Nevis News

Nevis news – local Nevis news, and regional Caribbean news.

Nevis Premier’s New Year’s Message 2009

Joseph Parry - Nevis Premier

A Message of Hope and Encouragement For 2009

Charlestown, Nevis
January 01, 2009

I bring New Year Greetings to all the people of Nevis, the people of St. Kitts and those Nevisians who live in the Diaspora. I especially remember those of us who live in the Virgin Islands, the nearby islands of St. Maarten and Anguilla, and of course the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The year gone by has had its successes and disappointments.  In spite of a year of recession in the United States and the closure of the Four Seasons Hotel, which is the main source of employment in the private sector and the major revenue earner on Nevis, in relative terms, the people of Nevis did well.

Firstly, we were able to maintain full employment.  In fact, due to the commencement of operations of the Brown Hill Communications Company in June of last year over 85 additional young persons are now employed.  They work in a comfortable environment and there are certain worker benefits that are available for the first time in this sector of the economy.  Early in the New Year, I have been informed that the company will be recruiting and training additional persons.

Secondly, the Government of Nevis commenced the exploration of Geothermal Energy with the assistance of the West Indies Power Company.  It is of the greatest significance to the people of Nevis.

The oil crisis is not over.  We have been fortunate to see a drop in World oil prices as they went from US$147.00 per barrel in June last year to approximately US$40.00 per barrel at the end of 2008.  This has resulted in a considerable reduction in the cost of gasoline, diesel and other fuels over the ensuing month.  However, as the major countries of the world recover from difficult times the world price of oil will rise again.  Therefore, the development of geothermal energy for electricity consumption will bring stability to electricity rates and will also ensure consistent and affordable rates for those of us who do business with NEVLEC.

It will create additional jobs for our people in the construction phase, the production phase and it will attract other industries in search of cheap power to Nevis.

It will not only reduce the cost of energy to NEVLEC it will help the Government to save money and will attract revenue, especially, from sales to other industries and, overseas, in the future.

During the month of December the Government’s team of our Legal Advisor, Hon. Patrice Nisbett, Mr. Laurie Lawrence, the Financial Secretary, Ernie Stapleton, P.S Ministry of Communication, Works and Public Utilities, Cartwright Farrell, General Manager of NEVLEC, a representative from the Organization of American States, and advisors for the UK and Geothermal Association of the USA completed the terms and conditions for a contractual agreement with West Indies Power, for the way forward.  Those terms and conditions will be made public before the end of January.

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Planning Vital For Economic Growth In St. Kitts – Nevis

St. Kitts - Nevis National Flag

Skilled Leadership and Careful Planning A Must

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 01, 2009 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Thursday that careful planning and experienced leadership are vital to continued economic progress if St. Kitts and Nevis is to overcome the difficult global challenges that are ahead.

Pointing to the fact that the St. Kitts and Nevis economy has expanded in real terms by about 50 percent notwithstanding the closure of the sugar industry, Prime Minister Douglas said the vision of change is realisable with seasoned leadership and the continued resolve and commitment of its people.

“It is a vision that calls upon us to move to the next stage of development and to free ourselves of political animosity so that we accelerate our progress to a better society and an improved quality of life for every Kittitian and Nevisian. It is a vision that calls for national unity and invites us to be tolerant of differences of opinion as we embrace each other as brothers and sisters of this our fair beautiful and free land,” said Dr. Douglas in his radio and television broadcast Thursday morning.

Prime Minister Douglas is of the view that his governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration is well placed to provide the leadership required to change the political culture, foster national unity and build a society of which every Kittitian and Nevisian would be proud.

“We are a Government of and for the people that has brought dramatic change to the economic and social landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis. We are well placed to build on that change and enhance the sustainability of that change by creating a more peaceful, and harmonious society in which each citizen; each resident and each visitor would feel happy and even more secure,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who noted that even before the drums of present carnival celebrations fade away and before the fun and frolic subside, nationals of the twin-island Federation must focus their attention on the year ahead with a view towards making New Year resolutions and crafting appropriate strategies to secure the continued advancement of each individual citizen, and of the nation as a whole.

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