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

Caribbean Nation Still Troubled With Crime Rate

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 11, 2010 (SKNIS)

The Government has unveiled plans to carry out “a comprehensive review” of current crime fighting initiatives and has signaled further resource commitment to ensure all residents of St. Kitts and Nevis can live in peace.

While reading the Throne Speech at Wednesday’s opening of a new Parliament, Governor General His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, said in recent years, Government has introduced a separate gun control and anti-gang unit, mounted closed circuit television cameras around the capital Basseterre, strengthened crime laws and established K-9 units in both the Police and Defence Force.

He revealed that measures are in place to determine the impact of various anti-crime strategies “with a view to evaluating their effectiveness, committing more resources to the initiatives that are achieving results and developing new community-based approaches to the fight against crime.”

The security forces have also been targeted to ensure that they are adequately prepared to police in a rapidly developing society.

“We have exposed our law officers to advanced training in the use of the latest law enforcement methods and technologies and have procured technical assistance from law enforcement agencies in advanced countries to assist the police in the implementation of a crime fighting plan,” the Governor General stressed, while speaking in the National Assembly.

“… We have improved the police facilities through the renovation of the Basseterre Police Station and the upgrading of the Frigate Bay Police Station (and) we have started the construction of a new Police Station at Dieppe Bay. … Moreover, we intend to implement an EU (European Union)-funded project to comprehensively improve and upgrade the accommodation and facilities of the Police and Defence Force.”

Governor General Sebastian announced that as part of this project, Government is pursuing a proposal to build a new Fire Station and a new Police Training Academy at Lime Kiln. The property that currently houses the station and training school will be transformed, as residential units for the police will be constructed.

The announcement comes on the heels of a consultation exercise with security forces by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Honourable Sam Condor. Minister Condor pledged to work closely with authorities to ensure they are equipped with the necessary crime fighting tools and can respond to the challenges of the new economic landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis.

It is anticipated that the allocation of additional resources will also be laid out when the Budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011 is presented in the National Assembly in the coming weeks.

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St. Kitts - Nevis PM - Dr. Denzil Douglas
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
January 18, 2010 (CUOPM)

With the slogan “Progress, Not Promises” St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas  said the 2010 manifesto for the January 25th general elections, promotes the Labour Government’s proud record between 1995 and present.

“In moving forward, we are not starting from scratch. We have a proud record of progress on which to build. We initiated a programme of change in 1995 that has revolutionized the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis and has pushed our small twin island Federation to the forefront of social and economic development in the Caribbean,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Prime Minister Douglas told the rally to launch the 55-page document that his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government will continue on a path of progressive change.”

“Good progressive change, not change for the sake of change; constructive progressive change, not destructive change; progressive change that you can embrace as a people; change that has taken so many of our people from a condition of poverty and landlessness to a position of strength through empowerment, education and wealth creation; progressive change that over the next five years will complete the transformation our of economy into a full-fledged competitive service economy that will bring even more wealth and opportunity to our people,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said that the manifesto outlines the progress of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Party’s intention to build on the achievements over the last 14 years and accelerate the pace of development.

“We know the international environment is very turbulent so we will proceed cautiously. Everything we do in the next five years, will be based a detailed and comprehensive analysis that ensures that we do not sacrifice our many achievements as we strive to grasp new opportunities,” Dr. Douglas said.

“We do not have to look far to see the many risks that countries face in this environment. In one country, it is only when public servants get their pay checks that they realize the amount is reduced because the Government did not have the money to pay the full wage bill. In other countries, Government workers are being paid many weeks after payday, while the bank and other creditors pile on the pressure on these workers to get them to pay their mortgages and other loans,” said the Prime Minister.

He noted that at the same time in some of these same countries, the private enterprises have laid off workers by the thousands, and the financial sector have stood shakily on a precipice as financial institutions struggle to get the liquidity required to honour their obligations to their depositors.

Dr. Douglas said that it has not happened in St. Kitts because “we have planned well and we have been extra careful.”

“The double salary we paid in December shocked many onlookers but it was based on very careful analysis and projections that definitively demonstrated the strength and capacity of our economy,” he said.

He told the massive crowd that it has what has become clear in this crisis is that, with a few exceptions, the countries that changed leadership in the midst of the crisis are the ones encountering the most difficulties.

“In this crisis, there is no room for indecisiveness and policy mistakes as new leaders try to learn the job. The penalty for such indecision and mistakes is financial and economic collapse accompanied by social mayhem. The people of Dominica fully understand this, and they therefore provided the Labour Administration of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt a resounding mandate to lead Dominica through the global turbulence,” said Prime Minister.

He expressed confidence that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis will also deliver a resounding mandate to the Labour Team, “so that we may continue to provide effective leadership in the midst of this stormy global environment.”

Dr. Douglas said the people of St. Kitts and Nevis understand that in difficult times there could be no better hands at the wheel than the caring hands of Labour.

“Each member of the Labour Team understands, and has experienced poverty. A person who admits that he was born with a gold spoon is his mouth could never understand the plight of poor people sufficiently to truly care,” said Dr. Douglas.

Prime Minister Douglas said he will continue the vision for the creation of a modern, vibrant, competitive service-based economy that would give every Kittitian, Nevisian and Resident the opportunity to realize even his most ambitious aspirations.

“We want an economy that would attract over a million visitors to our country each year who would spend heavily in all sectors of our economy and thereby create opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation,” said Dr. Douglas.

He pointed out that through the progressive policies of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government, the Federation is well on the way to the attainment of that goal.

Related posts:

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3. St. Kitts - Nevis’ PM Continues Economic Transformation
4. Nevis Continues To Grow It’s Economy
5. PM Douglas Says US$125m Investment Will Create Jobs

Haitian Born Recording Artist - Wyclef Jean

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
January 16, 2010 (CUOPM)

The Haitian-born international entertainer, Wyclef Jean is on his way to St. Kitts - Nevis.

Jean boarded the American Airlines Miami flight and is expected to disembark at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.

Organisers are baffled over a story in the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer newspaper that the international superstar was being replaced by US-born Jamaican reggae superstar Taurus Riley. Riley is expected to be in St. Kitts on January 23rd.

According to organisers, Wyclef Jean’s appearance at tonight’s (Saturday) Super Rally has been billed as “the largest political event in our Federation’s history” will be held under the theme ‘The Labour Vision.’

“My candidates will tell you of the Labour vision for the next five years – our plans, our pledges and our new policies that will continue to deliver prosperity and the opportunity to this wonderful Federation, as well as to its individual constituencies.

Few people will forget the last Labour Super Rally at Warner Park – with over 12,000 Kittitians in attendance. But, the Prime Minister believes the event on the 16th will be even more memorable.

“We, the Labour team, invite every Kittitian to come to an unforgettable night on the 16th. This is a night for big ideas: ground-breaking Labour policies that will confirm our islands as the most dynamic, the most vibrant and the most visionary within the entire region.”

And, in a sensational coup for the party, the entertainment for the night will culminate in a free concert by Wyclef Jean – one of the most highly regarded and influential musicians of recent years.

“We are delighted that Wyclef has agreed to come and take part in such a special night for Labour. His songs deal with real issues, real politics and real people. I have a great deal of admiration for his work.”

Other entertainment on the night will be provided by local artists – and there are also rumours of another performance by RED (Labour’s youth team) who raised the roof in July with their energetic dancing and inspiring speeches.

Related posts:

1. Wyclef Jean To Perform at Super Rally
2. PM Douglas and Wyclef Jean To Hold Press Conference
3. Regina Belle To Perform At St. Kitts Music Festival
4. T-Pain To Perform At The St. Kitts Music Festival
5. Etana To Perform In St. Kitts - Nevis