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BASSETERRE. St. Kitts — The Ministry of National Security is focused on implementing several social intervention programmes aimed at protecting citizens and strengthening the justice system in St. Kitts and Nevis.

“These are meaningful and targeted social interventions that we will put in place to address at-risk youth so that in the future we don’t have the problems that we have now,” said National Security Advisor Major General-ret. Stewart Saunders. “You build throughout your community, people who are law-abiding, positive thinkers and contributors to society.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Osmond Petty, said that is it important to introduce youth to social activities from a tender age.

“We need to get our young people at an early age into community activities,” said Petty. “For example, that is why we are vigorously promoting Explorers, putting together programmes for children. However, Explorers is not all, we need more. We need activities to hold your children after school, on weekends and prevent them from just being there, waiting, and sitting around.”

The implementation of social intervention programmes forms part of St. Kitts and Nevis’ National Security Strategy (NSS), which provides a comprehensive plan for an “all-of- government approach,” to further ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens, residents, and visitors.

The NSS is to determine the threats that impact, or could influence the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and inform the citizenry. The programme will provide for and take actions that are necessary to ensure the safety, security and stability of the nation and its interests. Through the strategy, all government agencies, ministries and departments are expected to review their structure and operations to ensure that the security of the nation receives priority attention as required.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Junior Minister in the Ministry of Health in the Nevis Island Administration, the Honourable Hazel Brandy-Williams, has commended the Team-Unity Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for its role in the development of women.

“I would like to place on record my profound thanks to Prime Minister the Honourable Timothy Harris for giving me an opportunity to share your stage,” said Hon. Brandy-Williams. “I applaud your efforts in having an inclusive approach as it pertains to the development of women.

“You have placed women at the epicentre of decision making and this is indeed commendable,” she said. “Since the Honourable Vance Amory gave me the task of preparing and supervising the Ministry of Social Development, Community Development, Youth and Sports, I have had a passion for gender and gender equality.

“In 2015 when the United Nations launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the development agenda, I was ready to go and my platform was already set,” she said. “This platform was the driving force behind organizing training for women not only in St. Kitts and Nevis but regionally and internationally.

“In 2013 and 2014, we organized conferences just for women empowerment,” explained Mrs. Brandy-Williams. “In 2015 and 2016, we had a forum on the SDGs, and in 2017, we hosted the first biennial conference for women and girls, a sub-regional forum and we looked at Sustainable Development Goal #4, quality education, and #5, gender equality.

“In 2018, we hosted a forum looking at mainstreaming gender international development,” she said. “We looked at SDGs #5, equality, #8, decent work and economic growth, and #10, reducing inequalities.

“In 2019, we hosted the second biennial forum for women and girls as well as for Ministers of Health and Ministers of Gender Affairs,” she added. “We then looked at Sustainable Development Goal #3, good health and well-being, and again Sustainable Development Goal #5, gender equality.

“Then again in 2019, we hosted yet another forum with women and girls in peace and security using the south-south approach.”

In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Brandy-Williams thanked the partners that helped fund the conferences. They included the United Nations Women, the United Nations Population Fund, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the ParlAmericas.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Close to 20 secondary school guidance counsellors and probation and child protection officers are now better equipped to help youth who are dealing with substance abuse after participating in a daylong training session.

The training took place on March 8 at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Headquarters in Fortlands. It was hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention.

Each participant received a manual designed to help train substance abuse treatment counsellors to conduct a brief five-session treatment intervention for adolescents with cannabis use disorders. The training combined two sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) provided individually, and three sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) provided in a group format.

The programme is referred to as MET/CBT5. The MET sessions focus on factors that motivate clients to change. During CBT sessions, clients learn skills to cope with problems and meet their needs in ways that do not involve turning to marijuana.

According to the course facilitator, Zahra Jacobs, a Counsellor in the Ministry of Social Development, there is also the option of extending the programme to 10 sessions. Ms. Jacobs said the activity is important because it has become necessary to increase the number of trainees to help young people end their use of cannabis.

“The idea is that there are about half a dozen of us who have done training in this specifically,” said Ms. Jacobs. “Half a dozen people are not enough to cover the extent of the challenges that we are facing with substance use with young people in S. Kitts and Nevis. The hope is that people are going to be able to roll this out in their own schools with the support of Officers from Probation and Child Protection officers and the support of the National Drug Council.”

Ms. Jacobs described the session as “highly interactive.”

“I’m working with people who know what it’s like and what young people are going through,” explained Ms. Jacobs. “They are very much in the field so the training is very reality-based. This is not theoretical in any way, this is practical.

“They are bringing up some real-life things, she said. “Sometimes when we do training it is just a, ‘well this is what could happen,’ but these are people who know what could happen. We are troubleshooting things on the spot that is great.

“We have been discussing just the logistics of what it’s like,” said Ms. Jacobs. “Does a programme like this need to happen during the school day? After school? What are the supports playing through it? And yeah it’s been going great.”

St. Kitts and Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention also has a training session planned IN Nevis.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — They swooped down and headed for the Palace where the King was wondering what went wrong, after having lost all but two games, and showing scant respect for the King they made the situation worse by clawing him.

On the evening of Tuesday, March 9, during the seventh segment of play in the second round of the St. Kitts National Domino Association tournament at the New Town Community Centre, Eagle Claws Domino Club soundly beat King Balang Domino Club 26-4, a feat that earned them a bonus point.

For Eagle Claws, who completed the feat in style being the first team to report a win for the night at 8:58 pm, Lionel ‘Nabal’ Nisbett and Ryan St. Marie won a whopping eight games without loss, while Austin Williams and Keith ‘Blue’ Eddy won five games and lost two.

Another interesting game witnessed at the New Town community centre saw the battle of the siblings where Newcomers I Domino Club beat Newcomers II Domino Club 26-20.

For Newcomers I, Desroy Tate and Ricky Johnson won three games and lost two, while Shaquille Sewell and Ricky Johnson won two games losing none. For Newcomers II, Keith Matthew and Daniel Jacob won four games and lost two, while Keith Matthew and Lawson Liddie won three games and lost one.

Three games of the evening were closely contested, which saw points standing leaders Terminal Boyz Domino Club beat Masters of the Domino Art Form Domino Club 26-22; Lodge Domino Club beat Poor Man Pocket Domino Club 26-22; and Spartans Fig Tree Domino Club beat Til Ah Marnin Domino Club 26-22.

In the sixth game of the evening, Los Fuertes del Domino were in their elements when they outclassed Latecomers Domino Club 28-12 points.

Points standing after seven segments of play in the second round: Terminal Boyz, 78 points; Poor Man Pocket, 68 points; Los Fuertes, 61 points; Masters, 60 points; Spartans Fig Tree, 48 points; Newcomers I, 47 points; Til Ah Marnin, 42 points; Eagle Claws, 41 points; Lodge, 40 points; Latecomers, 35 points; Newcomers II, 21 points; and King Balang, 10 points.

The competition, which is sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis – Platinum Sponsor, First Federal Credit Union, Best For Less Trading Ltd, The Craft House, and NAGICO Insurances, continues on Thursday March 11 at the New Town Community Centre starting at 6:00 p.m. with the teams meeting for the eighth segment of play in the second round of the competition.

Order of play: Points standing leaders, Terminal Boyz will come up against King Balang who are at the bottom of the points standing table; Eagle Claws will attempt to claw Latecomers; Spartans Fig Tree will be raiding Poor Man Pocket; Lodge will be checking it out Newcomers I; Masters will face Newcomers II; and Los Fuertes del Domino will battle it out with Til Ah Marnin.

Newcomers II player, Moschina Cramer makes a calculated move as her team overcome sister-team Newcomers II Domino Club 26-20 at the New Town Community Centre on Tuesday evening.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — Two new Toyota Coaster school buses have been donated to the Nevis Island Administration Ministry of Education in Nevis by the California-based charitable foundation, Windsong Trust.

At a March 9 presentation ceremony at the Artisan Village Parking Lot, Hon. Troy Liburd, Junior, Nevis Minister of Education said the new buses will add to the Ministry’s existing fleet of school buses.

Present at the ceremony were, Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister of Education in the NIA; and NIA cabinet Ministers Hon. Eric Evelyn, Hon. Spencer Brand; Ms. Zahnela Claxton, Principal Education Officer and other senior staff from the Department of Education.

“Let me say how pleased I am and express my thanks and the thanks of the Nevis Island Administration and the Ministry of Education to the Windsong Foundation,” said Hon. Liburd. “They answered the call and came forward to happily assist us in getting these two school buses.

“The contribution of the Windsong Foundation towards getting these two school buses was EC $370,000, it was indeed a significant contribution,” said Liburd. He thanked TDC Group of Companies Ltd. for facilitating the acquisition of the buses at a reduced cost. He asked students to care the vehicles so that future students will be able to benefit from them as well.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Kevin Barrett, said the buses will greatly improve the ability to transport students on the island.

He said the existing fleet of four coaster buses and one 14-seater passenger bus, are over their capacity due to the schools’ shift system and COVID-19 physical distancing protocols.

TDC Automotive Division representative, Anthony Nisbit, said the buses were provided with warranties and after-sale services. He pointed out that the 2021 Toyota Coaster buses, seat 30 persons, and are quality vehicles that will serve the purpose intended.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — As of Tuesday March, 16, the Nevis Water Department will serve the public from its new location at the Edith L. Solomon Building on the Island Main Road, in Charlestown formally occupied by Digicel.

The public is asked to note that the department will be closed on Friday March, 12 from 1:00 p.m. and Monday, March 15, to facilitate moving to the new location.

Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, March 16. For any emergencies please call: (869) 665-9061 or (869) 765-5319.

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BASSETERRE. St. Kitts — Sixteen of the Federation’s hardworking and pioneering women were honoured in separate events sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, and the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources honoured 10 hardworking and pioneering women for their contributions to the sector during a ceremony at the Agricultural Conference Room, La Guerite on March 8, International Women’s Day events.

International Women’s Day 2021, is celebrated under the global theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”.

Tricia King and Dr. Tracey Challenger were honoured for technical and administrative support in Marine Resources and Agriculture (Livestock Division), respectively. The other honourees were Francella Stephens – Fisheries; Yvette Huggins – Meat Trader; Joan Napier – Horticulture; Agnes Crossley – Market Vending; Denise Gillard – Crop Farming; Arabella Nisbett – Agroprocessing and Annette France – Livestock. Fahies Agriculture Women’s Cooperative was honoured in the Women’s group in Agriculture category.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, the Honourable Alexis Jeffers, deemed the event extremely significant and congratulated the women on their achievements.

“This is a very auspicious occasion in the sense that today and moving forward… women are front and centre in all that we do today because you are given a whole day to be recognized,” said Minister Jeffers. “But, of course, we recognize our women every single day for their contribution towards family life, nationhood, and also throughout the globe women continue to do a marvelous job in terms of the development and providing us with that framework and the environment for development of this our blessed earth.”

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ron Dublin Collins, congratulated and thanked the honourees for their contributions to the sectors.

“Today is an opportune moment for us to say thank you to our women, to encourage them, to recognize them, because their contribution has been tremendous,” said Collins. “This will be a day of celebration and recognition which is well due to the women who play so great a role in the agriculture and fisheries sector,”

“The theme seeks to celebrate the tremendous efforts and the contributions that our women and girls play in shaping a more equal future particularly in those recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Collins. “The ministry intends to make the event annual, as women and youths are part of the priority areas for the Ministry of Agriculture going forward.”

Trailblazers inducted in ‘Pioneering Women’s Gallery’

The St. Kitts Pioneering Women’s Gallery was inaugurated by the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs on March 9, with six groundbreaking women inducted.

Inductees included Mercelyn Hughes, the first female Chief Immigration Officer; Dr. Naudica Philip, first female Pathologist; Dr. Marissa Grant-Tate, first female Oncologist; Mrs. Sonia Boddie-Thompson, the first female Clerk of the National Assembly; Karisia Willett, first female senior Calypso Monarch; and Meritza Williams, the first female to receive a medal at the Carifta Games.

“As the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day focuses on leadership, it was an opportune time to display to the Federation those women who have been trailblazers,” explained Janelle Lewis-Tafari, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. “These women have shown the nation that women are capable of anything that they set their mind and talent to do.

“These are women who broke the proverbial glass ceiling,” she said. “They are an inspiration to others. Women who achieve firsts in the Federation must be acknowledged and celebrated.

“This is important. Our children who are coming up, both our boys and our girls, need to see strong women,” she said. “Women who are from similar circumstances, the same country. This is so that our little girls can understand that regardless of what challenges they are experiencing, there is hope, you can accomplish, you can achieve.”

Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, said the event showcases the immense talent and skills of women and how far they have come in St. Kitts and Nevis.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joins the rest of the world in observing World Glaucoma Week, which is being celebrated locally with a calendar of events that run from March 7 to 13, under the global theme: “The World is Bright Save Your Sight.”

Declaring World Glaucoma Week open, on March 7, Minister of Health et al. the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, reflected on the theme indicating that is it imperative to promote the awareness of glaucoma.

“The theme reflects the hope that with regular testing people will continue to see the world around them, a world full of beauty and adventure and opportunities,” said the Hon. Byron-Nisbett. “And while the theme may seem somewhat poetic, it greatly adapts to local conditions and fosters unifying effort to promote effective community public awareness of the disease.”

She outlined several activities to be held in the Federation and encouraged the public to support and participate in the events.

The calendar of events includes an Awareness Day on March 8; Glaucoma discussions at the Ophthalmic Unit at Joseph N France General Hospital on March 9; Surgery day on March 10; and a Lecture by Ophthalmologist Dr. Francisca Nunez on March 11. On Friday, March 12, World Glaucoma Day, the unit has organized a Grab-and-Go Bake Sale.

The week will climax on Saturday, March 13 with a Glaucoma Awareness Walk and breakfast starting at 5 a.m. from the Cenotaph (War Memorial) to the Basseterre Fisheries Complex and back.

“Let us celebrate with our ophthalmic staff as they promote healthy eyes and protect our families and communities from glaucoma,” said Byron-Nisbett. “It is imperative for our healthcare system and practitioners to eliminate glaucoma, blindness through advocacy for universal access to international standard glaucoma care, promoting evidence-based practice and encouraging scientific research and glaucoma education for patients and caregivers.”

Byron-Nisbett congratulated the staff at the Ophthalmic Unit for promoting the awareness of glaucoma.

“The Ministry of Health…salutes them for alerting members of the broader community to the need for regular eye checks which allow earlier detection,” said Byron-Nisbett. “They promote retention of sight and prevent irreversible blindness. Indeed, the urgent need for action cannot be underestimated.”

The minister encouraged people to wear green throughout the week to support the theme.

World Glaucoma Week, commenced in March 2010 as a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Five of the Federation’s leading women were honoured with the Department of Gender Affairs “Awards of Excellence” presentation for their contributions to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis. The presentation was part of International Women’s Day celebrations.International Women’s Day was celebrated under the theme “Women in Leadership -Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.”

The women recognised were Janelle Williams for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Dale Kelley for Community Outreach; Michele Christmas- Jacobs for Communication; Eulynis Brown for Health Care; and Chelesa Rawlins who was the Prime Minister’s Awardee.
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