PM Says, “Upscale Tourism A Must For St. Kitts – Nevis”

Turtle Bay Beach, St. Kitts – Nevis
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 19, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says high-end tourism services must be a major component of the new economy following the closure of the sugar industry three years ago.

He also told hundreds of members and supporters attending the 76th Annual Conference of his St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino that Kittitians and Nevisians must always have access to the beaches, natural assets and heritage sites.

Dr. Douglas said that the diversification of the economy from sugar agriculture with tourism, financial, information and communication technology and offshore education services is already delivering substantial social and economic benefits to the people of the federation.

“The strategic focus is on the high-end sector of the tourism industry because it does not seem likely that mass tourism can deliver to our people the quality of life that is consistent with our own long-term goals and aspirations as a people. We believe that high-end tourism gives us the opportunity to obtain the best value for the services we offer the world, and creates the value added necessary to support progressive increases in the wages and salaries of our people without undermining the competitiveness of our Federation. High-end tourism services also allow us to earn substantial foreign exchange without having to accommodate large volumes of tourists and to place undue burdens on our social and economic infrastructure and on our fragile eco-system,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.

He noted that while many persons associate high-end tourism with exclusivity, the policy of the Government on this issue is very clear and unequivocal and is properly reflected in all development agreements that have been signed to date.

“Our beaches and our natural assets and built heritage sites are the property of our people and every Kittitian and Nevisian must always have adequate access to these assets at all times,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

(L-R) Dr. Warren Shatz and Dr. Raymond Hubby

Charlestown, Nevis
May 16, 2008

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health on Nevis Mrs. Jocelyn Liburd underscored the Nevis Island Administration’s (NIA) pledge to provide continued health care on Nevis and said the ongoing Eye Care Programme would receive all the necessary assistance to ensure continuity.

Mrs. Liburd told the Department of Information in a on May 15, 2008, that amid concerns surrounding the duration of the programme, the Administration had worked assiduously to ensure that it did not end following the retirement of visiting eye care specialist Dr. George Bresnick (who retired in 2007) from a voluntary service he had given to patients on Nevis for 12 years.

“We are committed to continue the programme even through difficult recruitment of professionals. What we are trying to do as an Administration, is to retain the services a resident ophthalmologist who will engage in follow up and to deliver emergency eye care,” she said.

According to Mrs. Liburd, in the interim, the Administration had utilized the services of an ophthalmologist who was resident in Antigua and held follow up clinics on Nevis and other islands.

Notwithstanding, eye care specialist Dr. Raymond Hubby from Massachusetts, USA, along with his business partner over Dr. Warren Shatz, who took over the eye care clinic from Dr. Bresnick, hailed the NIA for its collaborative effort to continue the programme.

KANA Mother’s Day Gala In New York
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 15, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says that the main challenge facing mothers the world over today is finding a way to steer their children from the pull of powerful interests who glamorize crass materialism, sensationalize sickening violence, and encourage mindless vulgarity.

“This is a gargantuan task, one that will require all our involvement, and in this struggle, women will have a very special part to play because of the special skills, the special wisdom, the unique spiritual strength with which the Universe clearly imbued the women of this earth,” Dr. Douglas told nearly 250 persons attending the annual Mother’s Day Gala organised by Kittitians and Nevisians Association (KANA) in New York on Sunday and held under his distinguished patronage.

Pointing out that the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis and the World are at a cross-road, Dr. Douglas said there is something about the way that human beings have been interacting, behaving and relating all around the world that have not created the best results that are needed.

“There is something about the way young people are being raised that is not quite right. And so, in London, in New York, in Brussels, in the Caribbean, and all over the world, young people are showing the signs of emotional and spiritual distress. Not each and every one of them, of course,” said Prime Minister Douglas, adding: “In St. Kitts and Nevis and throughout the Caribbean we have countless young people for whom life seems a straight and highly manageable road. But there is no denying that, globally, there are more young people in crisis today than ever before.”

Local Caribbean Vegetables and Fruits

Nevis Boosts Economy By Buying Local Foods

Charlestown, Nevis
May 14, 2008

Director of Agriculture on Nevis Dr. Kelvin Daly applauded Nevisians for their efforts to utilse local agricultural produce. He said the public’s response to a buy local, produce local and eat local campaign of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) through the Department of Agriculture in 2007, had so far been overwhelming.

He made the disclosure during a recent interview with the Department of Information. He said too that there had been a number of new farmers who had come on board and continued to come forward, who had expressed their intention to move into commercial farming.

“Since 2007 when we really started in earnest, to encourage local production the response has been really overwhelming. We have a number of new farmers who have come on board and they continue to come forward”¦these are guys are looking to get to commercial size. The backyard quarter acre is not sufficient for them anymore so they are looking for two and three and four acres to plant food,” he said.

The Director noted that to date the island had done fairly well in the area of self sufficiency in a number of crops notably tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn and in some areas of meat production

Dr. Daly explained that the NIA through the Department of Agriculture had put a number of measures in place to facilitate farmers in particular the new ones for an increase and sustained production.

Taiwan Ambassador Wu With Nevis Premier Parry

Charlestown, Nevis
May 13, 2008

Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry welcomed the new Taiwanese ambassador to the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Rong- Chuen Wu, as he paid a courtesy call to Nevis on Friday morning.

Premier Parry stated that he wishes to continue the development of strong relations between Taiwan and Nevis. “I look forward to discussing the needs of Nevis to the Government of Taiwan and for us to work together to develop the island to the satisfaction of Nevisians.”

During the meeting, the Taiwanese ambassador stated that he has read numerous articles on the Nevis Island Administration’s progress on empowering young people on Nevis. “I understand that you (the Nevis Island Administration) have sent about 100 students to study abroad. I believe this is a great policy in order to make a better future for the country,” he said.

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