Caribbean

CARICOM Ambassadors Tout Benefits Of CSME

The Flag Of The CARICOM Organization

The Flag Of The CARICOM Organization

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 16, 2008 (SKNIS)

Fourteen CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) returned to their respective territories on Tuesday, armed with the skills and information to better promote the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to their peers and to encourage active participation.

On Monday, the youth advocates representing 13 countries, convened at the Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua to explore how persons can make a living and move capital within the CSME. They also reviewed the art of public speaking and gained insight into the critical role the media plays in helping to keep the populace informed. Most Ambassadors considered the creation of youth friendly messages and the drafting of a regional youth advocacy network as the highlight of the one-day session.

Dean of the CYA corps Donna Greene stated that the meeting was “extremely useful” as it addressed the current state of the CSME and the way forward. She called for more intra-regional trade among member states noting that this will improve self sufficiency and limit the impact of external factors, such as rising food prices on Caribbean economies.

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St. Kitts’ Tourism Aims For The Luxury Market

Bob and Elvis Tour Bus - St. Kitts

Luxury Tourism In St. Kitts Is The Goal
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 25, 2008 (CUOPM)

Targeting the luxury traveler may seem out of sync given the current economic climate of soaring fuel prices, high air fares, inflation and a sagging dollar.

But not to Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

“We’ve got challenges, to be sure, but I’m reading the right market,” he was quoted by Gay Nagle Myers in the Travel Weekly ““ the National Newspaper of the Travel Industry.

When St. Kitts moved from 350 years of sugar production to a tourism-based and tourism-driven economy in 2005, Minister Skerritt was instrumental in orchestrating a revised tourism policy and a strategic tourism plan. Key elements of the plan included the development of high-end resorts with residential components.

“The luxury market continues to look for investment opportunities in second and third homes,” he said. “St. Kitts is a fresh opportunity.”

However, the current economic scenario forces travelers to be more creative and careful in their quest for vacation experiences, according to Skerritt, who said: “More than 50 percent of our revenue comes from tourism. St. Kitts has to fight for market share where there is growth.”

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St. Kitts – Nevis To Increase Hypertension Awareness

High Blood Pressure Awareness Program Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis June 19, 2008 Following concerns regarding the increasing number of persons diagnosed with hypertension in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Health Promotion Unit of the Ministry of Health has forged …

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Charlestown Secondary School Receives Record Donation

Michael Webbe Shakes Hands On Donation

Wilthsire (L) & Webbe (R) Shake Hands On Donation
Charlestown, Nevis
June 13, 2008

The Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) was on Friday June 13, 2008, the recipient of a cheque in the amount of EC$25, 000 from the Nevis Multi-Line Services, the largest donation from any single entity.

Former student of CSS and representative of the Nevis Multi-Line Services Mr. Michael Webbe made the donation to the school, while Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Library Services Mr. Joseph Wiltshire accepted the cheque on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

“I want to express the gratitude of the Nevis Island Administration to Mr. Liburd (donor), and Multi-Line Services and it gives me great pleasure in handing over this cheque to the principal Mr. Edson Elliott,” Mr. Wiltshire said.

He also recorded his commitment to the donor, that the money would be used for the sole purpose it was intended.

“I would like to assure Mr. Liburd that this contribution would be used to enhance the library and to ensure that our students have the means by which they can resource and research their work, so that they continue to perform at the high level they have been performing over the years,” he said.

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