Nevis News

Charlestown, Nevis (June 01, 2007)

Acting Premier of Nevis the Hon Hensley Daniel in a message to the nation advised Nevisians to use June 1st to reflect and prepare themselves psychologically, to deal with a potentially dangerous 2007 hurricane season.
 
Mr. Daniel’s comment came while he delivered an address on behalf of Premier the Hon Joseph Parry, at a church service with the theme “Lord Visit Us”, during a National Day of Prayer for Nevis, at the New Testament Church of God on Bath Road on Friday June 1, 2007, the first day of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
 
“As a government and as a people we do not want any disruption but we must bear in mind that this is God’s world. We must use this day to reflect on how we could prepare ourselves psychologically top deal with this potentially dangerous season.
 
“The stress from the threat of hurricanes is often greater than the effect of hurricanes. Let us take the necessary precautions and follow the direction of the authorities and where possible report instances that can lead to damage during the hurricane season,” he said.
 
Mr. Daniel urged persons to ask themselves what they had done to reduce the impact of hurricanes; whether they dumped refuse in ghauts which caused blockages, built houses too near to waterways or whether they were sufficiently concerned about the preservation of the natural environment, which was so important to anchor Nevis’ tourism development.

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Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis, May 31st 2007

Economic growth in St. Kitts and Nevis rose slightly in 2006 to 4.4 percent from 4.1 percent in 2005, driven mainly by a surge in construction, strong gains in agricultural and manufacturing output, and continued growth in tourism and related services.

According to the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank in its 2006 Report released at the Bank’s Board of Governors Meeting in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, value-added in the tourism and manufacturing sectors increased by over 10 percent and by over 21 percent in the construction sector.

Fiscal performance strengthened in 2006, owing mainly to strong revenue performance.”Continued administrative improvements at both the Customs and Inland Revenue Departments together, with policy measures that included the introduction of an electricity surcharge, a higher rate for the social services levy, and higher excise duties on alcohol and tobacco accounted for higher revenue collections,” said CDB, adding: “Current expenditure was contained, and these factors contributed a small recurrent account surplus in 2006, compared with a small deficit in 2005. Lower net capital spending resulted in a smaller overall deficit in 2006, compared with 2005.”

CDB reported that agricultural production increased by 3.8 percent from the level in 2005, falling slightly short of reversing the decline of 3.9 percent which had occurred in 2005.

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