Nevis News

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

OECS Leaders To Discuss Economic Union

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 12, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis‘ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is among OECS Heads of Government appointed to a sub-committee to refine the Economic Union work programme.

During the recent meeting of the 46th Meeting of the OECS Authority in Roseau, Dominica, sub-regional leaders were engaged in extensive discussions on the next steps towards the OECS Economic Union and stressed the urgent need to begin the proposed consultations on the draft Economic Union Treaty, beginning with engagements with governments, ruling and opposition parties, non-governmental organisations and other interest groups with a view towards mobilising the widest possible support for the objectives and goals of the Economic Union.

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Soft Landing Forecast For ECCU Economy In 2008

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 12, 2008 (CUOPM)

The number two man at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is pleased with the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU)  governments’ commitment to fiscal consolidation, with important reforms to place fiscal balances on a firmer footing underway in many countries-including through the introduction of value-added taxes and efforts to overhaul government expenditures, focused on enhancing efficiency of capital spending and civil service reform.

“These efforts will be key to lowering debt levels and strengthening the currency union,” said Deputy Managing Director at the Washington-based financial institution, Murilo Portugal.

Portugal, who was on his first visit to the Eastern Caribbean region as Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund attended the 61st Meeting of the ECCB Monetary Council met with Prime Ministers, Finance Ministers, and the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

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St. Kitts And Nevis Economy Growing According To IMF

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 12, 2008 (CUOPM)

Deputy Managing Director at the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF), Murilo Portugal says macroeconomic outcomes in St. Kitts and Nevis have strengthened markedly in recent years.

The IMF official, who was in St. Kitts to attend last week’s meeting of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Monetary Council held talks with St. Kitts and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor and Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry.

In a statement on his discussions with the local authorities, the IMF official noted that “growth has rebounded, foreign direct investment accelerated, and fiscal balances improved” in St. Kitts and Nevis.

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Nevis Island Enters 2nd Stage Of Geo-Thermal Drilling

Charlestown, Nevis
February 11, 2008

Minister of Communications, Works and Public Utilities on Nevis the Hon. Carlisle Powell, said that the second phase of the drilling for geothermal energy represented a another thrust for the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) as it sought to reduce the cost of living for the people of the island.
 
Minister Powell made the comment on Friday February 8, 2008, at the commencement of the second phase drilling operation at the West Indies Power (WIP) Nevis 1 drill site located at Spring Hill, St. James Parish, moments before Minister Robelto Hector released the lever to commence the drilling operation.
 
“I am delighted to be a part of the start of the second phase of the drilling for geothermal energy.  They [WIP] have spent a lot of money [and] done a tremendous amount of work in getting to this stage.  We [NIA] are interested in not only getting geothermal power and the ability to harness the geothermal power but the ability to offer to the domestic and commercial consumers in Nevis, power at a reduced cost which for us [NIA] would signal a reduction in the cost of living for the average person in Nevis,” he said.

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Nevis Island Begins Sea Cotton Harvest

Charlestown, Nevis
February 08, 2008

The first harvest of Sea Island Cotton on Nevis in three years commenced recently as scheduled and Director of Agriculture in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Dr. Kelvin Daly said the crop would be ready for processing by mid March with a projected first shipment by April or May.
 
During an interview with the Department of Information on February 08, 2008, Dr. Daly said though the cotton crop was not fully matured, the Department had harvested close to 1,000 pounds with labour from within the Department and small scale assistance from outside.
 
“The harvest areas we are picking from are Port Works and New River. The crop at Indian Castle is not yet ready but it should be ready before the end of this month in February. We expect the full harvest to be ready for processing by the middle of March. Once processed the first shipment should be ready to be shipped by April early May.

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