Nevis Island News and Notes

Caribbean and New York University To Collaborate

PM Douglas and Represenative Rangel
Photo By Erasmus Williams

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

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Medgar Evers College in New York would form the basis for moving forward after the Caribbean-New York Conference last week.

Speaking at the signing, Prime Minister Douglas, the Lead Head of Government for Education and Health matters in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, said the engagement on Thursday needed to arrive at some concrete elements of a plan for collaboration.

Among the priorities Dr. Douglas suggested that should arise from the Conference were greater collaboration in research and training through the establishment of CARICOM-New York Fellowships and a special Fund dedicated for exchange at the staff and student levels; a concerted effort to push the frontiers of knowledge by placing emphasis on areas of Research and Development, especially in areas such as tourism, transportation and climate change and establishing common areas of research and outreach that are particularly aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens in the Caribbean and New York in such areas that connect education to health, trade, culture and promote greater public awareness especially to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, prevention of NCDs advancing cultural industries and thereby capitalising on some of the assets of the Caribbean Diaspora.

Prime Minister Douglas also suggested the involvement of the private sector both in the CARICOM Community and New York to sponsor goodwill tours to enhance the understanding of groups and stakeholders that share common cultural and educational objectives; placing greater emphasis on promoting courses on Caribbean Studies and the American connections in the region’s Tertiary Learning Institutions (TLIs) and establishing a Charles Rangel Professorship to commemorate this momentous occasion in the annals of Caribbean-USA relations.

Guava Ice Cream – A Caribbean Favorite Oualie Bay, Nevis Island June 22, 2008 Well, now that Summer is officially here, I thought I would put up some recipes for my favorite Caribbean ice cream flavors. After a cold Carib beer …

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 CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Flag

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 20, 2008

How to demystify the myths surrounding the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was the focus of a two day broadcasters workshop held in Bridgetown Barbados June 16-17.

Broadcasters from throughout the CARICOM Region were reminded of their public service responsibility as far as informing the public on the progress of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy to enable them to make informed decisions on issues that affect them.

Several presenters at the workshop espoused the view that it was time for the people of the region to realize that CSME is no longer a concept but a reality. Programme Manager of the CSME Unit Ivor Carryl said that somehow CSME is being viewed as an academic exercise in some quarters when in reality it is a fight for survival.

Patrick Cozier, Secretary General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) emphasized that some persons are in a state of denial ““ believing that Caribbean States can maintain their viability and exist as micro-states while larger nations of the world forge partnerships to increase their own viability in a globalised environment.

Caribbean and New York University To Collaborate

Guava Ice Cream – A Delicious Caribbean Treat

Nevis’ Annual Summer Library Program Begins

The Caribbean Steps Up HIV/AIDS Testing

CARICOM Single Market and Economy Explained