| Nevis Island News and Notes.

October In St. Kitts – Nevis Is Financial Literacy Month

St. Kitts – Nevis Financial Literacy Month Logo

Basseterre, St. Kitts
September 25, 2008 (SKNIS)

October is Financial Literacy Month in St. Kitts and Nevis and officials are stressing discipline as analysts become increasingly concerned over the impact of a worsening global economic and financial climate.

“Manage Your Money…Live Your Dreams” is the theme for the observance which is also being marked in the seven other member territories that use the EC dollar making up the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

During an interview on SKNIS Perspectives, Sybil Welsh, Deputy Director of Corporate Relations at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank said that the theme was designed to remind residents of the ECCU that they can accomplish their dreams.

“Maybe a person wants to be a homeowner. Maybe a person wants to be a business owner, or a college graduate, or a land owner, or owner of a car,” she stated. “Whatever those dreams are it requires planning, and managing one’s money and setting goals and achieving them incrementally. If we plan, we can live our dreams.”

Highlighting such, is exactly why Financial Literacy Month was conceived in 2002 after a directive was given by ECCU Heads of Government. Since then, the ECCB has partnered with public and private sector agencies and the media to increase the awareness and understanding of the population of the need to save and invest.

Nevis Premier Hosts Members Of Caribbean Development Bank

Caribbean Development Bank Logo

Charlestown,Nevis
June 13th, 2008

Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry spoke with members of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Thursday morning, to discuss the way forward and financial assistance for the feasibility of a post”“secondary education unit on Nevis.

Portfolio Manager in the Social Sector Division for (CDB), Ms. E.E Deidre Clarendon and Premier Parry discussed the developing position of attaining a school that would provide practical education with theory.

“We are looking at an institution for the practical people of Nevis. The comprehensive school system was introduced in 1966/67 and it has been a negative aspect to some persons who left school with very little academic training and no skills. We would like to cater to these people and I would like to see us achieve that by giving the knowledge of business and various practical skills,” said Premier Parry.

Training for Tourism and Hospitality will also be part of the training. During the meeting Premier Parry declared. “It is important that Nevis residents interested in Tourism receive training that they can be prepared for top level positions with local hotels.”

Minister Cozier Reports On Caribbean Government Forum

Hon. Dwight Cozier

Charlestown, Nevis
June 06, 2008

Junior Minister of Trade and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Import and Export Control in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Dwight Cozier, in an interview with NTV’s Channel 8, spoke of his recent trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica where he attended the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers.

Minister Cozier noted that he represented the Federation at the conference after the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor was unable to attend.

The forum was a success according to the Minister who spoke of its benefits.

“The conference was indeed one that I believe was very beneficial for me on a personal level since I was able to learn a lot. It was beneficial also to the country in respect of the initiative in local governance that we articulated earlier on, that is, in 2006, earlier on in the Nevis Reformation lead Nevis Island Administration,” he said.

The Minister expressed his delight in local governance in Jamaica and spoke of his hopes to see The Nevis Parish Council Ordinance take effect.

“While we have not yet adopted the parish council, we are thinking very seriously of it and while I was in Jamaica, I was also able to meet the Director General of the Commonwealth Committee that is directly in charge of the local council or the local government initiative. He has given me his undertaking that he is willing to come to Nevis and he’s willing to give us all of the assistance necessary including funding to implement the local council initiative here,” Minister Cozier said.

He also used the opportunity to market the Federation and to speak of recent highlights particularly on Nevis.

US Ambassador Commends Nevis’ Premier Parry

US Ambassador To St. Kitts – Nevis – Mary Ourisman

Charlestown, Nevis
May 22, 2008

Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration Hon. Joseph Parry received commendations from United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Ourisman, for having launched the landmark Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA).

During a ceremony to mark the occasion at the Old Manor Hotel on May 21, 2008, the Ambassador expressed that view that the new agency would enable the government promote and to coordinate investments.

“I wish to congratulate you Premier Parry on this launch of the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency. This new body will enable your island’s Administration to better promote and to coordinate investments and to create economic opportunities for all of your citizens,” she said.

Mrs. Ourisman noted that the new measures to encourage investment on the island coupled with its new found renewable energy resources would propel Nevis into a new era of prosperity.

“I believe that your newly discovered alternative energy resources in the form of geothermal energy, combined with your strong push to open Nevis to high quality foreign investment, will combine to create a new era, a new era of economic growth and job opportunities for all Nevisians,” she said.

The Ambassador described the occasion as one of importance because it had become clear that over the years that the focus of development across the region had moved away from the traditional sectors and had become increasingly focused on international competitiveness and the attraction of foreign investment.

She said St. Kitts and Nevis had been an important regional leader for having charted that bold new course and explained that the measures put in place could only serve to enjoy the benefits of the global trade system.

“Saint Kitts and Nevis in fact has been an important regional leader in charting that bold new course that ranks 85, quite impressive! In these circumstances, one of the primary challenges which policy decision makers, entrepreneurs and managers face is to device mechanisms that stimulate economic growth, improved productivity and provide employment opportunities to their citizens.

St. Kitts – Nevis Attracting Direct Foreign Investment

Caribbean Cinemas – Buckley’s Estate, St. Kitts
Photo by Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
April 8, 2008 (CUOPM)

The US$7 million investment by Caribbean Cinemas Management of Puerto Rico, Inc. is a show of confidence in the economic climate as the government continues to transform the national economy of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

So says Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Tourism and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Denzil l. Douglas, who pointed out that Foreign Direct Investment in St. Kitts and Nevis over the years, has “outstripped and surpassed the rest of the Caribbean islands, especially in the Eastern Caribbean.”

“This is part of the overall thrust for the development of St. Kitts and Nevis, especially providing appropriate modern entertainment facilities for our people,” said Prime Minister Douglas as he toured the construction site at Buckley’s Estate von the outskirts of Basseterre, the capital.