Nevis News Archives - Page 1232 of 1451 - Nevis Island News and Notes

Minister Cozier Reports On Caribbean Government Forum

Hon. Dwight Cozier

Charlestown, Nevis
June 06, 2008

Junior Minister of Trade and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Import and Export Control in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Dwight Cozier, in an interview with NTV’s Channel 8, spoke of his recent trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica where he attended the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers.

Minister Cozier noted that he represented the Federation at the conference after the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor was unable to attend.

The forum was a success according to the Minister who spoke of its benefits.

“The conference was indeed one that I believe was very beneficial for me on a personal level since I was able to learn a lot. It was beneficial also to the country in respect of the initiative in local governance that we articulated earlier on, that is, in 2006, earlier on in the Nevis Reformation lead Nevis Island Administration,” he said.

The Minister expressed his delight in local governance in Jamaica and spoke of his hopes to see The Nevis Parish Council Ordinance take effect.

“While we have not yet adopted the parish council, we are thinking very seriously of it and while I was in Jamaica, I was also able to meet the Director General of the Commonwealth Committee that is directly in charge of the local council or the local government initiative. He has given me his undertaking that he is willing to come to Nevis and he’s willing to give us all of the assistance necessary including funding to implement the local council initiative here,” Minister Cozier said.

He also used the opportunity to market the Federation and to speak of recent highlights particularly on Nevis.

Handing Over Ceremony For New Resource Center

Charlestown, Nevis
June 05, 2008

The Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) was on Friday June 06, 2008, the recipient of an English Language Resource Center funded by the First Caribbean International Bank.

The center formed part of an initiative the school had put in place to promote continued learning by developing available facilities.

In a handing over ceremony at the school, Principal Education Officer Mrs. Jennifer Hodge urged students to take advantage of the facility.

“To the students, this resource is an investment in you which I hope will motivate you to use and use well,” she said.

Mrs. Hodge expressed her appreciation to the donors on behalf of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the Ministry of Education and the CSS.

“We thank you for your symbolic contribution and investment to the children of the Charlestown Secondary School.

“We really appreciate your coming on-board with the students here at the Charlestown Secondary and I know that they are going to make full use of the investment that you have placed in them,” she said.

Principal of CSS Mr. Edson Elliott too expressed gratitude to the First Caribbean International Bank and challenged other businesses to take example from the bank and contribute to the school.

Minimum Wage Review For The Federation
Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
SKNIS – June 6, 2008

We must avoid narrow interests and pursue long-term solutions to prevailing global economic conditions that are affecting the economy of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The advice was given by the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan, minister responsible for Labour, who was addressing Private and Public Sector stakeholders and officials during the Minimum Wage Consultation. Minister Astaphan was framing the context of the minimum wage review in light of rising fuel and food prices around the world.

The Minimum Wage Advisory Consultation is held in fulfilling the requirements under the Labour (Minimum Wage) Act, Chapter 344, which calls for the periodic review of minimum wages in the Federation. Minister Astaphan pointed out that the cost of oil has risen over 500 percent in the last 10 years giving rise to the challenging economic situations in countries the world over.

“The reasons are manifold,” commented Minister Astaphan. “We know what is happening in the economies of China and India, the two largest population centers on the planet. Those economies are going through the roof. The demand for goods and other things that sustain and expand economies has gone up exponentially, and we know that the world economy still, for some time to come ““ which is the most worrying thing about it, is premised on oil and carbon- based energy sources.”

Visiting Anguilla Healthcare Delegation

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 06, 2008 (SKNIS)

A delegation from Anguilla is in St. Kitts to tour the health facilities and explore ways to deepen cooperation.

The three-man touring group is headed by Minister of Social Development Honourable Evans McNeil Rogers, who spent Friday morning in meetings with the Minister of Health Honourable Rupert Herbert, his Permanent Secretary Elvis Newton and a host of other medical officials and administrators.

Minister Rogers told SKNIS that St. Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla share deep bonds and this partnership is good business.

“We are very small countries and there is no need to duplicate services that are available in one country,” he said. “We need to share some services so that we will be able to use the limited resources that we have in a very constructive and positive way in order to provide the health services that are required and that are demanded by our people in the region.”

The visiting official noted that very often, persons think of collaborations in the fields of tourism or finance, but he explained that it was time that other areas of cooperation be explored in order to ensure the sustainability of the region.

Minister Rogers noted that nurses from Anguilla are currently training in St. Kitts and there are plans to have that number expanded. He also revealed that biomedical engineers from St. Kitts have played a vital role in the operation of his country’s own service in that field.

Nevis Students In Trinidad

Charlestown, Nevis
June 06, 2008

Minister of Social Transformation in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Hensley Daniel, in a televised interview on NTV’s Channel 8 on June 04, 2008, spoke of the importance of training on his return from a recent trip to Trinidad, where he met with residents of Nevis who were undergoing skills-training there, courtesy of the NIA.

Minister Daniel said the initiative by the Administration was part of its quest to promote and facilitate personal development of the people of Nevis.

“Education and training represent our first priority, our second priority and our third priority,” he said.

Mr. Daniel highlighted that such development could reap great benefits for the trainees and hoped that others would be encouraged to do the same.

“These young men and women are going to be in a position to become entrepreneurs and that is something that we are pushing as well and they are going to be in a position to raise their self esteem. When you are trained and you are competent in some area, it raise feelings of self worth and builds your confidence and puts them in a position to be role models for other young people,” Mr. Daniel said.

According to the Minister, the team of 17, which consisted of 16 males and one female, were currently being trained in construction and its allied professions as well as in auto-mechanics.

“In discussions with them, they are very, very happy with the course that is being offered to them. We have trainees in electrical engineering, training in masonry, carpentry and training in auto-mechanics and plumbing and all of these are critical skills needed to underlay the economic and social development of Nevis,” Minister Daniel said.

Minister Cozier Reports On Caribbean Government Forum

Charlestown Secondary Receives Resource Center

St. Kitts – Nevis To Review Minimum Wage

Anguilla Tours St. Kitts – Nevis Health Facilities

Minister Hensley Visits Nevisian Students