Nevis Island News and Notes

St. Kitts – Nevis On Par For Record Cruise Ship Season

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
October 09, 2007 (CUOPM)

The 2007/2008 Cruise Ship Season which officially begins next week is set to be the best ever in the history of the industry.

Over 425,000 cruise ship passengers are expected be on board the cruise liners which will either berth at Port Zante or the Deep Water Port or drop anchor in the Basseterre Roadstead.

According to the 2007/2008 Cruise Ship Itinerary released by the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) an estimated 426,302 cruise passengers should visit St. Kitts during the months of October 2007 to July 2008.

March is expected to be the best month with 81,013 passengers 42 ship calls; October sees 12,866 passengers from 6 ship calls; 54,453 passengers are expected in November on board 26 ship calls; 63,943 passengers are expected on board 34 ship calls in December, January lists a total of 68,038 passengers on board 35 cruise ship calls; while 54,320 passengers are expected on board 27 ship calls in February and 33,357 passengers on board 19 ship calls in April.

Charlestown, Nevis
October 09, 2007

Works on two major road projects on Nevis are nearing completion and according to Junior Minister Hon Carlisle Powell, work has progressed satisfactorily.

During a recent interview with the Department of Information, Mr. Powell who is responsible for Public Works, public Utilities, Posts, Physical Planning, Food and Water Control and the Environment, he gave high marks to works on the $15million Barns Ghaut/Cotton Ground Road and the $25million Island Main Road Phase III he said were both on schedule for completion by December 2007.

“The actual work in terms of the Jessups section [of road] should be finished by close to the end of the year. As a matter of fact, the project itself should be completed by the end of the year. This includes work on the road which will branch down into Cotton Ground and connect to the Island Main Road.

Charlestown, Nevis
October 8, 2007

Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Cooperatives and Fisheries, the Hon. Robelto Hector, told members of the Agro ““Processors Cooperatives on Nevis that they should not restrict themselves to meet the needs of the local market but should explore the potential offered by the industry overseas.

The Minister gave the Agro-processors the advice at the Contract Signing and Ground Breaking ceremony at Prospect on Friday October 05, 2007. The event signaled the start of construction of the island’s first Agro-Processing Plant. He further told them that they had the potential to assist in the island’s social and economic development because of the rapid growth of agro-processing.

“You all have that potential to assist in our national economic development and it is your task to meet the local needs and seek to move towards export potential. Today’s signing is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to agro processing and as I am charged with responsibility for that sector. I promise you my commitment you for the time that I am here and beyond.

“As a government we [NIA] will assist you, as we are doing today with the infrastructure that is so important. We would always give assistance to you to strengthen the social capital as it relates to training. I want you, to make sure that you do the necessary market research, as it is only through proper research that you would discover the reliable market. There are international standards and you are to maintain your standards particularly when you are thinking about an export market,” the Minister said.

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
October 08, 2007

The Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture is set to fulfill yet another commitment as it continues to reach out to partner with all stakeholders and sporting associations to improve the standard of sports in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The latest fulfillment of that strategy is the procurement of a new high quality all weather sports mat for Basketball City to a value of approximately EC$55,000 and which is expected to be shipped to St Kitts in the second week of October.

The decision to obtain a new improved surface for basketball was made after consultation with the St. Kitts Amateur Basketball Association (SKABA) and a pledge of financial support from the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC). It was agreed that Government would provide 50% of the funding and that the old mat would be replaced as soon as funds could be jointly made available and the new surface sourced. The fact that Government was later required to provide more than 80% of the funding resulted in a short but understandable delay in compiling the required funding.

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
October 07, 2007

Saturday’s launch of the 2007-2008 National Carnival attracted a huge and appreciative crowd as folklore groups, local calypso performers and Calypso Rose of Trinidad and Tobago rocked fans at Independence Square.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor were among hundreds of persons who flocked to the historic site in Basseterre to celebrate the island’s unique culture and sample the entertainment in store for the December 14 to January 02 festival.

“The launch on Saturday was absolutely beautiful,” National Carnival Chairman Gus Williams told SKNIS. “The people came out in their numbers. Moms, dads, children and the artistes who will be performing in December. Everybody’s appetite was [satisfied] and they are eagerly anticipating carnival.”

St. Kitts – Nevis On Par For Record Cruise Ship Season

Nevis Road Projects Move On Down The Road

Agro-Processing Plant Construction In Nevis Commences

St. Kitts – Nevis Committed To Basketball

St. Kitts – Nevis Carnival Attracts Huge Crowds