Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

SCASPA Tests Airport’s Emergency Plan

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
July 31, 2009 (CUOPM)

A table top exercise to test the management and operational aspects of the Airport Emergency Plan at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport last Thursday.

Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations, Mrs. Delcia Bradley-King said the purpose of the exercise was to focus on the function and role of the Emergency Operations Centre, the unit responsible for centralised coordination and direction.

“The scenario used was a written bomb threat message.  When the table top exercise began the Centre had already been notified about the threat and the Airport was in shutdown mode.  As would be the case in a real situation, the Emergency Operations Centre was manned by representatives of SCASPA as well as other agencies including Fire and Rescue Services, NEMA, Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the Defence Force,” said SCASPA in a news release.

The activity was controlled by Director of the Disaster Management Department in Nevis, Mr. Lester Blackett.

The aspects of the Plan that were tested included the rate at which information was received; the accuracy, completeness and clarity of messages; the correct channeling of information; effective coordination of units; and the proper implementation of decisions.

The table top exercise also involved a press briefing at which a panel provided members of the media and public with an account of the situation at the Airport, and responded to questions posed by journalists.

Exercise Coordinator, Mr. Ray John, facilitated the debriefing session held at the end of the ninety-minute exercise.

“Participants and observers felt that the activity was extremely useful as it provided an opportunity for agencies to perform their designated roles, and to identify shortcomings that need to be addressed.  Many positive outcomes were also highlighted, and SCASPA received commendation for executing this table top exercise in a smooth manner,” the release said.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requires the regular testing of Airport Emergency Plans through the conduct of table top and full-scale exercises.  A full-scale, live exercise is being planned for later this year, and the public will be informed as all persons on the Airport during that time will be involved.

The St. Christopher Air and Seaports Authority is ensuring

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St. Kitts - Nevis IT Training Programmes

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
July 31, 2009 (SKNIS)

The National Information and Communication Telecommunication (ICT) Center has achieved yet another milestone as it empowers locals to become e-Citizens in the digital age.

Earlier this week, Permanent Secretary (PS) of Information and Technology, Osmond Petty, presided over a ceremony which saw documents being signed, to officially certify the ICT Center as an authorized testing center for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) which markets in some countries as the International Computer Driver’s License.

ICT Policy Adviser, Pierre Bowrin, told SKNIS that this was a significant development as it adds an international certification component to the complement the training that is already offered at the ICT center.

ECDL classes are scheduled to begin mid-August.

Albert Daniels, the ICDL Auditor for the Eastern Caribbean, toured the center, and gave a “thumbs up” to the procedures put in place by Government to ensure that the facility can be a training house for various international e-Courses. Mr. Daniels noted his pleasure in having the Federation become an official member of the ECDL/ICDL family which spans nine million candidates in 148 countries.

“It is important that Kittitians are able to have access to this new testing facility because digital literacy has been found to be one of the hallmarks [of education] - just like reading and writing - which will be a contributor to economic and social development,” he stressed, adding that ICDL is considered to be the largest computer certification house globally.

ICT has been identified by Government as one of the pillars of the new economy and as such, focus is placed on improving the skill set of locals. The National ICT Center was opened in October 2007 and has facilitated training for approximately 2,000 persons to date.

Permanent Secretary Petty explained that computer literacy will continue to be an important requirement within the public sector.

“The Ministry of Education will make a submission to the Government’s Human Resource Management Department to recognize ICDL as a certification that all civil servants should aspire to and be given due recognition through increments, once they have achieved certification,” he revealed.

Mr. Petty, who also is the PS for Education, made a special appeal to teachers to take advantage of this new opportunity.

ECDL/ICDL courses are typically completed in four to six weeks. Additional information is available at 465-0610.

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Minister Daniel At Bath Youth Camp

Charlestown, Nevis
July 30, 2009

Minister responsible for Youth and Social Development on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel, said his Ministry was constantly thinking of new  ways to engage the island’s children. He made the comment on Wednesday when he visited students involved in Camp Refresh, an initiative designed to build up their innovative skills.

“We at the Ministry will continue our efforts to reach our young people and provide them with some opportunity to develop their skills.

“The various forms of craft, field trips, presentations and motivational talks all help to point our young people in the right direction. So on behalf of the Ministry I would like to thank you the parents and the children for their involvement,” he said.

The two week programme which concludes on Friday has facilitated over 100 children daily throughout the island at eight centres. It is facilitated by persons within the community.

Mr. Daniel said his visit to the Centres was to view the children at work during the programme and to encourage them to continue take advantage of the opportunity.

Participant Ms. Loshan Winter age 14 of Bath Village summed up her experience at the Camp as one of enjoyment which taught her the importance of craft work. Another student Master Kareem Rommey of the same village said he joined the programme because it taught him many things and kept him busy.

Meantime, at the Charlestown Primary School Centre, facilitator Ms. Mavis Parris said her students were taught the importance of recycling through craft.

They were also engaged in dance classes with an instructor from the Department of Culture. The students also got the opportunity to hear from a motivational speaker who impressed on them the importance of confidence and how to be positive young people.

In addition they had an exploratory field trip to Lime Kiln Bay.

“We collected some things from the ocean. We have created some craft centered on coral and shells. Our main craft with the shell is what we call a jewellery stand…IIn addition to that the children did a bit of sewing machine skills where some persons were able to create cushions,” the Facilitator said.

Ms. Parris described Camp Refresh as a fun event but a challenging one. Nonetheless, she said it was important to continue to assist the youth and the Camp provided that opportunity.

Mr. Daniel also visited Centres at the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School, the old St. Johns School and the Community Centre in Brown Hill.

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