Nevis News

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

Saint Kitts – Nevis Has New AIDS/HIV Awareness Policy

Elvis Newton and Ian Richards

Elvis Newton and Ian Richards (L-R)
Photo By SKNIS

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2008 (SKNIS)

HIV/AIDS awareness in St. Kitts and Nevis was injected with new energies as the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors unveiled the latest initiative designed to encourage behavioural change through informed decision making.

A media launch for the project called “The More You Know” was held at Government Headquarters on Tuesday, and was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Health and Youth as well as an official from the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ male CARICOM Youth Ambassador Ian Richards gave an outline of the project which is divided into two phases. Phase I is dubbed “Get Tested.” This features the use of a televised Public Service Announcement (PSA) designed to encourage persons to find out their HIV status by having a test done. It uses a creative and up-tempo mix of local photo images and video footage of HIV/AIDS related activities to draw and maintain viewer interest. The declaration of a diverse number of persons from the local community who state “I did it” and ends with “So you can do it too” conveys an effective message as much of the imagery is taken from an HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing event.

Richards indicated that the PSA has tested well with audiences during private screenings “We have received a lot of positive feedback for this PSA and we are excited by the possibilities,” he revealed.

The PSA will be aired on ZIZ Television and the Cable in St. Kitts and on the Information Channel and GIS in Nevis for a minimum of six months.

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St. Kitts – Nevis New Diplomatic & Consular Appointments

Basseterre, Saint Kitts- Nevis
May 21, 2008 (CUOPM)

The St. Kitts and Nevis Cabinet has announced a number of diplomatic appointments.

Cabinet, which met Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, approved the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of State for Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty said Dr. Caroline Lawrence is the new Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Norway to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr Lawrence is a medical doctor who practices in Internal Medicine and Cardiology and replaces Mr. Collin Mallalieu.

“The Government wishes to thank Mr. Mallalieu for having made significant contributions to the development of the Federation as Honorary Consul of Norway over the last several years,” said Minister Carty.

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St. Kitts – Nevis Transforms Local Economy

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St, Kitts Scenic Railway
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis which closed its three hundred year-old sugar industry three years ago is reporting success in the implementation of strategies to transform the national economy.

Political Leader of the governing St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told hundreds of Labour Party members and supporters, representatives of the diplomatic corps and business community at his party’s 76th Annual National Conference, that the success of the strategy is quite evident in the economic, social and physical infrastructure, which has been dramatically overhauled and expanded and which has acted as a magnet for foreign direct investment.

Indentifying the various projects aimed at unleashing high-end tourism services, the St. Kitts and Nevis leader referred to the strides in other areas such as financial, information and communication technology and offshore education services, which he said are already delivering substantial social and economic benefits to the people of the federation.

“Our roads and bridges are now among the best in the Caribbean region despite the recent setback. Our telecommunications services are the state-of-the-art and are now much more affordable and competitive and local ownership is now shared because of the new legislative and institutional framework that we have established,” said Dr. Douglas, in his address at the St. Kitts Marriott and Royal Beach Casino.

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St. Kitts – Nevis Consuming More Local Food Items

St. Kitts - Nevis Fish Processing Plant

St. Kitts – Nevis Fish Processing Business
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis says that the long-term solution to food security and increasing food prices in the twin-island federation as a result of global food price crisis, is not price control or even reduced consumption taxes.

“If we are to attain food security and to protect ourselves from escalating food prices in international markets, we must produce and consume more local agricultural products. In fact, I contend that if my Government had not already taken action to increase food production the impact on our Federation of the international food crisis would have been even more severe,” said St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.

He said that the global food price crisis that is a major source of worry for policy makers all over the world demonstrates quite clearly that the allocation of resources to the development of the agricultural sector must continue.

“Indeed the Millennium Development Goals established by the International Community for the substantial reduction of poverty in developing countries by 2015 are being placed in jeopardy by the dramatic increases in food prices in recent years,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said that the global statistics in respect of food prices are frightening and recalled several measures taken by his Labour Administration to deal with the crisis.

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