Nevis News

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

PM Douglas Says Region Will Fight HIV/AIDS

aids awareness ribbon

AIDS/HIV Awareness Ribbon

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 11, 2008 (CUOPM)

The Caribbean region remains resolute and steadfast as it moves towards building the national and regional architecture that will ensure the attainment of universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010 and sustainability beyond.

“Today, I feel vindicated to be in a position to present the largely positive mid-term scorecard of the Caribbean to this 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS of the General Assembly of the United Nations. For us, it is particularly gratifying to note that 21 countries of the Caribbean submitted assessment reports on their progress in achieving the key indicators adopted at the 2006 UNGASS meeting. The completion of this unprecedented number of reports demonstrates both commitment and forward movement at the country level,” said St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and CARICOM’s Lead Spokesman on HIV/AIDS and health related matters.

Dr. Douglas told Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers of Health and representatives of non-governmental organisations at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that two years ago, he had the honour of addressing the august body for the second time and he then committed the Caribbean to achieving universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services by the year 2010.

“It was bold pronouncement on the part of the Caribbean considering the twin problems of a region with the second highest prevalence of HIV infection in the world and limited technical and financial resources that the region had to surmount in order to achieve this milestone. Indeed, there were many observers who considered such a declaration to be fanciful. But we held forth then and remain convinced now that overcoming the challenges of AIDS is an absolute imperative that must consume our every being if we are not to squander the significant social and economic gains of the last half a century that our forbears have bought at such a high price with their blood and sweat and tears,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

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Nevis Premier Speaks To Nationals About Geothermal Power

Premier Parry Speaks About Geothermal Power

Premier Parry Speaks About Geothermal Power

Charlestown, Nevis
June 10, 2008

Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry, Deputy Premier ““ Hon. Hensley Daniel and Minister Hon. Carlisle Powell returned to the Federation Monday afternoon after addressing Nevisian Nationals residing in Toronto and New York this past weekend. While in North America a number of important issues were discussed at the town hall meeting, among them being geothermal exploration in Nevis.

“Last week Monday marked an important time for geothermal energy as the first commercially sound reservoir at the Spring Hill site jetted steam from a depth of 3,720 feet. There is still much work to be done before this steam can be turned into electricity, but with an approximate temperature of 480 degrees Fahrenheit, I have been told that 34 megawatts of energy can be supplied and that is enough energy to supply St.Kitts and Nevis with surplus,” said Premier Parry.

The report on geothermal energy was assisted by a well organised power point presentation that contained the areas on Nevis where geothermal could be found, a history of geothermal development on Nevis, production steps (Geology, geochemistry, geophysics, drilling and production of the resource), benefits to Nevis (royalties and less expensive energy) and a host of pictures and text to explain the geothermal process for Nevis.

The audience was very keen for the information, as Minister of Communications, Works, public utilities, posts, Physical planning, Natural resources and Environment- Hon. Carlisle Powell narrated the geothermal presentation.

During the question and answer period in Toronto, a young lady asked, “who would the geothermal energy belong to and whether it would be under the ownership of St. Kitts.”

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Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit Offer Free Testing To Fathers

HIV/AIDS Coordinator on Nevis - Nicole Slack-Liburd

HIV/AIDS Coordinator on Nevis – Nicole Slack-Liburd

Charlestown, Nevis
June 10, 2008

Fathers and Fathers-to-be on Nevis, will receive a special gift from the Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit in time for Fathers Day, when it hosts its second national testing day activities on June 14, 2008. The activity will be held at the Villa in Charlestown from 10 am-5pm.

Acting Health Planner and HIV/AIDS Coordinator on Nevis Mrs. Nicole Slack-Liburd told the Department of Information on June 10, 2008 that the event themed “Take the test take control” and “Men know your status; protect you, protect me protect us”  would target fathers because women were the ones who had primarily received testing for the disease.

“Our target audience this time around is primarily men because we realise that in comparison to women men are under tested here in Nevis so we are targeting them this time around.

“The primary reason people get tested here in Nevis, we realise, are for insurance purposes, for work permits and also we do encourage anti natals to test and we are finding that the majority of persons getting tested are women, so we are putting on this activity for Fathers Day on the day before Fathers Day so we are giving men a gift of testing and it is important to test,” she explained.

Mrs. Liburd explained that the event was initially planned for June 27 to coincide with the world wide observance of National Testing Day, however it was moved up to the day before Fathers Day because it was important to get men involved in the testing.

She said the testing activity would be a three step confidential process which would involve voluntary counseling and testing.

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OECS Attorneys Generals Urged To Be Relentless

OECS Attorneys General In Tortola

OECS Attorneys General At Meeting In Tortola
Photo Courtesy Of BVI Information Services

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 10, 2008 (CUOPM)

Attorneys-General from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have been urged to be relentless in the execution of their duties as watchdogs of their respective legal systems.

Speaking on behalf of the Government at a ceremony that marked the opening of the 14th Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Legal Affairs Committee meeting in Tortola, British Virgin Islands Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Dancia Penn, OBE, QC told delegates they have a significant responsibility in the ongoing development of their respective nations.

“Part of the short message I would wish to leave is to urge you as attorneys general – guardians of the public interest and principal legal advisors to our governments – to be firm, to be relentless, to be fair as you work to strengthen our legal systems and our execution of governance at every level,” she said.

The Deputy Premier and former Attorney General and Deputy Governor also noted the historical and cultural ties that exist in the sub-region, and reiterated statements by the BVI Premier, Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, which called for the BVI to continue a policy of cooperation with its Caribbean neighbours.

The Deputy Premier said she was pleased that one topic of the meeting would be model family law.

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