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

Senior Minister – Dr. Timothy Harris

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 28, 2010 (SKNIS)

Healthy lifestyles and the importance of protecting the body from toxins and harmful influences were highlighted in Molineux, on Saturday (August 28).

The Community Leaders Advancing Molineux and Phillips’ (CLAMP) transformed an open area, to a safe play park, enclosing it with a picket fence, and erecting monkey bars, swing set and benches.

The project was one outcome of the PANCAP/CARICOM Youth Ambassador-administered Mini-Grant Programme, which tackles issues associated with HIV/AIDS. At an official launching ceremony, CLAMP’s President Elmar Martinez told residents that he was proud to open the park where individuals and families can go to relax, stay fit or have friendly competition.

Mr. Martinez indicated that the benches and other structures will depict HIV/AIDS messages that will serve to educate users of the facility with a view of promoting behavioural change. Other aspects of the project included an HIV/AIDS quiz among church representatives, and also working with a community dance group to develop themed performances that highlight social issues associated with the disease, such as stigma and discrimination.

CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Ian Richards commended CLAMP for the huge scope of the project. He cited figures from the 1997-98 Caribbean Youth Health Survey of 10 to 18 year olds which revealed that some 34 percent of the 15,695 youth across nine countries, had already had sexual intercourse.  Sixty six percent engaged in sexual behaviour before the age of 13.

Additionally, 25 percent of the youth respondents admitted that they always used contraception. The study was highlighted in the 2009 Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) which Mr. Richards said is an urgent call for action from young people.

Youth Ambassador Richards also cited a recent report that indicated that HIV/AIDS cases in 16 African countries are declining among 15 to 24 years old. This is attributed to a decrease in multiple sex partners, an increase in abstinence, and increased condom use. Mr. Richards challenged youth across the Region to emulate their African peers in helping to reduce the spread of the epidemic, thereby possibly delisting Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean as the number one and two respectively ranked areas in the world with the highest incidences of the pandemic.

Parliamentary Representative for the community, Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris, recalled that it was just 10 days ago that he attended the closing of a another CYA collaboration with CLAMP, which involved deterring young people from crime by equipping them with income generation, anger management, conflict resolution and goal setting skills.

Senior Minister Harris, remarked that the challenges of antisocial activity and job employment is not unique to St. Kitts and Nevis, the Region or many countries the world over. He praised the local CYA programme and CLAMP, and pledged support to similar activities being undertaken by youth groups. An appeal was also made for other entities and individuals to encourage the young people wherever and whenever possible.

Related posts:

1. Youth Groups Praised By CARICOM For Work On HIV-AIDS
2. St. Kitts – Nevis Youth Groups Take Stand On HIV/AIDS
3. Saint Kitts – Nevis Has New AIDS/HIV Awareness Policy
4. Youth Advocates Honored For Positive Message
5. Enthusiasm Builds For New St. Kitts – Nevis TV Game Show

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 18, 2010 (SKNIS)

The Youth Desk of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) is impressed with the work of youth groups in St. Kitts and Nevis implementing Round II of the Mini-Grant Progamme (MGP).

CARICOM Secretariat’s Deputy Programme Manager for Community Development (Youth), Dr. Heather Johnson, delivered that message on Tuesday (June 15), as she met with Permanent Secretary responsible for youth, Lloyd Lazar, CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Ian Richards and Community Officer Terry Morris.

“We are impressed with the scope of the projects,” said Dr. Johnson, as she recounted the activities of the two projects being implemented locally. “We feel that there is some good work being done here and it comes at a critical time.”

The regional official highlighted that the projects are innovative in capturing the interest of young people using drama, song and dance. This youth friendly format should boost the impact of the knowledge sharing exercises.

This is evident in the initiative being implemented by the Community Leaders Advancing Molineux and Phillips’ (CLAMP) group. They successfully hosted an HIV/AIDS quiz contested by five churches in the area. Other ongoing activities include creating a safe play area for children that will display HIV/AIDS messages and an informational dispenser unit.

The CLAMP youth group will also stage a dramatization featuring scenarios related to the spread of the pandemic and how to avoid contracting the virus.

Youth representatives from the local Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Programme (CHLP) are implementing the second initiative under the PANCAP/CYA administered Mini-Grant Programme. The project focuses on educating young men about the dangers of HIV/AIDS with a view to promote behavioural change.

St. Kitts and Nevis participated in the first round of the MGP in 2005. Two projects were implemented by a coalition of youth groups at that time. In June 2007, the CARICOM Secretariat released an official review and assessment of the MGP which stated that St. Kitts and Nevis distinguished itself by having the best overall implementation in the region.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Youth Groups Take Stand On HIV/AIDS
2. CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Urged to Contribute To Haiti
3. Saint Kitts – Nevis Has New AIDS/HIV Awareness Policy
4. CARICOM Commission To visit St. Kitts – Nevis
5. Nevis Recieves Top Marks For CYA Initiatives

Don’t Lets AIDS Take Over The World

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 18, 2010 (SKNIS)

Young people in St. Kitts and Nevis have demonstrated once again that they are prepared to “Keep the Promise” in reducing the incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Community Leaders Advancing Molineaux – Phillips’ (CLAMP) in collaboration with Rotoract (St. Kitts) as well as the local chapter of the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Project (CHLP) Club Sugar City have developed separate projects to be implemented under the CARICOM Youth Ambassador-administered Mini-Grant Programme (MGP).

CLAMP’s initiative, dubbed “Know It, Share It, Live It,” focuses on using theater and dramatic arts to reach young people between the ages of 15-19. Club Sugar City has targeted sexually active young men aged 16 to 21 that are involved in risky behaviour.

The MGP, which was initially executed in 2005, is funded by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). It was designed to build the capacity of young people in areas such as community mapping and project development writing and to sensitize them about HIV/AIDS related issues.

This second round is being executed in St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Belize, Suriname and Bahamas.

Deputy Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Heather Johnson, told SKNIS that St. Kitts and Nevis produced and executed very successful initiatives in the first round of the MGP when a basketball tournament and an innovative comic book highlighted critical issues and developed peer education.

During a meeting with the Minister of Youth, Honourable Glen Phillip and his Permanent Secretary, Lloyd Lazar, on Wednesday (March 19), Dr. Johnson noted that one of the projects was recognized as a regional best practice which seemingly gave the island an advantage in this latest go around. She explained that the Federation is the only country that is implementing two projects and added that PANCAP was impressed with the proposals.

The locals groups will each receive US $3,500 to execute the projects which should be completed by June 1. This and other specifics were detailed during a meeting with Dr. Johnson last night.

Deslyn Moses of Club Sugar City participated in the first MGP while with another youth group. She described the experience as educational and empowering as a large number of youth are touched by their interventions. Ms. Moses said she is convinced that with the quality of the submissions and outline of the work plan, St. Kitts and Nevis can once again win recognition for the impact of its projects.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Steps Up Fight On HIV/AIDS
2. St. Kitts – Nevis Youth Groups Get Assistance
3. Saint Kitts – Nevis Has New AIDS/HIV Awareness Policy
4. Youth Director Tells Youth “Survival Depends On A Skill”
5. St. Kitts – Nevis PM To Go To Mexico For AIDS Conference