Nevis

St. Kitts – Nevis Commemorates Christena Ferry Disaster

Commemoration Wreath For Christena Ferry Disaster

Commemoration Wreath For Christena Ferry Disaster

Charlestown, Nevis
August 5th,2008

The Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry, the Nevis Island Cabinet and a number of Nevisians observed the 38th Anniversary of the MV Christena Disaster with a memorial service onboard the MV Sea Hustler on Friday, August 1st, 2008.

“I feel a great sense of loss and heaviness of heart; because this event brings back such bad memories.  Many of us lost friends and family members; but out of that great loss came great progress for Nevis,” said Premier Parry.

The Memorial Service not only observed the 236 persons who lost their lives on the M.V Christena on August 1st 1970, but it also recognized the ninety passengers who survived the ill fated trip.

Premier Parry noted during his remarks, that many Nevisians were traumatized and because of that pain a number of people left the island. “During those hard days, the population went from about 15,000 to about 8,000, simply because people could not stand to feel the pain, many people left the island.  Of those who stayed around, many developed mental problems. There were no psychiatrists on the island and the pain became so much that they could not stand to be in Nevis anymore. However, with the strength and belief in God we survived.”

Following Parry’s speech, a moment of silence was observed; then the M.V Sea Hustler passed the site where a brightly decorated box with a wreath was laid beforehand by Captain of the M.V Sea Hustler, Mr. Winston “˜Sonny Boy’ Skeete, as he has done for the last few years since the Christena Disaster.

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Nevis Island Receives New Garbage Truck!!!!

Nevis' New Mack Garbage Truck

Nevis Islands  New “Mack” Garbage Truck
Charlestown, Nevis
July 30, 2008

The Ministry of Health was the recipient of a brand new garbage truck, which was funded by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.

The keys to the US$142,000 (EC$384,000)  Mack truck, were handed over to Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration Hon. Hensley Daniel by Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence. The brief but significant ceremony was held at the Low Ground Land fill on July 29, 2008.

Mr. Daniel said it was no surprise that Social Security engaged the Ministry of Health since its contributions came from workers.

“The Ministry of Health has an interest and a responsibility to ensure that workers are healthy so that when workers are healthy they will work and by working they will contribute to Social Security so this is in a way an investment in the workers of the country to ensure that they remain healthy because we want to make sure that garbage is properly disposed off and in addition to that they have an interest in the aesthetic beauty of the country.

“If the country is beautiful the visitors [will] come. The people who work in tourism they will get more work and they will contribute to Social Security. So I want to thank them for being in that philosophical mindset. This is not something that is Social Security over here and health over there but Social Security and Health are intertwined,” he said.

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St. Kitts – Nevis To Make Money Laundering An Extraditable Offence

St. Kitts - Nevis - National Assembly

St. Kitts – Nevis Govt. Review Money Laundering Law
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
July 29, 2008 (CUOPM)

Lawmakers in St. Kitts and Nevis are expected to approve a minor amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act making money laundering an extraditable offence.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will seek legislative approval on Thursday to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis is not a safe haven for persons who perpetuate offences of this type.

The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) No. 3 Bill, 2008 is one of two bills in the name of the Minister of Finance.

The other is the Money Services Business Bill, 2008, which was given its first reading on June 18th.

It seeks to make provisionsfor the licensing and regulation of the business of the transmission of money or monetary value in any form. Cheque cashing, currency exchange and the issuance, sale or redemption of money orders or traveller’s cheques as well as the business of operating as an agent or franchise holder of any of these businesses.

Acing Minister of National Security, Immigration and Labour, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin will seek to amend the Anti-terrorism Act by providing a definition for the term “forfeited property.”

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Nevis Premier Pledges Continued Support For Call Center

Dan Chapman and Premier Parry

Dan Chapman and Premier Parry

Charlestown, Nevis
July 29, 2008

Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry sealed his commitment to Brown Hill Communications on Monday, when he received an update on the Call Centre’s operations and their plans to provide more employment opportunities to the residents of Nevis.

At a briefing at his Bath Hotel office with Managing Director, Mr. Sheik-Nur Hagi and representative, Mr. Dan Chapman, the Premier declared his government’s obligation to lend support to the Nevis Call Centre. Mr. Chapman, a nineteen-year communications veteran, will be on island for five months to train and coach Brown Hill Communications staff.

The first group of 25 persons who were recently trained are presently taking calls at the centre and a second batch will be ready for August 6th. By the second week of September, a staff of 50 should be trained and working.

“I am happy with Mr. Hagi and Mr. Chapman for coming to see me and updating me on the productivity of Brown Hill Communications.  I am also pleased to say that by the end of the year the Call Centre would have a staff of roughly one hundred persons,” explained Premier Parry.

Entry-level workers will earn a salary of EC$2300.00 per month, while Supervisors and Managers will realize an even more attractive monthly income.

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