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2nd cruise pier to be constructed in St. Kitts

Minister Liburd and Her excellency Marie Legault signing the contract

Second cruise pier to be constructed in St. Kitts by 2019 cruise season.

The official Contract Signing Ceremony between the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) for the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante in St. Kitts took place on November 22, 2017, at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI).
The Honourable Ian “Patches” Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, marked the occasion as “one of vision,” highlighting that the project has been in the works for a number of years and deemed it a necessary expenditure for the growth of the tourism industry in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The initial plans for the second cruise pier project, which began back in 2012, laid the road map for the current project, which is set to start by the end of the first quarter of 2018. The construction of the pier is expected to be completed within 18 months in time for the 2019 cruise season.
Minister Liburd said that additions were made to the initial plans for the second cruise pier to accommodate two Oasis-sized cruise ships, the world’s largest and longest passenger ships, versus the capacity to only accommodate one in the previous plan. He stated that the plans for the building of the pier also took into consideration withstanding the effects of adverse weather and harsh climate changes.
He said that the undertaking will be funded through the joint efforts of local business establishments. The St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB) has pledged support to the tune of USD 34 million, the St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board has assured an amount of USD 7 million, the St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) has vouchsafed USD 5 million and the St. Kitts and Nevis Trading and Development Company (TDC) has guaranteed USD 2 million, a total amounting to USD 48 million to fund the project.
“This is a testament to the commitment of the Canadian Government to this project and the improvement of our government to government relationships, which we hope will bear many more fruits in the future,” said Minister Liburd, as he commended Her Excellency, Marie Legault, High Commissioner of Canada to St. Kitts and Nevis, for Canada’s continued support of the federation.

Chronixx for the One Heart Caribbean Festival

Chronixx

Chronixx arrives in Trinidad and Tobago ahead of One Heart Caribbean Festival.

On Tuesday evening, excitement intensified for the One Heart Caribbean Festival, as soulful reggae singer Chronixx landed at the Piarco International Airport at approximately 7:45pm. Greeted by a contingent of photographers, One Heart Caribbean organizers and 432 Live officials, the Jamaican singer and songwriter was in very high-spirits as he was accompanied by members of his management team, including Zion Tomlinson and Brendon Sharpe. To the surprise of many at the airport, international recording artiste Eesah also joined the music contingent for the Trinidad trip, leaving many speculating that a guest performance at the concert is on the horizon.

On Wednesday morning, Chronixx, whose real name is Jamar Rolando McNaughton, will receive a first-hand taste of Trinbagonian culture, as he visits the City of San Fernando from 8:00am as part of the “Chronixx in the City” series. He will also be hosted at a Meet and Greet and Pop Up Shop event in Vas Lounge in St. Clair on Wednesday evening from 9:00pm.

Chronixx
All smiles: Chronixx arrives at Piarco International Airport on Tuesday evening. Photo Credit: Lime.tt/Chambers Media Solutions

Additionally, Chronixx will visit St. George’s College on Thursday morning. The Barataria-based school, which has produced such music stars as International Soca Monarch King, Voice, Erphaan Alves, and Soca songstress Nadia Batson, emerged the winner of The One Heart Caribbean School’s competition, where students from across the country submitted video recordings singing Chronixx’s popular song “Likes”.

The reggae artist and his band, Zincfence Redemption, will headline the One Heart Caribbean Festival on Friday 24th November 2017 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, which will also include special performances by Freetown Collective, Marlon Asher, Prophet Benjamin and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer. Tickets are available nationwide and at www.suntixx.com.

Caribbean can only ‘build back better’

Caribbean Community
Former US President Bill Clinton was a Special Guest at the Conference

Caribbean can only ‘build back better’ with international support and urgent climate action, UN, CARICOM Chiefs and Heads of Government

In view of the urgent needs of Caribbean islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the “CARICOM-UN High-level Pledging Conference: Building a more Climate-Resilient Community ” mobilised a broad partnership to support reconstruction efforts, including through over US$1.3 billion in pledges and over $1 billion in loans and debt relief. Support derived from nearly 400 high-level representatives from governments, multilateral and civil society organizations and the private sector gathered at UN headquarters today with the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to help countries to “build back better” as the first climate-resilient countries in the world.
Recovery costs surpass $5billion, according to the latest needs estimates. In some cases the impact is 3.5 times countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for example in the British Virgin Islands. The principal economic sectors of tourism and agriculture have been significantly affected, according to assessments made public during the conference, organized by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) working with sister UN agencies.
“The magnitude of reconstruction will require significant levels of financing which we are unable to generate on our own. Countries are highly indebted, with limited access to financing due to their middle-income status,” said CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque. “The task of rebuilding is beyond us.”
“Countries in the Caribbean need support now to rebuild, and to take effective climate action. We need a new generation of infrastructure that is risk-informed, to underpin resilient economies, communities and livelihoods,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Climate-vulnerable islands were decimated, like Barbuda, the smaller of the two-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica, with deep social, economic and environmental impacts. Other severely affected islands were Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands. Haiti and St Kitts and Nevis also suffered damage. Sint Maarten/St Martin as well as Cuba and the Dominican Republic were impacted, in addition to Puerto Rico.
“Climate change is not a theoretical question for the people of the Caribbean. You live this reality daily. Our sentiments and well wishes will not be enough. Our messages of solidarity alone will not do. Right now, it is time for us to act,” said President of General Assembly, Miroslav Lajčák.
In Barbuda, damages surpass US$130 million with recovery needs of over $220 million, according to the latest post-Irma assessment. The tourism sector, which is crucial for Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, accounting for nearly 60 percent of GDP, was severely affected, bearing 76 percent of losses.
“Climate change recognizes no borders, size of country or religion of its people. All are involved and all are consumed; but the small, vulnerable, poor are the most affected,” said Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda. “We Small Island Developing States will never achieve the Sustainable Development Goals unless there’s funding for climate-resilient communities.”
In Dominica, Hurricane Maria decimated decades of development gains, impacting over 200 percent of the island state’s GDP. Poverty levels risk rising above 60 percent. Nearly 60 percent of damages relate to housing and transportation infrastructure, with recovery costs estimated at around US$1.3 billion.
“We have the goal of rebuilding Dominica as the world’s first climate-resilient country,” said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica. “It’s an existential matter for us; it’s the only way forward.”
Responding to the urgent needs, over US$1.35 billion were pledged by established partners and new ones, highlighting the importance of South South Cooperation—from the region and beyond. Estimated amounts:  $702million from The Netherlands; $352 million from the European Union; $140 million from the World Bank; $ 78 million from Canada; $30million from China; $27 million from Mexico; $12 million from Italy; $4.3 million from the United States; $4 million from Japan;  $1 million from Kuwait; $2 million from India; $1 million from Venezuela; $1.2 million from Belgium; $1 million from Chile; $500,000 from Denmark;  $300,000 from Colombia; $250,000 from Haiti; US$ 250,000 from New Zealand; $200,000 from Brazil; $150,000 from Kazakhstan; $100,000 from Romania; $100,000 from Portugal and $20,000 from Serbia.
Moreover, the Inter-American Development Bank pledged U$1 billion in loans, Italy, $30 million in soft loans while Venezuela forgave $1 million in debt for a more resilient Caribbean.

Primary Schools 100% Solar Powered

solar photovoltaic system
Five year old Zarina Charles of Bayley’s Primary helping Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Senator Harcourt Husbands, to flip the switch for the new solar photovoltaic system at the school. Looking on is Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Division of Energy, William Hinds. (A.Gaskin/BGIS)

Bayley’s and St. Catherine’s Primary Schools, both in St. Philip, today became the first Government-owned buildings to be powered solely by solar energy.
As part of its activities for CARICOM Energy Month, the Division of Energy officially handed over the solar photovoltaic systems during ceremonies at the schools.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Senator Harcourt Husbands, told the students at Bayley’s that it was a historic day in the life of their school since “from today, all the electricity that is used at your school will be made right here at your school and that electricity will come directly from the sun. This makes your school one of the leading schools in the Caribbean and even the world”.
The solar photovoltaic system at Bayley’s will supply 139 per cent of current consumption, with an expected annual saving of BDS$11,000, while the system at St. Catherine’s will supply 122 per cent of current consumption, saving BDS$4,000 annually.
Installation work began at the two schools in March and was completed in October, at a cost of BDS$175,000 each. The work was carried out by Future Energy Caribbean Inc. based at Cane Garden, St. Thomas.
These schools bring the number of schools with solar photovoltaic systems installed by the Division of Energy to 16.
The Net Zero Energy Project, under which this initiative falls, aims to reduce energy consumption from conventional fuels; reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of renewable energy; and promote education and public awareness of renewable energy through the promotion of decentralised solar photovoltaic electricity systems within the community.

51 Small Island States joined forces at COP23

51 Small Island States joined forces at COP23

Prime Minister Chastanet says fifty-one small island developing states joined forces at COP23.

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Allen Chastanet, said the Caribbean has a fully planned agenda for COP 23—one that it intends to work diligently to accomplish.
The Prime Minister was speaking from Bonn, Germany, where key international stakeholders have gathered at the United Nations climate change conference.
“We are here working collectively not only as the Caribbean, but as fifty-one small island developing states, to try and get a motion passed at the COP to allow SIDS to be able to move on—to have a special fund made available to them coming from developed countries, as well as from private funds.”
The prime minister added that also on the agenda, was working with the International Monetary Fund to classify a resilience fund. He said the overall message the delegation wishes to bring to the conference is that all policies initiated must impact small developing states positively.
“Well I think the strongest message that we are bringing to the meeting is that all of these policies and all of these things that we are doing must benefit the people of our countries. It can’t just be a global idea, it must impact and change people’s lives.”
The United Nations conference of Parties on climate change was held in Bonn, Germany, from Nov. 6 – 17.

National Export Strategy enters Phase II

National Export Strategy

Phase II of the National Export Strategy exercise, was officially launched in Saint Lucia on Nov. 13.
Representatives presented a Strategic Trade Development Roadmap (SDTR) that aims to improve Saint Lucia’s trade and business sector.
Phase I of the National Export Strategy exercise was launched in 2016, and focused on the key columns for export development at the micro level. The second phase of the strategy will involve a deeper analytical component where the actual sector strategies will be developed.
Jacqueline Emmanuel-Flood, Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), the organization charged with the mandate to implement the strategy, said: “Really an export strategy is the work of the Government of Saint Lucia, but because the strategy is so important for the work that we do, we have been given the task by the government to be the coordinators. And so we are the agency that works with the ITC—the International Trade Centre—that provides most of the expertise that we need, but we coordinate between them and the Saint Lucian public, and the private sector, and so today we were able to convene and take a look at where we are in developing the strategy.”
A ten-member delegation from the International Trade Centre visited Saint Lucia to present the strategy and to continue the work commenced under Phase I. The delegation is led by Economist Alberto Amurgo Pachec,
“We are not here to dictate what Saint Lucia should be doing, Saint Lucia has to decide. We’re here to provide the necessary elements so that firm decisions can be made, and to accompany the process to make sure that all the arguments are balanced, and that a sound expert strategy is produced in the end,” he said.
The development and eventual implementation of a national export strategy is vital for Saint Lucia’s marketing approach, and for making prudent decision about which sectors should be given priority.

Flood-related diseases, Leptospirosis

flood-related diseases
Photo credit: Centre for Disease Control (CDC)

Ministry of Health responds to risks of flood-related diseases including Leptospirosis.

The Ministry of Health continues to urge citizens to partner with the Ministry and other Public Sector agencies to reduce the spread of diseases associated with flooding. Public health interventions must be supported by individual precautionary measures to effectively reduce the incidences of water and food borne diseases. Public participation is especially critical during this season of high levels of rainfall and the resulting increased flooding.
In response to the significant attention that has been placed on Leptospirosis, in particular, in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, newspaper editorials, and in the public domain in general, the Ministry of Health wishes to place the following facts concerning Leptospirosis in the public domain.
Public Health Interventions
Public health interventions fall under the responsibility of County Medical Officers of Health who coordinate the local response with the Chief Medical Officer and who work with the teams at the Public Health Inspectorate and the Insect Vector Control Division of the Ministry and the relevant Regional Corporations.
The following activities were undertaken by the staff of the Ministry of Health and the relevant Regional Corporations and are ongoing:

  • The staff of the Regional Corporation initiated the intervention with the washing down of hard surfaces and rodent baiting in the affected areas

  • Public Health interventions in affected areas:

o   Post flooding management by the application of bactericidal sprayto hard surfaces around homes and necessary adulticiding (chemical treatment for adult mosquitoes) and larval treatment for mosquitoes.

o   Visits to food premises to guarantee that contaminated foods, especially meat, are not offered for sale to the public and are disposed of to avoid re-entry into the market.

o   Monitoring food preparation and processing facilities to ensure that contaminated raw materials are not used.

o   Food safety surveillance activities in markets and farms, including crop destruction.

o   Monitoring and reporting on overflowing privies, such as septic tank systems and pit latrines, to relevant authorities for quick resolution

o   Monitoring and advising on handling and disposal of animal and rodent carcasses.

Public Education Activities (ongoing)

  • Public Service Announcements were sent to all media houses in June and in November 2017 to address the following: Water Safety, Food Safety, Protection from flood-related diseases, Precautions Against Leptospirosis
  • Press conference on July 21st, 2017. Topic – ‘Public Health Guidelines for the Rainy Season’. The following issues were addressed. Water Safety, Food Safety and Protection from Flood-related diseases.
  • Subject matter experts educated the general public via television and radio interviews on the following topics : Water Safety, Food Safety and Protection from Mosquito-borne diseases, Leptospirosis

o   TV and Radio Stations : (CNC3 Morning Brew, TV6 Morning Edition, CNMG News, 107.7 FM , Radio 90.5, Heartbeat 103.5FM , Hott 93.5 FM, Taj 92.3 FM, Heartbeat 103.5, Power 102 FM, Isaac 98.1 FM, Radio Jaagriti).

o   Subject matter experts included: Chief Medical Officer, Principal Medical Officer ( Environmental Health), Senior Medical Officer, Chief Public Health Inspector, Registrar – Insect Vector Control Division, Chief Technical Coordinator – Disaster Preparedness

  • Social media and email campaigns were activated. (Water Safety, Food Safety, Protection from Mosquito-borne diseases, Hand washing, Leptospirosis)
  • Flyers/brochures on related topics were distributed in affected areas.

In addition, the Minister of Health, the Honorable Terrence Deyalsingh, also communicated with various media houses and highlighted the dangers of water-borne diseases.
The Clinical Response
As per established clinical protocols, all patients presenting with signs of Leptospirosis are immediately treated both supportively and with the recommended antibiotics. The Ministry of Health wishes to confirm that all clinical protocols were followed.
Public health intervention and education activities are ongoing and the Ministry of Health continues to use multiple channels and various approaches to serve and communicate with the public. The Ministry reminds citizens of the various public health services offered, and of the important role they play in safeguarding themselves against Leptospirosis and other flood-related diseases.
The Ministry of Health will continue to actively engage all stakeholders to provide effective health care and ensure the well-being of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

State Minister Green wants to reach more young people

Ensuring that more rural youth are reached.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, addresses an Around the Table dinner at the Guango Jerk Centre at Dunbar’s River in Westmoreland on November 14.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the increase in the number of Around the Table activities during Youth Month this year is geared at ensuring that more rural youth are reached.
Speaking at an Around the Table dinner at the Guango Jerk Centre in Dunbar’s River, Westmoreland, on November 14, Mr. Green said he feels very passionate about the development and welfare of rural youth, being from a rural parish himself.
“I am from St. Elizabeth, and I… feel sometimes that rural youth are left out of what is happening in relation to the Ministry, to Youth Month, and all the activities. We have to change that, because oftentimes the people who really need the engagement are rural youth, because oftentimes there are less opportunities in the community, and that is why we have to create more entrepreneurs and create more opportunities,” he said.
Mr. Green said the dinner series, being held this year in keeping with the theme of Youth Month, ‘Substance over Hype’, was conceptualised last year in a bid to enable youth in various parishes to have a greater opportunity to share their ideas and learn from persons who have excelled in their respective professional fields.
He added that the Ministry decided to expand the series to cover all of the island’s parishes, and so moved from six last year to 14 this year during November, which is recognised as Youth Month.
“I think Around the Table really ties into that theme (Substance over Hype), because what we are saying to our young people is ‘invest in yourself, invest in your community, invest in your country; be somebody of substance’,” Mr. Green said.
The State Minister said among the objectives of the series is the creation of networks between successful business people who have excelled in various spheres of entrepreneurship and commerce, including entertainment, hospitality, petroleum and retail.
“We said, let us have an intimate sort of setting, so that young people can come, they can share, they can speak freely and they can hear from those business people,” Mr. Green said.

CARICOM embracing technology reform

workflow system
CARICOM Secretariat and C-DAC Officials following the signing ceremony

CARICOM Secretariat embracing technology reform to enhance service delivery.

The CARICOM Secretariat moved another step forward in its ongoing reform process last Wednesday when it officially took ownership of a new web-based Integrated Workflow System (IWS)  which will enhance the efficiency of its operations and improve the delivery of service.
The  IWS was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) – a Research and Development company from India, under a project financed by the  Government of India.  A C-DAC team, led by Director General and Group Coordinator Dr. Debashi Dutta, was on hand for Wednesday’s official handing over ceremony of technical documentation and manuals, at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.
The  Integrated Workflow System provides platforms for Document Management (Document Approval Workflow), Records Management and Web Content Management. The project has also delivered templates for a Web Portal.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony, Deputy Secretary-General at the CARICOM Secretariat Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan praised the efforts made by the C-DAC and CARICOM Secretariat’s Integrated Information Service teams to successfully deliver this ground breaking project. She also noted that staff members who viewed the various modules have  very high expectations for positive change.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana H.E. V Mahalingam reminded the ceremony that while change, of the type envisaged by the new system, often brings initial discomfort,  this project provides a two-member hand holding team for a period of one year to assist with the transition.
Dr. Dutta told the Ceremony that the system provided by his team will be a model for the Region and the world.

St. Kitts-Nevis moves into the tourism big leagues

Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour

Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour, a five-star luxury beach resort that opened this month in the heart of Banana Bay with 300 local permanent employees, has propelled St. Kitts and Nevis into a unique position within the Caribbean tourism industry.
“You’re unique,” Mohammed Asaria, vice chairman of Range Developments, the developer of the project, said at Friday’s press conference while addressing local media representatives, as well as Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and Minister of Tourism the Honourable Lindsay Grant who were both seated at the head table.
“You have a Park Hyatt, you have a Four Seasons, you have a Marriott – three branded hotels – as well as a number of well-leading independent hotels, which really put you in a unique position compared to some of your peers, and we need to capitalize on that to have future growth in the economy,” he added.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour – the first Park Hyatt hotel in the Caribbean – has received many plaudits in the international press, even making the cut onto coveted lists such as Forbes’ 17 Hot Hotel Openings This Summer, The New York Times’ Hotel and Resorts to Travel to in 2017, Travel + Leisure’s Hotel Openings to Watch Out for in 2017, The Globe and Mail’s World’s hottest and hautest new hotels for 2017, The Telegraph’s The 28 best new hotels for 2017, Forbes’ 25 New Luxury Hotels That Come Highly Recommended, and Vogue’s 2016 Hottest Hotels: The 16 Most Anticipated Openings.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour
There are more signs of St. Kitts and Nevis’ growing stature in the international tourism market – a positive change being ushered in under the Team Unity administration.
For instance, for the 2017-2018 season, St. Kitts and Nevis is projected to receive a total of 569 cruise ship calls with over 1.5 million passengers, a record for the twin-island Federation.  “Between November [2017], December and January [2018], this economy will see pumped into it EC$199,555,662.  That is fantastic news for St. Kitts and Nevis,” Minister of Tourism the Honourable Lindsay Grant said in the National Assembly last week, referring to three-month projections based on average expenditure per cruise passenger (US$111.08) in St. Kitts and Nevis.
At Friday’s press conference, Minister Grant announced that, “American Airlines will now provide twice daily non-stop service to St. Kitts from Miami, for the first time in our history for five days a week up from four…the flight will operate inbound Wednesday to Sunday and outbound Thursday to Monday starting December 1st, with the first Wednesday operation taking place on December 6th.”
The Minister of Tourism added that, “This news complements the new Delta non-stop weekly service from JFK [Delta’s hub at New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport] and an additional service from Atlanta [Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport], as well as our recently added United [Airlines] stop out of Newark, New Jersey [from Newark Liberty International Airport].”
The increased airlift is indicative of the surging popularity of St. Kitts and Nevis’ tourism product.  Last year October, St. Kitts made it onto The Wall Street Journal’s list of 10 “buzzy, newly accessible destinations…all on the brink of change, to visit next year.”  The Wall Street Journal noted that, “long-overlooked St. Kitts is finally gaining traction.”
Prime Minister Harris said during Friday’s press conference that the growing confidence in the country was seen recently when Adtalem Global Education Inc. looked to St. Kitts and Nevis to temporarily relocate the Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) from Dominica after the passage of Hurricane Maria.
More than 1,100 RUSM students arrived in the Federation in mid-October and will be here up until mid-January 2018, attending classes and living on the GNV Excellent floating campus.  Over 150 faculty and staff of RUSM have also come to the Federation, and many of them are living on land accompanied by their families.  RUSM will then be temporarily relocated to facilities owned by Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

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