CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (March 30, 2007)

Farmers on Nevis should continue to embrace new technologies, as the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) strived, through consultation, to provide a climate conducive to continued progress and growth. Minister of Agriculture on Nevis the Hon. Robelto Hector made the comment, while he impressed on farmers the importance of technology, when he delivered the feature address at the 13th annual Agriculture Open Day at The Villa in Charlestown on March 29, 2007.

“I ask you as farmers and as a society to continue to embrace new technologies. As a government we would upon consultation with you, strive to provide the climate necessary for your continued progress and growth. We are all aware that Nevis like other Caribbean islands continues to face the challenges of natural disasters; an aging farming population; barriers to Caribbean trade; a lack of private and public investment in the agricultural sector and the depletion of our marine resources.

“Despite these challenges, agriculture related issues continue to dominate the global trade agenda”¦ Let us all view what is offered today and recognize that the agricultural sector of our economy is a sector that contributes significantly to food security, social stability, protection of our environment and generation of employment,” he said.

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CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (March 29, 2007)

Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry made a passionate plea to Nevisians, to return to the soil and to consume locally produced foods if they are to guard against diseases and a shortened lifespan. The call came when he made remarks at the opening ceremony of the 13th Agriculture Open day at the Villa in Charlestown on Thursday March 29, 2007.

The function signalled the start of the two-day annual flagship event of the Department and Ministry of Agriculture on Nevis, with the theme “Implementing Science and Technology to increase and sustain Agricultural Productivity”.  The exhibition is being held under the patronage of Mr. Charles Cozier a fisherman from Fountain Village.

Mr. Parry noted that at present, Nevis was faced with a situation where there was no export market and a notable shift from the consumption of local produce to imported products, a trend which was generally thought of as a mark of affluence. He urged Nevisians to reverse the trend and to pattern the eating habits of the people of Dominica who consumed more locally produced foods.

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Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis, MARCH 28TH 2007

The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) says despite the
closure of the sugar industry in St. Kitts and Nevis, economic growth has
accelerated in 2006,fiscal imbalances have improved significantly and
monetary aggregates have continued to grow in line with economic growth.

That’s according to the international financial institution’s Executive
Board Article IV consultation on St. Kitts and Nevis.

It noted that in July 2005, the sugar industry – the historical mainstay of
the economy – closed after more than 300 years. The industry had incurred
substantial losses –  on the order of 3 to 4 percent of GDP annually in the
last several years – even before the announced further cut in preferential
access to the EU market. The closure has required the government to service
the debt of the sugar company (about 29 percent of GDP). Public debt,
accumulated as a result of exogenous shocks (including three hurricanes in
the second half of the 1990s) and an accommodative policy stance, reached
190 percent of GDP at end-2005.

The IMF said despite the closure of the sugar industry, economic growth has
accelerated.

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St. Kitts & Nevis sent ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 on its way in true Caribbean style today with a farewell Group Stage match that typified the term “calypso cricket”.

As Australia and South Africa traded blow for blow on the picture-perfect Warner Park strip in Basseterre, a party with 10,000 in attendance was in full swing beyond the boundary ““ fans dancing to infectious melodies, drinking and eating to their hearts’ content and savouring the world-class sporting spectacle before them.

“This is great. I have thoroughly enjoyed the two matches I attended and I’m proud to see the West Indies on the international stage like this,” declared Mervin Powell who came over from Nevis for the landmark occasion.

His compatriot, Michael Gumbs, was pleased that he made the decision to fly in from the USA to see the action “live and direct” as he put it.

“I wanted to be here. This is fantastic for the people of St. Kitts & Nevis and every citizen of th is country should be proud today. We have the two best teams in the world here playing in the Cricket World Cup. It’s an honour.

“It’s a pity it has to end today. More people should have come out to the earlier matches but I think in time they will appreciate that it’s not just West Indies playing in the tournament,” he said.

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