St. Kitts Archives - Page 116 of 190 - Nevis Island News and Notes

Report On European Commission Funding

European Commission Approves Nearly EC$16 Million

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 11, 2008 (CUOPM)

One day before a National Consultation on Crime, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has received EC$16.6 million (EUR 4.5 million) from the European Commission for the implementation of a safety and security improvement programme.

Another EC$19 million (EUR5.457 million) is the first fixed tranche under the 2007 Annual Action Plan for Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries.

Signing of the Country Strategy Report on Thursday afternoon by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and the Barbados-based European Commission Head of Delegation, His Excellency Ambassador Valeriano Diaz, clears the way for the Federation to receive the grant under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) for the period 2008 to 2013.

Another EUR 0.2 million has been set aside to be utilised in the case of emergencies. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the European Commission have proposed to allocate 85% or EUR 3.825 million of the EUR 4.5 million to the implementation of a safety and security improvement programme.

St. Kitts – Nevis Gas Prices Drop

Gas Prices Decline In St. Kitts – Nevis Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis December 10, 2008 (CUOPM) As oil prices on the world market fall, gasoline consumers on St. Kitts and Nevis are benefitting from continuing reduced prices. The price …

St. Kitts – Nevis Wants To Meet With Barack Obama

President Elect – Barack Obama

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
Decemebr 09, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told the Third CARICOM-CUBA Summit there is an urgent need to engage the United States President-Elect Hon. Barack Obama on his views regarding the offshore financial services sector which can adversely affect the twin-island’s economic diversification strategy, especially in light of the threats of the OECD countries to introduce a new “blacklisting” initiative of off-shore financial jurisdictions.

Prime Minister also said that St. Kitts and Nevis and the region must move expeditiously in the implementation of the Jagdeo Initiative and for empowerment of the Caribbean people in agriculture.

Dr. Douglas reiterated at the meeting in the City of Santiago that “CARICOM and Cuba must never grow weary of speaking out on issues of climate change and the unscrupulous and indiscriminate harm to the environment by some developed countries.”

Prime Minister Douglas graphically outlined the effect of Hurricane Omar on the coastal countries of St. Kitts and Nevis and the financial and social burden necessitated to resettle several families from the coastal communities affected by that storm.

St. Kitts – Nevis Convenes Crime Consultation

St. Kitts – Nevis Government Fights Crime Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis Decemebr 09, 2008 (CUOPM) Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is convening a National Consultation on Crime on Friday. Dr. Douglas is …

St. Kitts – Nevis’ Finance Minister Remains Optimistic

Investments In St. Kitts – Nevis

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
Decemebr 08, 2008 (CUOPM)

Loss of wealth and a drop in consumer confidence as a result of the global financial crisis are impacting negatively on consumer expenditure and hotels in St Kitts and Nevis are experiencing lower bookings now, compared to this time last year.

But Federal Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris at a Press Conference Monday, ahead of his 2009 Budget Address on December 16th said several tourism related projects have to date not been affected by the global financial crisis and expressed cautious optimism that St. Kitts and Nevis will must maintain its competitive edge in foreign direct investment.

He disclosed that the Federal Government proposes to allocate more funds to tourism marketing and to increase airlifts into the Federation.

He said that while cruise arrivals still continue to be positive, there has been a noticeable reduction in expenditure by cruise passengers.

“It is important to note that both high end and more economical type hotels are experiencing soft depressed Fall seasons. We can reasonably predict that the 2009 Tourism Season will not yield the same level of stay over tourist arrivals nor would expenditure be equal to that of 2008,” said Minister Harris.

He pointed out that the Four Seasons Hotel on Nevis, which is a huge contributor to tourist arrivals and tourist expenditure, will be out of service for 2009 Winter Season.

“The loss of this is significant not only for Nevis, where Four Season contributes near 70 percent of tourism expenditure but to the entire Federation. Four Seasons with its 196 hotel rooms was the second largest hotel in the Federation. Its high end passengers were significant to the meeting of desirable seat occupancy levels with major airlines and contributed in no small way to the profitability of those routes,” said the Federation’s Minister of Finance.