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

PM Douglas at Cayon High School
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 06, 2012 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis intends to grapple with the underlying social causes of crime during the New Year with the opening of a new co-ed rehabilitation centre and development of a National Child Protocol.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Denzil L. Douglas said his administration will continue to upgrade the technical and physical resources of the Security Forces through Funds from the European Union.

“This EU-funded initiative will focus on policy formulation, institutional strengthening, the provision of modern equipment, police training curriculum development, and the construction of a new police training facility as well as a prisoner rehabilitation centre,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said government intends to vigorously implement various law enforcement initiatives to combat crime and continue to address the underlying social causes of crime.

Prime Minister Douglas said the New Horizon Co-ed Rehabilitation Centre will be open this year after implementing an intensive training programme to prepare the relevant staff to carry out their functions at the Centre.

“We are moving forward with the development of a National Child Protocol with a view to securing its early implementation. We intend to eradicate child abuse and the associated pain and trauma, which often result in psychological problems leading to criminal and anti-social behavior,” said Dr. Douglas.

He disclosed that the federation will be implementing research projects to probe the effect of various teaching and learning variables on the performance and behavior of primary and secondary school children.

The studies will focus on a number of issues including the effect of single sex classrooms, school climate, students’ risk behavior assessment, and school needs assessment.

The Education Department is also strengthening the structure for the delivery of the Caribbean Vocational and Educational Qualification with a view to ensure that all of our students, the technically inclined as well the academically inclined, would be provided a balanced education that gives them the opportunity to explore and prepare themselves for careers in areas of studies that are consistent with their interests and aptitudes.

“We believe that while Law Enforcement will always play a critical role in the prevention and detection of crimes, the work of our Security Forces would be made much easier over the long-term if we address the social factors that give rise to the propensity to engage in criminal activity. Hence, we are tackling crime on both fronts. Our aim is the creation of a progressive and prosperous country in which our people can go about their business peacefully, harmoniously and free of fear,” Prime Minister Douglas said.

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3. Nevis Government Fights Child Sexual Abuse
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Seeks Child Development Project Loan
5. Nevis Signs Protocol At CARICOM Inter-Sessional

Nevis Premier – Joseph Parry

Charlestown, Nevis
December 18, 2011

“Young people in Nevis need to speak their minds,” Premier and Minister of Education, the Hon. Joseph Parry admonished scores of Nevisian educators during the 2011 Teachers’ of Excellence Awards Ceremony held at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis  on Saturday evening.

The event is held annually by the Department of Education to honour the service of distinguished men and women who over the years contribute selflessly to the development of Nevis in the field of education.

“I grew up always hearing that children should be seen and not heard. I went to Sixth Form and I heard people speak and I said nothing. I went to the University of the West Indies, and I heard people speak and I said nothing. It was not until my wedding day that I spoke to a crowd and I haven’t stopped since,” the Premier told his clearly amused audience.

He said that a child expressing him or herself is very important for good growth, and to assist with making contributions to the ever-changing world.

The Premier asked the teachers to encourage students to speak up, and to practice public speaking in front of others at an early age.

“Have the children speak about a story or an experience, and tape it for television so that they can see themselves on NTV,” commented Mr. Parry.

He told the educators that it is part of their role to help the children open up, instead of grappling with small- minded things. “Let them appreciate others around them, parents, other students, people in the community,” the Premier advised.

“I look around the room and I see outstanding persons including the President of the Nevis Island Assembly Mrs. Christine Springette, Deputy Premier the Hon. Hensley Daniel, and Director of Library Services, Mrs. Sonita Daniel, and I know that they have been outstanding teachers and they encouraged many persons in Nevis to be their best and to have a voice. I encourage all the educators this evening to carry on the torch and be teachers of excellence”, concluded the Premier.

During the prestigious event, a total of eight teachers received the coveted title of Teacher of Excellence. They are: Mrs. Lineth Williams, Mr. Kirmani Webbe, Ms. Tanisha Dalton, Ms. Petrona Freeman, Ms. Shenella Joseph, Mrs. Suzette Sampson, Ms. Trecia Williams and Ms. Adebimpe Akomolafe.

Each Teacher of Excellence received a certificate of recognition, a laptop, a cash award and a plaque.

The awardees were selected by their peers and approved by the Principal. They were also required to submit a teaching portfolio, a video recording of an in-class session, and a pre-recorded interview which was aired on NTV Channel 8 prior to the awards ceremony.

The second category acknowledged during the ceremony was Exemplary Reading Recovery Teachers, Mrs. Terres Dore, Mrs. Julie Pemberton, Mrs. Judy Parris-Rawlins, Mrs. Omelle Browne and Ms. Leona Freeman. In the third category Recent Retirees Mr. Oliver Beazar and Mrs. Gurtis Brown were applauded for their work of educating young people.

The Premier congratulated all of the award recipients and said he wished them well in all their future endeavors.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Premier Encourages Women To Speak Out
2. Premier Asks Police Force to “Reach Out to the Young.”
3. Nevis Premier Continues To Reach Out To The People
4. Nevis Premier Welcomes Home Young Athletes
5. Premier Parry Enlightens People Of Nevis

Government Behind Mobile App Development

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
November 17, 2011 (SKNIS)

St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the Caribbean and the local Government continues to design projects to position the youth population to capitalize on the expansion of technology.

Director of Technology Christopher Herbert told SKNIS that his Department is partnering with Congress WBN of Trinidad and Tobago via the BrightPath Foundation, to introduce the iCAN Mobile App Development programme. This programme is designed to teach persons how to create application software (Apps) for technological devices including smart phones and tablet computers. Apps are designed to help users perform specific tasks and can include games, word processing, media players, navigation tools, social media, weather and news and more.

Minister responsible for Technology and Youth Honourable Glenn Phillip invited the group here after witnessing the initiative during a recent visit to Antigua and Barbuda. Mr. Herbert indicated that the programme was attractive for several reasons.

“It’s not just looking at mobile application in a vacuum. The idea is to create mobile applications to meet the needs of the community,” he explained.

In order to adequately identify various issues that affect communities across the twin-island Federation, and create practical solutions to them, the participants will undergo social skill training in leadership, values, ethics, morals and the like.

“So this initiative intends to empower marginalized youth, it intends to address many of the community needs by engaging the persons who live there, and it is providing the industry skills to create applications that can provide the solutions,” Mr. Herbert stressed, noting that many countries share similar experiences which will allow for the apps to be used regionally and internationally.

The workshop will be held in December and is expected to run for four days. It will be held at the National ICT Center.

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2. SKN Mobile Election Confirmation Unit Schedule
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Confirms Over 1,100 Voters Via Mobile Unit
4. St. Kitts Youth Department Reaches Out To Youths
5. Nevis Youth Development Program To Begin