonetheless forging ahead.  Striving to provide – and indeed providing – social, economic, and political opportunities for the people of this land.  In the midst of the dire conditions beyond our shores, we can and must rejoice today that through planning and hard work, St. Kitts and Nevis has stayed afloat.  It is a positive reflection on us all that this tiny nation that we call home has stayed the course,” said Prime Minister Douglas as he commended “each and every one of the 50,000 Kittitians and Nevisians living at home, and the thousands living abroad who have helped to make our tiny nation the brave, competent, praise-worthy one that it is, in the sea of the six thousand million persons, struggling and striving, all around us.”

Speaking of the battle of the negative influences that nations face in steadily shaping the minds, the attitudes, and the values of their nations, Prime Minister Douglas noted that these influences affect not just children, but people of all ages to varying degrees, as they steadily change and adjust their perceptions of what is right and what is wrong, what is normal and what is not, what is acceptable and unacceptable and what is indeed, good.

“Key to any victory in this mammoth battle will be our self-respect. Because it is only those nations and peoples who respect themselves who can ever hope to discern what is acceptable and what is not……what is tonic and what is toxic……what is friend and what is foe.  And so, today, tomorrow, and beyond, we must make the effort to see patriotism not merely in terms of buntin, our anthem, and our flag, although they are all important and precious symbols of our nationhood.  We must, most importantly, assert our patriotism via a renewed emphasis on self-respect………in all that we do:  In our offices.  In our schools.  In our homes.  In the way we worship.  In the way we mourn,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said the rights and privileges enjoyed today did not come by the wave of a hand.

“Our forefathers struggled.  And suffered. They were shot down in the foothills of Mount Liamuiga, and at Buckley’s as they endured great hardship to win for themselves – and for us – many of the rights that are ours today.  In light of this, then, though we have all slipped, and though we have all erred, let us, nonetheless, valiantly strive, in all we do and say, to prove ourselves worthy of their sacrifice,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who declared that the true wealth of a nation, in the final analysis, is found in its people.

“I know that the wealth of our nation most certainly resides in our people.  For it is in a nation’s people that one finds the impulse to plan – or not plan.  The willingness to strive – or not strive.  The propensity for conflict or the instinct for peace. It is a matter of record that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, as a result of their own character and vision, have established  and maintained a vibrant, respected democracy,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said tolerance at the level of the adults is not enough and there has been extraordinary levels of performance by the youth from academics to athletics and beyond.

“Tolerance must now be taught, now be imparted, now be instilled amongst and between very different groups of young people, however – as is now being done in our schools.  Because it is, in fact, a most extreme form of intolerance that is at the root of the violence that has been of such concern to us all. And as we move beyond today, however, each with our own responsibilities based on the lives that we lead and the work that we do, let us remain aware of, and sensitive to, one of the special sparks that make us truly human – the spark of compassion,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

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