Increases in cargo shipping and passenger arrivals to St. Kitts and Nevis are positive signs that the economy is beginning to gain steam as the COVID-19 health emergency is moving to an endemic.

Minister responsible for Ports, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, shared the positive news on Sunday, September 26, 2022, as she addressed the congregation of the Antioch Baptist Church. The Minister and staff from the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) worshipped at the church to mark SCASPA’s 29 years of service to the public.

At the seaport, Honourable Henderson, who also is the Minister of Tourism, said that cruise tourism is expected to return to pre-pandemic numbers barring any unforeseen external shocks.

“There has been an uptick in cargo imports which is a clear indication that the economy is steadily, albeit slowly, getting back to 2019 levels,” she stated. “Cruise operations have resumed with a bang. I’m pleased to announce that for the 2022-2023 cruise season, barring any cancellations, we expect over 350 calls and just over 900,000 passengers. Things are indeed looking up, and we expect that 2023-2024 cruise season we would once again surpass the one million passenger mark.”

It was reported that American Airlines and LIAT have increased the frequency of flights coming into the R. L. Bradshaw International Airport while Delta and British Airways maintain a regular schedule. SKY High Airlines is providing passengers with added capacity by utilizing a larger aircraft, while Air Canada is expected to resume service to St. Kitts in November 2022.

The Minister also reported that upgrades to the R. L. B. International Airport are well underway. The installation of a new air conditioning system is 90 percent complete, a new escalator is being installed and plans to rehabilitate the tarmac are underway.

“Better days are ahead church,” said Honourable Henderson. “We have all been hard hit by the pandemic. The challenges may seem insurmountable, but we remain resilient.”

SCASPA has plans to modernize and streamline operations at the seaports and redevelop the airport master plan with a view of constructing a new modern international airport with enhanced capacity.

When members of the Liamuiga Agricultural Cooperative Society held a fundraiser in aid of their founding member, a number of sponsors came forward and offered assistance through donations but the National Insurance Company Limited had a physical presence for the entire period of the fundraiser.

Held at Maynard’s Park in Cayon on Saturday September 24, the fundraiser was in aid of founding member of the Liamuiga Agricultural Cooperative Society, 62-year-old Mr Stanley Baptiste, who is seeking funds to acquire a prosthetic leg from French St. Martin following the loss of his right leg as a result of diabetic complications.

“Mr Stanley Baptiste is a founding member of the Liamuiga Agricultural Cooperative Society, and he has been one of our main farmers over the years,” said President of the society, Mrs Telca Wallace. “We have some lands up at Whyte’s Estate, Upper Cayon, and he has been one of the persons who have been consistently maintaining the farm.”

The society was started in 2017, and is open to farmers from around the island although most members are persons from the Green Valley area, from Canada to Lodge. They have started a membership drive and currently they have a few members from Sandy Point.

According to Mrs Wallace, after they started planning for the fundraiser for their founding member, his 32-year-old daughter, Ms Leah Baptiste, was diagnosed with kidney failure and has been undergoing treatment locally.

“We now have to look at a more long term solution to the health challenges because Mr Baptiste has a family and he is a humble man, and he has really impacted the community and the family have been through a lot,” said President Wallace. “I could even mention that he had another child who died from kidney failure as well. As part of the moving forward, an account dedicated to people who wish to donate has been opened at the National Bank under Ms Baptiste’s name.”

Coming from a family of hard workers, Mr Stanley Baptiste was a welder before he ventured into farming at Whyte’s Estate in Upper Cayon. He however sadly observed that diabetes runs in his family as his grandfather lost both legs, his sister lost a leg and his brother also lost a leg. He lost his right leg about a year and a half ago.

He used to grow lots of potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and watermelon, and is not ready to give up as he noted: “I still continue doing my little thing in my yard where I plant some green vegetables, pumpkins, yams, tomatoes and sweet pepper – you can’t put down a good farmer down.”

“The day was such a wonderful experience,” commented President Wallace. “People came throughout the whole day, buying food back and supporting, and we have children and I think the children are the ones who were the beneficiaries of today.”

Mrs Wallace added: “They (children) enjoyed themselves even as they got the opportunity to learn what their elders are doing in an attempt to ensure that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis achieves United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2), which is to ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’.”

There were games that kept the children busy, even as Mrs Tricia King (Federation’s first female marine biologist) did face painting where the children queued to have their faces painted. Entertainment at the fundraiser which started at 10:00 a.m. and went on to early evening was provided by DJ Cut-I, while food was provided courtesy of society member Mr George Riley.

Apart from the National Caribbean Insurance Company Limited who contributed to the fundraiser, other sponsors were the Taiwan Embassy, Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, Builders Paradise, Gideon Organic Farm, Coury’s Wholesale, Ram’s Wholesale, Carib Breweries, Island Purified Water, and individuals including Mr Solomon Morton.

The National Caribbean Insurance Company Limited who had a tent set up at Maynard’s Park was represented by Senior Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mr Floyd Charles, and Sales Consultant, Mr Chezyown Herbert.

Mrs Wallace thanked the insurance company for setting up a tent where they gave information on how the company could help in terms of health. She pointed out that it is a common feature to see people seeking assistance for medical issues as they do not have insurance. The company did the right thing to come and impart information pertaining to their products to take away people’s fear of getting insurance.

“We are here to support the fundraiser for Mr Stanley Baptiste, a man who is in the process of getting a prosthetic leg, and National Caribbean Insurance is always willing to support these types of causes,” said Senior Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mr Floyd Charles. “We are happy for this opportunity to give something back to the community.”

Mr Charles added: “At the same time the organisers gave us the opportunity to meet and share some information about our products. It was a wonderful chance to highlight some of our products and to meet the community as well. Those who availed themselves had their names entered in a draw to win branded National Caribbean Insurance umbrellas. We want to give back and we take every opportunity like this to give back to the community.”

Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Honourable Garth Lucien Wilkin, said that he highly believes that public office must be influenced by good ethical behaviour.

“I believe in Integrity in Public Life unashamedly. We must do better and be better. Too many people in the system abuse the system,” said Attorney General Wilkin.

He said that the Administration of Hon. Dr. Terrance M. Drew takes the matter of integrity in public life seriously.

“Our Prime Minister, who shares my passion, has therefore instructed me to swiftly implement the Integrity in Public Life Act, the Freedom of Information Act and a brand new Anti-Corruption Act. Those laws will be fully operational in 2022,” the Honourable Attorney General said.

He said that he had begun to hold talks in relation to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) status issue and to set goals with respect to Constitutional reform.

“On another note, I ventured to Charlestown yesterday with the Solicitor General, Simone Bullen-Thompson, to meet with the Legal Advisor to the NIA, Hélène Lewis, and Senior NIA Legal Officer, Rhonda Nisbett-Browne, to hold the first formal meeting of the Joint Constitutional Reform Committee (JCRC),” he said.

Commenting on the meeting he said “It was a respectful, heartwarming and fruitful meeting. We are on the same page. We agreed on some interim measures to resolve the NIA status issue and set short-term goals to advance Fulsome Constitutional Reform and resolve all outstanding issues between our Islands.”

Attorney General Wilkin also said that his Chambers has already begun formulating plans for St. Kitts and Nevis to become a Republic, thereby remove the British monarch as Head of State.

“On that note, our Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Terrance Drew has announced in his Independence Day message that it is time our Federation becomes fully and truly Independent. On his instructions, the Chambers has begun formulating that plan,” he said.

The Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, continued his busy agenda on Thursday 22^nd September with bilateral meetings with Saint Kitts and Nevis’ close partners.

Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas met with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Mr. Nasser Bourita, in a productive bilateral meeting to discuss the advancement of the technical cooperation agenda as the foundation of bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Bourita reminded that Morocco has offered a total of 20  scholarships per year for the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis to pursue tertiary education in Morocco. He also informed that despite the global shortages of fertilizer, Morocco will continue to make its annual contributions of fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas welcomed the offers of scholarships and the contribution to our Agriculture Sector. He indicated that it signaled that the bilateral relationship was proving beneficial to the people and Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts and Nevis established diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2007 and signed a Technical Roadmap on the Cooperation Programme between the Kingdom of Morocco and Saint Kitts and Nevis for the period 2013 and 2015. Both Ministers concurred that the time is ripe to renew and expand this bilateral roadmap. 

In another bilateral meeting, Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas met with his Serbian counterpart, Mr. Nikola Selakovic. After establishing diplomatic relations with Serbia in November 2018, the two countries have actively pursued areas of cooperation. Serbia has made scholarships available to the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Currently, there is one citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis pursuing studies in Serbia.  In addition to these scholarships, we are currently negotiating several technical cooperation agreements in the areas of agriculture, higher education and scientific research and tourism.  Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas expressed to his counterpart that this momentum was indicative of the mutual intention to develop a strong and fruitful bilateral relationship. 

The Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) Special Session was convened on 22nd September 2022.  The Rt Hon. Dr Denzil Douglas deliberated with his CARICOM counterparts on the pressing issues connected to the UN agenda and with which the Caribbean Community is currently confronted.

The robust agenda included a substantive item on the Situation in Haiti and the CARICOM Secretariat updated the Council on the efforts by CARICOM to serve as a facilitator among the stakeholders in Haiti. This discussion concluded with the CARICOM Foreign Ministers pledging their support to the Haitian-led approach to de-escalate the civil unrest in Haiti. 

The Foreign Ministers also discussed priority issues for the Caribbean region including the financing for development mechanisms, the United Nations Climate Change Conference—COP27. The work of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), currently chaired by Antigua and Barbuda, including a progressive mandate to end plastic pollution was also discussed.

Additionally, the development of a Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) received focused attention. The MVI is an approach being developed to address the way in which the income status of small island developing states is measured as well as how development aid is allocated. Saint Kitts and Nevis as a CARICOM Member State and a small island developing state has vigorously and consistently advocated for this approach over the years. The Foreign Ministers were satisfied with the progress with regard to the MVI over the last year.

The implications of the COVID19 pandemic and other infectious diseases as well as other aspects of the global health and foreign policy agenda were also debated. Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew is the lead in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet on health matters. 

Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas was pleased with his first COFCOR Special Session which afforded him the opportunity to meet and engage with his Caribbean counterparts.

The Urban Development Unit has rolled out its schedule for its week of activities from October 2 -7.

Using the global theme, “Mind the gap. Leave No One and Place Behind”, Rhon Boddie, Acting Director for the Urban Development Unit said the Unit intends to have different activities to highlight its purpose.

The week will begin with a church service at the Unique Touch Christian Centre in Sandy Point.

On Monday, also celebrated globally as the United Nations’ World Habitat Day, Minister with responsibility for Urban Development, Hon. Dr Joyelle Clarke will make an address to the nation that includes the way forward for urban renewal, resilience to climate change, climate adaptation and planning with a focus on the population’s diversity.

On Tuesday, the Unit intends to adopt a space followed by a cleanup campaign there. Wednesday is set aside to conduct several Radio Talk Shows with local media outlets.

Geography students in Form Two, across the island, will benefit from what is set aside as Professional Career Day on Thursday. Boddie explained that on this day, various professionals whose jobs rely on Geography as a foundation will engage the students. Presentations are expected from pilots, boat captains, meteorologists, urban planners and statisticians.

Closing out the week on Friday, Independence Square will come alive with a Demonstration Project. This is a small portion of a wider project to refurbish and rehabilitate the Square. The public will be leaned upon for its input on the way forward for Independence Square.

Citizens are encouraged to submit ideas and suggestions to the Unit by calling 467-1465.

The Urban Development Unit operates in the Ministry of Sustainable Development and deals with the challenges and issues within the three identified urban centers: Basseterre, Sandy Point and Cayon.

Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, during the launch of the new brand campaign “Venture Deeper” in New York City on September 20 said that she is optimistic about the future of tourism within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
 
In speaking to the stakeholders at the campaign, Honourable Henderson said, “During the course of this evening, you will become exceptionally acquainted with the beautiful island of St. Kitts. We are known for our exquisite natural beauty, exciting cultural events and exceptional hospitality.” 
 
“With this, we continue to experience tourism success as seen in this year’s summer event of St. Kitts Music Festival, St. Kitts and Nevis Restaurant Week and our recent award from world travel awards as the Caribbean’s leading destination,” she said.
 
She said that St. Kitts and Nevis has much to offer beyond the sun, sand and sea and highlighted that the twin-island paradise boasts approximately 250 historical sites dotted with 68 plantations and breathtaking vistas.
 
“As we leave the COVID-19 era in the dust, I am honoured to lead our tourism industry into this new chapter and to continue prioritizing the tourism rebuilding process and encourage economic development,” the Minister of Tourism said.  
 
“As we move forward, our goal is to diversify our products and services to offer opportunities for our visitors to fully immerse themselves in the destination resulting in a more authentic enrichment experience,” she said.
 
Chief Executive Officer at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Ellison Thompson during his presentation at the brand campaign said, “Our event showcased the brilliant creative minds that worked closely with our team to create a campaign that evokes the spirit of our island.”
 
“We look forward to the “Venture Deeper” campaign resonating with travellers, as they discover for themselves all that the destination has to offer,” Mr. Thompson said.      

 Chile and the Republic of Cuba have extended congratulations to St. Kitts and Nevis, which celebrated its 39^th Anniversary of Independence on Monday, September 19, 2022.

A diplomatic note sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated “On this important celebration, the Embassy of Chile wishes to reinforce the friendship ties between our countries and take this opportunity to extend our willingness to continue strengthening our bilateral ties.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by His Excellency Miguel Mario Diaz-Canal Bermudez, President of the Republic of Cuba, in letters to the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton and Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew.

The letters stated, “On the occasion of the 39^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, I convey the warmest congratulations extended to you and the people of the Federation.”

The letter to the Prime Minister also expressed the warmest congratulations to the government and noted that “the occasion is propitious to reaffirm our will to expand our relations of friendship and cooperation.”