Cabinet officials, led by Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, along with officials from the Ministry of Tourism held an important dialogue with executives of Carnival Corporation aimed at strengthening the relationship between St. Kitts and Nevis, as a tourist destination, and the cruise line.

The meeting was held on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and featured participation from the President of P&O Cruises, Mr. Paul Ludlow; Marie McKenzie, Vice President of Government & Destination Affairs at Carnival Corporation & PLC; Giora Israel, Senior Advisor to the Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations; Charlene Drakes, Manager of Stakeholder Engagements for the Caribbean Region, and Odette McFarlane, Director of Home Port Operations at Carnival UK.
 

Prime Minister Dr. Drew, while delivering brief introductory remarks, told the visiting delegation that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to value and appreciate its partnership with cruise lines.
 
“We appreciate the value that the cruise sector brings to the overall tourism product. An average cruise visitor spends, as per the last BREA (Business Research & Economic Advisors) study, equates to US$135.94. The multiplier effect of such a spend has been and continues to be critical to the economic sustenance of our people. For example, in 2019, the pre-pandemic tourism accounted for at least 40 percent of our GDP,” the Prime Minister said.
 
The honourable Prime Minister gave the assurance that St. Kitts and Nevis, through the Ministry of Tourism, under the leadership of the Honourable Marsha Henderson, will continue to find innovative ways to enhance the visitor experience.
 
Dr. Drew said, “I can assure you that St. Kitts as a destination will continue its efforts to diversify its products through innovation and creativity. We understand that our visitors are seeking enriching, authentic experiences and it is our goal to deliver nothing less.”
 
The visit by the executives from Carnival Corporation came a week after St. Kitts and Nevis welcomed the inaugural call of Carnival Spirit to its shores on November 09, 2022.

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis led by Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, celebrated its first 100 days in office on Monday, November 14, highlighting several major achievements to date.

Among notable achievements are the appointment of the first Female Governor General’s Deputy, Female Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; payment of Honoraria to government employees who worked on the frontline during the Covid-19 Pandemic; introduction of a Financial Assistance Programme for any child in need of medical assistance only available overseas; payment of Economic Costs for all nationals studying at the University of the West Indies in all disciplines; passage of several key Legislations to modernize the legislative framework; the transition of the PAP Welfare Programme to the Ministry of Social Services to be revamped and improved, and the appointment of three (3) New Commissioners of Oaths to improve efficiencies at the Registry of Lands and High Court Registry.

“Your Government began working from day zero and has not rested. We know your expectations for us are high and we continue to strive to exceed those expectations. We have been swift in our actions in some areas and more deliberate and methodical in other areas. But in all spheres, we have been prudent and pragmatic,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew during a national address on Monday, 14 November 2022, to mark the Government’s first 100 days in office.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew reiterated that the Government is indeed working.

“My fellow Cabinet colleagues and I have been working diligently. We have been attending key regional and international meetings and mending the broken bridges left by our predecessors while building new bonds of friendship and partnership to improve the well-being of our people,” said the Prime Minister. “We have been engaging our local ministerial staff and community organizations to gain an even better understanding of the critical needs of our people and the mechanisms we should employ to solve their problems.”

Dr. Drew added that the Government is off to a good start and will not be complacent. In fact, he pledged to be proactive, adding that “we will not be content with average, we will strive for excellence. We will not be boastful, we will serve with humility, honesty and compassion.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew thanked the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for their “support and your patience during these first 100 days” and looks forward to working with citizens and residents “to rebuild and restore our proud nation.”

Other achievements include but are not limited to sourcing over 4000 electronic devices to enhance learning for our children; consultation and passage of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, an OECS initiative allowing the ECCAA Director-General to make safety and security regulations at airports; re-established the Water Board to address the urgent water problem throughout St Kitts; approval of a project to build two partially solar-powered desalination plants; passage of the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act enhancing protection for victims of domestic violence, providing swifter access to justice; financial assistance to the SKNFA Super Six Playoff teams, and State Visit to Taiwan which included Members of the National Assembly and Nevis Island Assembly for the first time in the nation’s history.

St. Kitts and Nevis is celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 14 to 20 under the theme “Building Forward Better -Creating Equality and Equity through Entrepreneurship.”

Minister responsible for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the Honourable Samal Duggins, delivered an address on Monday (November 14, 2022) to mark the occasion. He noted that government continues to applaud entrepreneurs and small business operators who continue to operate through these difficult times.

“My Ministry, and by extension the government, is committed to the continued development of the sector as we fully understand that small businesses are not only the drivers for growth but also the lifeblood of the economy,” Minister Duggins stated. “Through the activities and support programmes of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC St. Kitts), a unit which I am privileged to have been assigned the responsibility to oversee within my Ministerial portfolio, we will continue to provide the necessary technical assistance which is vital for growth and development of the sector.”

A number of activities will be held during the week to celebrate the occasion. On Tuesday, November 15, the Minister and officials will visit various businesses owned or operated by youth entrepreneurs. A press event will be held on Wednesday, November 16, at the National ICT Centre at 9 a.m. Later that day, at 8:30 p.m. a televised panel discussion dubbed Cannabiz will be held. On Thursday, November 17, there will be announcements on new business support initiatives for entrepreneurs in 2023. The week culminates on Friday, November 18, with a Small Business Expo at Independence Square. At the event, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase products and services.

Minister Duggins declared GEW open and saluted all national entrepreneurs and ecosystem support partners who make up the economic building block in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, along with his Cabinet, will convene a special press conference on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, where he intends to update citizens and residents on the many achievements of the SKNLP-led administration in its first 100 days in office.
 
Tuesday’s press conference takes place from 3:00 pm at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Ballroom.
 
The event will be broadcast live on ZIZ Radio, ZIZ TV and via the Facebook and YouTube platforms of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) and ZIZ.

Tourism authorities in St. Kitts are mobilizing resources to rebuild the industry and capitalize on the positive momentum gained in the past three months.

At the State of Industry event on Wednesday (November 09), Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, said that the destination has generated quite a bit of interest in key markets as global travel and tourism rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this month, we will have a total of six inaugural cruise calls which include the world’s largest (cruise) vessel Wonder of the Seas calling on Thursday, 24^th November. During this month, we will also begin to see the return of our legacy air carriers who operate seasonally,” Honourable Henderson stated. “I am also cognizant of the challenges of airlift and the need to invest in the tourism plant and room stock. I want to assure you, however, that your government has begun discussions with local and international partners to identify sustainable solutions.”

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority launched its Venture Deeper campaign in September 2022. The campaign offers the opportunity to delve into the island’s distinct characteristics while introducing elements of introspective self-discovery essentially “Kittitianizing visitors.” This is in keeping with current traveller trends.

“We need to recognize and acknowledge this trend and use it to our advantage by allowing our authentic Kittitian experience, history, and culture to headline our experiential tours and dialogues allowing for impactful and genuine distinct visitor experience,” she stated.

“With the new brand campaign and a strong marketing team, committed stakeholders and the Ministry’s and the Authority’s building human capital, we will expand our industry. We will open doors for economic growth for our people as well. We need each of you,” the Minister expressed. “Tourism isn’t just about the hoteliers, the restaurant owners, the taxi and tour bus operators, and our tour guides, But it includes you, the public, the proverbial everyday man/woman on the street. We need the farmers, educators, individuals working at the gas stations and those in the supermarkets. We are all a part of the tourism industry, whether directly or indirectly, and tourism is everyone’s responsibility.”

The event was organized as part of activities to mark Tourism Awareness Month in November.

Fifty workers at the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) were approved to receive an honorarium in the amount of Two Thousand Eastern Caribbean Dollars ($2000XCD) on Friday 11^th November,2022.
 
Minister responsible for SWMC, Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke said she is thankful that the process has been completed which now allows for the 50 workers to be compensated for their invaluable services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
During previous meetings with the staff of the Corporation, Minister Dr. Clarke assured the workers that their concerns related to their services during the pandemic were valid and would be addressed.
 
The paid workers include litter wardens, drivers and loaders whose jobs included collection and disposal of waste from residences and government-run facilities that housed persons infected with COVID-19 or who were in quarantine.
 
The Cabinet recently approved the payment of an honorarium to qualifying persons deemed Frontline Workers.

President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Her Excellency Dr. Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis have maintained consistent mutual support over the years and continue to achieve excellent results through wide-ranging bilateral collaboration.

President Tsai’s commendation came in an address to welcome St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew on his inaugural State Visit to Taiwan on the morning of November 8, 2022, at the main plaza and lobby of the National Theatre and Concert Hall of the National Performing Arts Center after a 19-gun salute and the playing of the two countries national anthems.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Drew today with military honours as he leads a delegation on a state visit to Taiwan. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my sincerest welcome to all of our distinguished guests,” President Tsai said.

She continued, “St. Christopher and Nevis is an important ally of Taiwan in the Caribbean. This is Prime Minister Drew’s first visit to a diplomatic ally since he took office three months ago, reflecting his high regard to the bond between our two nations.”

She highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries, one in the West and the other in the East.

“Since establishing diplomatic relations 39 years ago, our countries have supported each other through the good times and the bad. And we continue to strengthen collaboration across the board, achieving fruitful results. I look forward to our countries addressing issues of mutual concern and engaging in an in-depth exchange of opinions during this visit to further expand our cooperation,” President Tsai said. “In particular, we believe that Taiwan has highly valuable experiences to share in the fields of medicine and health insurance, both of which Prime Minister Drew has expressed an interest in.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew in response said, “My delegation and I are profoundly grateful to you and the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) not only for your warm hospitality but also for the excellent arrangements put in place for the duration of this momentous state visit.”

“This state visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan) is significant in more ways than one. It strengthens the solid platform built for well over three decades, which allows us to implement projects under the broad rubric of functional cooperation. It also places us at the threshold of a new era of enhanced partnership where we consider creative solutions to the challenges which threaten to prevent us from achieving our development objectives,” St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister said.

The 4-day state visit of President Dr. Drew and his delegation came to an end on Thursday, November 10 with a visit to Taipei Veterans General Hospital and International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF).