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

The Cuban National Flag

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
SKNIS
May 07, 2010

The Government of the Republic of Cuba through its St. Kitts and Nevis-based Embassy, is inviting applications for 10 medical scholarships to be taken at the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba.  The scholarships are specifically for five males and five females and a selection committee will choose the recipients.

Applicants must be below the age 25 and posses at least a High School Certificate of Higher Studies to qualify for University courses and must be below the age of 17 and posses at least a 9th Grade Graduate Certificate of Middle-Level Technician to qualify for middle-level technical courses.  Applicants must also come from a low-income family, be HIV negative, not pregnant and have no criminal records.

Application Deadline is May 30, 2010 and interested persons can contact the Human Resources Department at 467-1036 or 467-1323 to fill out the appropriate application form and for further information.

Related posts:

1. Cuban Embassy Announces 2009 Study Opportunities
2. St. Kitts – Nevis To Welcome New Medical School
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Students Graduate From Cuban Universities
4. Nevis Students Receive Alexander Hamilton Scholarships
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Sports Department Grants Scholarships

Premier Parry With Ambassador Zurbiaur (R)

Charlestown, Nevis
November 17, 2009

Premier of Nevis Hon Joseph Parry, welcomed new resident Cuban Ambassador to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Jorge Desiderio Payret Zurbiaur, at his Bath Hotel Office on Tuesday. The meeting came one week after he bade farewell to outgoing Ambassador Ana-Maria Gonzales.

Mr. Parry told him that Ambassador Gonzales had done excellent work and had laid the foundation for closer relations with Cuba.

“Ambassador Ana-Maria was excellent. She has laid the foundation and I know you will continue to build on that as you bring our countries more closely together. Thank you very much Sir and welcome,” he said.

The Premier noted, that the government and people of Nevis were appreciative of the work that the Cuban government had done to assist the Federation and in particular in Nevis.

He pointed to the assistance of the Cuban doctors and the nine patients from Nevis who had been referred to Cuba for specialised medical attention that was not available on Nevis. Mr. Parry said they returned to Nevis satisfied with the treatment they had received.

“We are also thankful for your doctors who are here working with us and for the training of our doctors, we are hoping to have nurses trained and we are looking forward to doing some cooperation in agriculture as well,” he said.

The Premier explained that he was aware that Cuban personnel were in the Federation to assist with the assessment of the monkey population.

“It is my understanding that already in the Federation, there is a gentleman trying to assess the population of the monkeys both in St. Kitts and Nevis. That is only the first phase because as we have said, it is the control of the monkeys that is important so that farmers can continue to do their work,” he said.

In response, Ambassador Zurbiaur thanked Premier Parry for having received him so soon after his arrival to the Federation.

He said he had already met with the medical doctors and other Cuban personnel who were in the Federation and they had all expressed satisfaction with their working conditions.

The Ambassador said that the relationship already forged in the area of health was a good first step to assist patients on Nevis.

“I hope that the healthy and friendly relations that we have will continue expanding,” he said.

Prior to his posting to the Federation, the Ambassador explained that his 40 year span in the Cuban Foreign Service had taken him to Scandinavia in Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Ecuador in Latin America. St. Kitts and Nevis was his first posting in the Caribbean.

“That is why I am very pleased to be here in an area that we are a part of also. So as much as we can do for cooperation in the Caribbean the better,” he said.

Related posts:

1. Cuban Ambassador Bids Farewell To St. Kitts – Nevis
2. Nevis Bids Farewell To Outgoing Cuban Ambassador
3. Cuban Ambassador Urges Graduates To Make Contribution
4. PM Douglas Praises Outgoing Cuban Resident Ambassador
5. Cuba Posts First Ambassador of African Descent To St. Kitts – Nevis

Dr. Drew (L), PM Douglas, and Drew’s Mom
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
November 16, 2009 (CUOPM)

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to ensuring that the twin-island Federation develop and maintain a thriving agricultural industry while at the same time preserving the thrust toward the service-oriented economy.

At a farewell ceremony honouring outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to St. Kitts and Nevis, Her Excellency Ana Maria Gonzalez-Suarez, Prime Minister Douglas also praised Cuba’s role in capacity building and healthcare.

“Only last month, the Cuban Alumni Association of St. Kitts and Nevis planned a ceremony in honour of four nationals who recently graduated from Cuban institutions of higher education in the fields of accounting, dentistry, engineering and medicine,” said Dr. Douglas, who reminded the guests that Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin was the first of such graduates and who today is a very senior and successful Parliamentarian and Minister of Government.

Dr. Douglas informed that in 2008, there were two graduates and the year before that twelve (12), which brings to 41, the number of students who have graduated from Cuba, almost all of whom are now gainfully employed or self-employed in the Federation.

“This is remarkable considering that we lose a vast majority of our young people who migrate to further their studies abroad and never return.  Think about the impact Cuba is making on my Government’s pursuit of maximizing the strength of one of our greatest assets, human capital,” said the Prime Minister.

He said the list of Cuban experts who have come to St. Kitts and Nevis to conduct training in social work, sculpting and craft-making, dancing, sports, and agriculture.

“On my visit to Cuba in the first quarter of 2007, I had the privilege of visiting some hydroponic or organic farming.  We engaged the Cuban authorities and expressed our desire to experiment with this type of farming in St Kitts and Nevis.  Subsequently, two Cuban experts were dispatched here to work with the Department of Agriculture and soon thereafter, many backyard gardens developed as a result.  My Government believes that this is a one small step toward ensuring food security, while providing a source of income to subsistence and small scale farming.  Not only were the experts able to demonstrate but they were also able to train some of our own people to continue this kind of farming even after they have returned to Cuba.  But this is not the only agricultural venture,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said that the Miracle Eye Care Mission, a joint initiative by both the Cuban and Venezuelan Governments is a hallmark of former Cuban President Fidel Castro who has often displayed acts of philanthropy and altruism toward his Caribbean friends.

“May he continue to enjoy long life!  Through this programme, thousands of Caribbean nationals were able to receive medical treatment at no cost in Cuban hospitals.  Initially, this project was for eye care, but some patients were diagnosed with other non-communicable diseases for which they were treated in Cuba.  I understand that the number of consultations that occurred numbered more than half of the Federation’s population. The outcome of this inventiveness is long-lived and far-reaching. In addition to the life-changing operations performed, many friendships were forged which may span a lifetime and our people experienced the Cuban culture,” said the Prime Minister.

He praised the Cuban Medical Brigade, noting that the team of dedicated medical doctors and technicians who are working in the hospitals in a plethora of fields, administering medical treatment to nationals.

Since 1996, over sixty (60) have been deployed to work in St. Kitts and Nevis as Cuba continues to touch nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis from all sphere and walk of life.

He said that there has been a myriad of cooperation projects which the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have benefitted greatly from assistance from the good government and people of the Republic of Cuba.

“The cooperation has not been one-sided however.  I am pleased to recall that earlier this year, my Government was able to show its solidarity with our Cuban brothers and sisters when we donated a sum of money to that country, after it was ravaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike,” said Dr. Douglas.

At the United Nations General Assembly, St Kitts and Nevis supports the UN-sponsored resolution which urges the United States to end the economic and commercial embargo.

“I promise that under my Government, we shall continue to support such and similar resolutions in international fora in view of our extremely good and friendly relationship with Cuba,” said Dr. Douglas.

Related posts:

1. Cuba Gives Free Medical Clinics For SKN Independence
2. Cuba Offers More Assistance To St. Kitts and Nevis
3. Nevis Citizens To Receive Medical Care In Cuba
4. Cuban-Trained Kittitian Physician Says Cuba Has Changed His Life
5. 15,000 Nationals Screened Under Cuba’s Miracle Eye Care Mission