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

Nevis Culture Minister - Hensley Daniel

Charlestown, Nevis
March 10, 2010

Minister of Culture on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel described construction of a state of the art Nevis Performing Arts and Conference Centre as the Nevis Island Administration’s (NIA) tangible support for the development of the island’s people and culture.

The Minister made that comment recently at a ceremony to break ground for the Taiwanese funded state of the art $3million ($2million loan and $1million grant) facility at Pinneys.

“We are persuaded that the Arts have a brighter future than sugar and bananas and they have as bright a future as tourism. We believe with the establishment of the Performing Arts Centre, we would add value to the tourism product and we will have a home for the Performing Arts. We look forward to all of our artists having somewhere to practise and also somewhere to perform,” he said.

According to Mr. Daniel, the project is another in a long list of projects commissioned by the sitting NIA that would have a lasting impact on the development of Nevis.

In the area of Culture the Nevis Development Cultural Foundation was established and also community festivals around the island, all of which were intended to give fillip to the development of culture.

“When we established the Cultural Development Foundation, we wanted to amalgamate all of the units of culture and also to save money in an environment where we have scarce resources.

“So we have since established the Foundation and brought Culturama under the Festivals Secretariat, established the Research and Documentation Unit and the Performing Arts Unit,” he said.

Mr. Daniel said the NIA held the view that projects had to fall in line with the thinking and the philosophy of the government and therefore when the sitting Administration came to government, the plans that existed for the centre then did not fall in line with what needed to be done and adjustments had to be made to facilitate a state of the art facility for Performing Arts.

The Minister referred to the facility under construction as a fitting tribute to many of the island’s cultural icons, many of who had made a significant contribution to the development of culture at a time when hardly any buildings in which to perform.

“We owe this to them and we hope that many of them will be around to enjoy it”

“I want also to say to us that we will have with this centre, the opportunity to foster the development of the Arts and really pay some greater attention to the investment in culture,” he said.

Minister Daniel noted though the people of Nevis had a rich culture, it was at a rudimentary level in many respects but believed that with a state of the Performing Arts Centre, it was expected that it would also give rise to the development of the Arts.

He indicated that assistance would be sought for the development of the Arts on Nevis and had already met with representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the region based in Jamaica.

“We said to them that we need to see a greater input from them in Nevis both in terms of resources and in terms of the preparation of persons for the Performing Arts.

“With the construction of this Performing Arts Centre, we are going to be preparing programmes and projects to engage UNESCO, so that we can have the kind of mix that we want in our cultural development,” he said.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Minister Of Culture Applauds Public Support
2. Nevis Performing Arts And Cultural Centre Opens
3. New Legislation To Help Culture On Nevis
4. Nevis Culture Officials Speak On St. Johns Fest
5. Ministry Pursues Economic Diversification Through Culture

Gingerland Student - Kelsia Liburd

Charlestown, Nevis
March 04, 2010

Premier of Nevis and Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Joseph Parry commended twelve year old Kelsia Liburd of the Gingerland Secondary School, upon hearing that she is the regional winner, in the junior division, of the 2010 Florida Caribbean Cruise  Association (FCCA) Foundation Children Environmental poster contest. Miss Liburd also received a congratulatory letter from the Principal Education Officer, Mrs. Lornette Queeley Connor commending her on her efforts.

The Nevisian student was selected as the first place winner in her category from among entries from fifteen (15) participating countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.  Her captivating poster was entitled, “Listen, the time to act is now – Protect our Coral Reefs.”

Using the illustration of a clock, she outlined the urgent actions that are necessary to save our reefs and marine life.  Kelsia will be awarded a cash scholarship of US$3000.00, while her school will receive the same amount from the FCCA.

This is the second consecutive year Kelsia has placed in the top three positions regionally. Last year, Kelsia’s poster entitled “The environment through my eyes” caught the judges’ attention for 2nd overall spot in the Caribbean.

In expressing words of commendation to the winning student, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Tyrone O’Flaherty said, “Nevis has once again shown that our students can compete with the best in the region, in terms of raw talent and creativity.  In her own right, Kelsia deserves this supreme achievement, going from impressive challenger last year to top of the class this time around.”

Kelsia Liburd and Chirstin Scarborough of the Charlestown Secondary School were chosen as the winners of the contest for Nevis in the junior and senior categories respectively by local judges.  Their posters were forwarded to the FCCA headquarters in Florida to compete regionally.  Christin will receive US $200.00 for placing first in his category on the country level.

Local coordinator of the contest, Ms. Vanessa Webbe, Research and Documentation Officer at the Ministry of Tourism extended congratulations to the local winners.  She also lauded the students for the impressive work they submit each year, distinguishing themselves as regional winners!

Each year, students in FCCA’s partner destinations are invited to participate in the Environmental Poster Competition which is geared towards promoting and stimulating environmental awareness and effectively educating younger generations on the importance of environmental protection.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Does Well In FCCA Poster Contest
2. Nevis Tourism Ministry Congratulates Poster Winner
3. Nevis Places Third In The Caribbean FCCA Essay Contest
4. Nevis Ministry Of Tourism Announces Local Winners Of FCCA Essay Contest
5. Nevis Students Excel In FCCA Poster Competition

Ground Breaking Ceremony For Nevis Performing Arts Theatre

Charlestown, Nevis
March 03, 2010

A ground breaking ceremony and contract signing marked the start of construction for Nevis’ first Performing Arts Theatre and Conference Centre on Monday, March 1st 2010 at Pinney’s.

Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry in his remarks said that the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP)-led Administration thought it was time for a first class performing Arts Center in Nevis and added that through the assistance of the Taiwanese Government, the facility was expected to be completed by December 2010.

“The Nevis Island Cabinet felt that it was time to have a Performing Arts Centre to crown the development of performing arts in Nevis, in order to honor those from the past - those who are alive and those to come,” commented Mr. Parry.

The Premier also noted that there were a number of sons and daughters of the soil who had contributed to the Culture of Nevis and had not been publicly honoured. However, he said the new facility would bear the name of such a person.  In that case the honor would come posthumously.

“In light of recognising Nevisians who have contributed to the Arts, my Administration will name the Center after Nevisian Musician and Teacher Mr. Herald Sutton [who passed away over two years ago]. It is so wonderful for a young man like Herald to be recognised in this manner.”

According to Premier Parry, the Performing Arts Center will also be outfitted with a Conference Center facility where meetings can be held in comfort.  He said the facility would also be available to small hotels to assist the tourism market on the island.

The construction of the Center will be facilitated by Jamaican based Surrey Paving and Aggregate.

Mr. Parry said he was pleased that Jamaican contractors would construct the facility and was hopeful that Jamaican artists would bring their culture to Nevis for the benefit of residents.

“I have had the opportunity to witness the dance, drama and music of Jamaica, in and outside of Jamaica.  Many Nevisians might be surprised at the international level of their performance, which I believe might make Nevisians thirst for more,” he said.

The Premier thanked all who he said had worked tirelessly to take the project to the stage of construction and commended noted artists on the island who put much energy into the planning of the Center notably, Ms. Esther Brookes, Mr. Hezekiah and Mr. Amba Trott.

“Let us hope that in the construction stage we will get an excellent Fine Arts Center that can compete with any other performing arts theatre, Caribbean wide,” Mr. Parry concluded.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Performing Arts And Cultural Centre Opens
2. Performing Arts Facility Will Enhance The Lives of Nevisians
3. Nevis Breaks Ground For New Police Barracks
4. New Nevis Villa Development Breaks Ground
5. New Performing Arts Center Planned For Nevis