Nevis News Archives - Page 1224 of 1451 - Nevis Island News and Notes

The Caribbean Needs To Protect Its Educational Role

Venisha Pringle – Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Graduate
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 24, 2008 (CUOPM)

Caribbean nations are opposed to the full-scale liberalisation or opening up of the region’s tertiary education sector, which is seen as a public good and not as an economic or commercial enterprise.

Speaking at the just concluded Caribbean-New York Conference last week at which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Medgar Evers College in New York, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas noted that the United States, the lead competitor in the tertiary education sector and as a member of the WTO, the US has sought “”¦full commitments for market access and national treatment in higher education and training services, for adult education, and for ‘other’ education.” The request has been made to all 145 WTO members.

Douglas said given that one significant aspect of the GATS is non-reciprocity, CARICOM Member States understandably, are quite cynical about and resistant to this quest by the USA.

“This is one area that is worthy of further discussion and cooperation since developed countries such as the USA are much more competitive in this sector and the domestic providers such as those in the Caribbean Community are not ready for an open, market driven environment,” said Dr. Douglas, the region’s lead spokesman on education.

Nevis Represenative – Hon. Robelto Hector Charlestown, Nevis June 23, 2008 Parliamentary Representative for the St. Pauls Constituency Hon. Robelto Hector, described two weeks of training hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from June 07-20, 2008 in Europe, as beneficial …

PM Douglas Speaks With Students
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 23, 2008 (CUOPM)

The CARICOM Community (CARICOM) is currently re-examining the scope and effectiveness of the overarching philosophy of “education for all.”

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at the Education Symposium of the New York Conference on the Caribbean felt the discussion could not be timelier.

St. Kitts and Nevis boasts of being the first Caribbean nation to introduce free secondary since 1965.

“In New York, it is clear that you are grappling with the reality of the principle of “˜no child left behind’ especially its implications for poor black and Latino children, among whom I am sure are some descendants from the Caribbean. In the CARICOM Community as in New York, educators and researchers are quizzical about the growing trend of male underperformance or under achievement and are sensitive to the need for corrective action that may have significant social consequences,” said Dr. Douglas.

He noted that for the Caribbean Community, there is the additional issue related to the migration of skilled and highly trained professionals and the discussions on how to tackle the ‘brain drain’ or ‘brain gain’ to the mutual benefit of both societies.

“While this panel focuses on collaboration among our higher educational institutions, it is critical to note that viable tertiary systems are highly dependent on the foundations laid during pre-school and kindergarten through to the elementary and high school levels,” said Dr. Douglas.

Reading Is Fundamental For Children

Charlestown, Nevis
June 20, 2008

The 25th celebration of independence for St. Kitts and Nevis would be the focus for the 19th Annual Environmental Awareness Programme.

The three week programme would this year be facilitated under the theme “Our country, our people, our future” with the sub-theme “Reminiscing the past, relishing the present, charting the way forward.” The programme is tailored towards the development of national pride and patriotism, sensitisation and awareness of the Federation’s progress as an independent nation, to display creative abilities through various art forms and to interact with their peers from other schools.

Librarian at the St. Georges Branch Library, Mrs. Yvette Liburd, told Department of Information in an interview on Wednesday June 18, 2008, that the children would be actively engaged during the sessions.

“The children will be engaged in illustrated and interactive lecture discussions, songs, art and craft, field trips, drama, quizzes, poetry and essay competitions, song writing competition, research projects and cookery exercises,” she said.

This year’s programme will feature topics such as the road to Independence, our Independence: national symbols and nation builders, our accomplishments since Independence and charting the way forward.

Caribbean Governments Step Up Fight On HIV/AIDS

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 20, 2008 (SKNIS)

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) in collaboration with The Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, Scotia Bank and the National AIDS Secretariat, Ministry of Health, have joined forces in hosting a National HIV Testing Day to coincide with International HIV Testing Day.

Regional Testing Day, Friday, June 27 2008, provides another unique opportunity to advance universal access to HIV prevention services in the Caribbean and further, to help reduce stigma and discrimination.

The objective of this special initiative is to heighten public interest in Voluntary Counselling and Testing as an effective mechanism for preventing the spread of HIV infection, and further, to help reduce stigma and discrimination.

The general public is asked to be apart of this drive by joining thousands of individuals regionally and internationally who recognizing the worth in knowing their status, will be tested on that day.

Additionally, this is also an opportunity for providing early intervention to persons who may test positive by accessing the free anti- retroviral drugs available in the Federation, thus drastically slowing down the progress of the disease.

The Caribbean Needs To Protect Its Educational Role

Nevis Parliamentarians Benefit From Training

CARICOM Re-evaluates Caribbean Education Policy

Nevis’ Annual Summer Library Program Begins

The Caribbean Steps Up HIV/AIDS Testing