Nevis News

Charlestown, Nevis (April, 02, 2007)

Minister of Youth in the Nevis Island Administration the Hon. Hensley Daniel challenged the youths on Nevis to grab hold of the chance to help build the nation and shape the society through their participation in Youth Month 2007 activities.

The Minister made the call on Monday April, 02, 2007 during an address to launch Youth Month 2007. The month of activities which is being held under the theme “Youth in Unity”, will conclude on May, 2nd. The last Youth Month in Nevis was held in 1999.

“I am aware of the challenges facing young people such as drugs, crime, violence, HIV/AIDS, alcoholism and drug abuse and lax and loose morals. Despite these challenges, I urge you to use the month to reflect on how you can achieve and identify those things that will prevent you. Remember you were born to make manifest the glory of God that is in you. You have great potential. You must set aside time to work on maximising your potential. You must use the opportunities to become shakers and movers.

“I trust that during the month young people would pursue and chart a course which is marked by discipline, respect, good manners, love, tolerance, sharing and togetherness. I want the young people to use the month to turn their backs on violence and all other forms of anti-social behaviour. I want young people to understand that the future of this small island rests with them. There is considerable interest in the young in the government. All my Cabinet colleagues are very keen to help young people,” he said.

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CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (March 30, 2007)

Farmers on Nevis should continue to embrace new technologies, as the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) strived, through consultation, to provide a climate conducive to continued progress and growth. Minister of Agriculture on Nevis the Hon. Robelto Hector made the comment, while he impressed on farmers the importance of technology, when he delivered the feature address at the 13th annual Agriculture Open Day at The Villa in Charlestown on March 29, 2007.

“I ask you as farmers and as a society to continue to embrace new technologies. As a government we would upon consultation with you, strive to provide the climate necessary for your continued progress and growth. We are all aware that Nevis like other Caribbean islands continues to face the challenges of natural disasters; an aging farming population; barriers to Caribbean trade; a lack of private and public investment in the agricultural sector and the depletion of our marine resources.

“Despite these challenges, agriculture related issues continue to dominate the global trade agenda”¦ Let us all view what is offered today and recognize that the agricultural sector of our economy is a sector that contributes significantly to food security, social stability, protection of our environment and generation of employment,” he said.

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CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (March 29, 2007)

Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry made a passionate plea to Nevisians, to return to the soil and to consume locally produced foods if they are to guard against diseases and a shortened lifespan. The call came when he made remarks at the opening ceremony of the 13th Agriculture Open day at the Villa in Charlestown on Thursday March 29, 2007.

The function signalled the start of the two-day annual flagship event of the Department and Ministry of Agriculture on Nevis, with the theme “Implementing Science and Technology to increase and sustain Agricultural Productivity”.  The exhibition is being held under the patronage of Mr. Charles Cozier a fisherman from Fountain Village.

Mr. Parry noted that at present, Nevis was faced with a situation where there was no export market and a notable shift from the consumption of local produce to imported products, a trend which was generally thought of as a mark of affluence. He urged Nevisians to reverse the trend and to pattern the eating habits of the people of Dominica who consumed more locally produced foods.

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Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis, MARCH 28TH 2007

The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) says despite the
closure of the sugar industry in St. Kitts and Nevis, economic growth has
accelerated in 2006,fiscal imbalances have improved significantly and
monetary aggregates have continued to grow in line with economic growth.

That’s according to the international financial institution’s Executive
Board Article IV consultation on St. Kitts and Nevis.

It noted that in July 2005, the sugar industry – the historical mainstay of
the economy – closed after more than 300 years. The industry had incurred
substantial losses –  on the order of 3 to 4 percent of GDP annually in the
last several years – even before the announced further cut in preferential
access to the EU market. The closure has required the government to service
the debt of the sugar company (about 29 percent of GDP). Public debt,
accumulated as a result of exogenous shocks (including three hurricanes in
the second half of the 1990s) and an accommodative policy stance, reached
190 percent of GDP at end-2005.

The IMF said despite the closure of the sugar industry, economic growth has
accelerated.

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