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Diamonds International Revisits Sparkling Beach Clean-up

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Diamonds International Revisits Sparkling Beach Clean-up

 

By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 27th September 2018) – On Wednesday this week (26th September), management and staff of Diamonds International (St.Kitts) returned to their adopted keep-clean beach space of the New Guinea coastal community located within the vicinity of the boat yard of St.Kitts Marine Works Ltd.

The mission carried out saw another beach clean-up and also placement of wooden environmentally- conscious signs and garbage bins for public awareness.

Messages included: ‘Leave Nothing But memories. Keep St.Kitts Clean’, ‘Take Only Memories, Leave Only Footprints, In the Can, Not In The Sand’ and ‘Love You To The Beach And Back But Every Litter Hurts.’

This time around, the group met two sea turtle nests marked in the sand by a pipe poles along with a laminated notice atop an anti-predator mesh for the incubating period- placed by the St.Kitts Sea Monitoring Network (SKNTMN) – for protection against predators such as mongoose and dogs.

An employee pointed out that she recalls seeing the pipe material during the first visit last month (August).

General Manager Naama Omy-Amir spoke with this reporter saying: “We are back to the beach one again like we promised and now we came with the beautiful signs that we did with much love to keep the awareness going in keeping the beach clean. It’s not as bad as it was when we first came here and we are very surprised and happy…and so we say thank you to the people of St.Kitts for already taking take of the beaches.”

She continued: “Also, we are keeping the beach clean is because right now at this beach there are turtles nesting; it’s all year long and it’s very important to keep the surroundings tidy. For instance, if a turtle eats a plastic bag, it can die immediately. Some turtles eat jelly fish and the plastic bags are very similar visually and so they eat it. We are keeping the beach clean for our animals and also for ourselves and so we encourage everyone to keep the environment clean at all times.”

“You can recognise the garbage collection boxes by the title lyrics of the lovely St.Kitts song called ‘Love St. Kitts (Bad)’ [by Infamus]. Help keep the beach clean. Go take a picture with the signs; it’s very fun and its show interest in being environmentally conscious. Together we can do it!” the Diamonds International official remarked further.

Company photo collage depicting its second after clean-up activity

Company jeweller Luis Alberto Munoz-while busy working to assemble the wooden garbage bins- was commended for his talent of “coming up with the great ideas and bringing them to life.”

As understood, management and staff of the company worked in groups in designing the signs ahead of the day’s outing.

Diamonds International (St.Kitts) has expressed thanks to the Director of St.Kitts Marine Works Ltd., Regiwell A. Francis, for volunteering to assist in ensuring that garbage bins placed in the area are emptied on garbage collection days.

 

Intersection Accident  Causes ‘Who Was Wrong?’ Debate

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Intersection Accident  Causes ‘Who Was Wrong?’ Debate

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 26th September 2018)– A traffic accident within the vicinity at the intersection of Fort and Cayon Streets yesterday caused a debate among drivers and pedestrians alike about who was wrong as it relates the street lights signals.

The accident- which occurred shortly before 6:00 PM- involved vehicles G 17 and PB 1331.

According to eyewitness reports, one driver was unquestionably at fault in causing that collision.

More details to be provided in a follow-up report

Latest Homicide Victim Recently Moved To Shadwell

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Latest Homicide Victim Recently Moved To Shadwell


By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 26th September 2018) – Police information has revealed that Shakeem Norford, the young man shot and killed yesterday afternoon in Shadwell, “recently moved” to that community.

That fatal shooting incident, which took place at about 4:30 PM, has claimed the life the former West Street, Newtown resident.

Police have corrected the deceased’s age as being 23 and not 21 as was previously disclosed to the media.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Norford was sitting in a yard when someone came up behind him and shot him in the head.

He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Persons with information regarding this incident are urged to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887 or 467-1888, 662-3468.

Norford’s death is the 21st recorded homicide in St.Kitts-Nevis for 2018.

 

Tropical Storm Kirk Alert Statement

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Tropical Storm Kirk Alert Statement

Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport St. Kitts Meteorological Services St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority P.O. Box 963 Basseterre St. Kitts Tel: 869 465 2749 Tele- fax: 869 465 9122

Weather Bulletin

TROPICAL STORM KIRK ALERT STATEMENT 5:00 AM ECT WED, SEP 26, 2018
THIS IS FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
…..KIRK REGENERATES INTO A TROPICAL STORM OVER THE WESTERN TROPICAL ATLANTIC…. TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE LESSER ANTILLES……

AT 5AM ECT OR 0900Z THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM KIRK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 52.7 WEST OR ABOUT 615 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND ABOUT 770 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. KIRK IS MOVING TOWARDS THE WEST NEAR 18MPH. A WESTWARD TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, KIRK IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH BARBADOS AND THE NORTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND MOVE INTO THE CARIBBEAN SEA BY FRIDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST UNTIL KIRK MOVES THROUGH THE CENTRAL LESSER ANTILLES THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAPID WEAKENING IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY AFTER KIRK EMERGES OVER THE CARIBBEAN SEA.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARDS UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB OR 29.65 INCHES.
BASED ON THE LATEST INFORMATION, KIRK IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE LEEWARDS AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. HOWEVER WE DO ANTICIPATE HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THESE ISLANDS DURING ITS PASSAGE LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARDS AND BVI DURING THAT TIME. INTERESTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF KIRK.

NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED AT 11AM.

Nationals, diplomats and well-wishers celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Independence of Saint Christopher and Nevis in the Republic of China (Taiwan)

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Nationals, diplomats and well-wishers celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Independence of Saint Christopher and Nevis in the Republic of China (Taiwan)

 

On September 19, 2018, a reception was held at the Regent Hotel to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Independence of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Welcoming guests at the door were the Honorable Vance W. Amory, Senior Minister and Minister of Nevis Affairs, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs, who came to Taiwan for the celebrations, and H. E. Jasmine Huggins, Ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Chen Chien-jen, also attended the reception along with other government officials from Taiwan, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Joseph Wu, President of the Control Yuan, Chang Bo-yia, and Chairperson of the Straits Exchange Foundation and former ambassador of Taiwan to the Federation Mrs. Catherine Chang.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Maria Liu, and former ambassadors of Taiwan to the Federation Marietta Liao and George Chou were also in attendance along with members of the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of Foreign Offices. In her speech to introduce Senior Minister Amory, Ambassador Huggins expressed her deep appreciation to all who made the celebrations possible and especially thanked the Pantastics, who were invited to Taiwan for the events, and special guests the Jiaxin Elementary school choir from the Atayal aboriginal who had traveled from central Taiwan to perform with the Pantastics.

In his remarks, senior Minister recounted the past and spoke of the great strides the Federation had made over the past 35 years. In conveying gratitude of behalf of the government and people for the support Taiwan had given to Saint Kitts and Nevis over the past thirty-five years, Senior Minister Amory quoted Shakespeare to encapsulate the relationship between Taiwan and Saint Kitts and Nevis “Those friends thou hast and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel”.

Vice President Chen, who delivered remarks on behalf of the government of Taiwan, first made mention of the impressive performance of the steelpan orchestra, commenting that it was the first time for him to hear the Halleluiah Chorus played by a steel band and also expressed his delight that the elementary school students had participated in the celebrations. The Vice-President also expressed his hope that in building on the foundations of bilateral ties established 35 years prior, bridges can continue to be built to “strengthen government cooperation and private exchanges as well.”

Vice President Chen also mentioned that in honor of the large independence celebrations scheduled to take place in the Federation, the national Honor Guard of Taiwan was sent to the Saint Kitts and Nevis to bolster military exchanges. After the formal ceremony, guests were treated to a Caribbean centric dinner buffet while being treated to the vibrant sounds of the steel band music from the Pantastics, as students from the Federation joined in an impromptu dance session with the elementary school children.

 

Another Deadly Shadwell Shooting Under  Investigation

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Another Deadly Shadwell Shooting Under  Investigation

By:Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Tuesday 25th September 2018)- Another deadly shooting in Shadwell is currently being investigated.

This afternoon, 21-year-old Shakeem Norford was killed, according to a police source.

This media house understands that the incident took place sometime before 5:00 PM, two days after Glenford Percival from the neighbouring community of New Road was shot and injured on Sunday afternoon.

This  latest fatal shooting in that area comes after last month’s shooting death of 32-year-old Mikhail ‘Mitch’ Liburd, son of government minister Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd.

More details to be provided in a follow-up report.

Attackers Used Heavily Tinted Vehicle In New Road Shooting

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Attackers Used Heavily Tinted Vehicle In New Road Shooting

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Tuesday 25th September 25, 2018) – Police say that attackers used a heavily tinted vehicle to carry out Sunday’s shooting (23rd September) in New Road which left a young man wounded.

Hit was 25-year-old Glenford Percival of New Road Housing Project.

Police received the report sometime after 3 p.m. Preliminary investigations so far have revealed that Percival received gunshot injuries to his leg.

According to police: “His assailants are said to have been transported in a dark coloured, heavily tinted vehicle while they shot at him. He also sustained other bruises while running from the area.”

Percival is currently warded at the Joseph H. France General Hospital in a stable condition where he is receiving treatment for his injuries.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing and persons with information regarding the incident are urged to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887 or 467-1888, 662-3468.

Nevis Premier calls on new civil servants to maintain principles of professionalism

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Nevis Premier calls on new civil servants to maintain principles of professionalism

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (September 25, 2018) — Premier of Nevis Hon. Mark Brantley welcomed a batch of new civil servants and called on them to do the best they can and to maintain the principles of professionalism, as they serve the people of Nevis.

Mr. Brantley addressed the group at a recent one-day orientation seminar, hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources on Nevis, at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Charlestown.

“I thank all of you for choosing the public service, and encourage each and every one of you to do the very best that you can and to maintain the tenets of professionalism: the way we are dressed, the punctuality, the way you converse and interact with the members of the public and with your colleagues and those above.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I hope that in the years to come I can see many of you still in the government in terms of offering the best possible service to the people of Nevis,” he said.

Photo caption: Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Human Resources in the Nevis Island Administration addressing a group of new civil servants during a training session at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Charlestown

The Premier urged them to show up to work on time; to take care of their job; to be compliant with the regulations, to learn them and know them; to be calm and polite; to conduct themselves in a professional way and to make members of the public who interact with them leave feeling better.

Mr. Brantley described the session as an important one in which the rules and regulations which govern the Civil Service are passed on to them, and in so doing, they would learn what they are entitled to and what is expected for a more disciplined body of public servants.

The Premier also told the participants that there is value in the civil service. He encouraged those who wished to become career civil servants to take advantage of the opportunities that would become available during their tenure.

“There are opportunities within the government and within public service. There is great value in public service. There are many who have made a good career for themselves and for their family in the public service.

“You can look at many who have spent a lifetime serving the public and doing an excellent job of it. You should see yourselves as being here today but ultimately there is mobility – supervisor, department head, assistant permanent secretary, permanent secretary. There are all of these options that you should really look at and say ‘Listen, I could have a life as a public servant and a life that adds value to the island of Nevis that we all love,’ and so, I want to encourage all of you,” he said.

Mr. Brantley expressed his interest in changing the public’s mindset of the civil service

“I want, in the future, when people say ‘You have a civil service mentality’ that it is a compliment. That is ultimately my goal, that when people say you have a civil service mentality it means that you are professional; that you’re dressed right; you speak right and you conduct yourself in a particular manner; that the private sector looks to us in the public sector for the quality and standard of service that they themselves are looking for.

“So let us try to work together to achieve that, the civil service mentality becomes an ultimate compliment,” he said.

Over the years, the Ministry of Human Resources has embarked on a number of training exercises for the civil service. However, in recent times, acting on a directive of Mr. Brantley, the Ministry has been engaging in more training for officers across the board in an effort to create a more effective and well-informed team.

The ministry has also conducted training in the area of customer service and in October the plan is to have sessions on conflict management.

Launch of HK-China high-speed rail link goes smoothly, but fears remain

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Launch of HK-China high-speed rail link goes smoothly, but fears remain

Hong Kong (CNN)The first ever bullet train from Hong Kong to China departed Sunday, as the city’s controversial high-speed rail link opened to the public amid fears greater integration with the mainland could lead to ever more encroachment by Beijing in semi-autonomous Hong Kong’s affairs.

Thousands of journalists, tourists and train enthusiasts queued for hours to become the first passengers to travel from West Kowloon Station — located in central Hong Kong — to the Chinese city of Guangzhou aboard the new $10 billion rail link.
The 26 kilometer (16 mile) railway links Hong Kong up to China’s high-speed rail network, currently the world’s largest, allowing passengers to travel from the city to Shanghai and Beijing.
The flags of Hong Kong (L) and China are seen hoisted outside the West Kowloon train station of the High Speed Rail Link to Guangzhou as sales counters were opened to the public for the first time in Hong Kong on September 10, 2018.

The flags of Hong Kong (L) and China are seen hoisted outside the West Kowloon train station of the High Speed Rail Link to Guangzhou as sales counters were opened to the public for the first time in Hong Kong on September 10, 2018.
Under a joint checkpoint arrangement, the station is divided into Hong Kong and Chinese port areas, with the latter falling under the direct jurisdiction of Beijing. For this to work, the Hong Kong government leased part of the station — including the immigration checkpoint, waiting lounge, and platforms — to China for a token annual fee of around $128.
This means that although the West Kowloon station is located in central Hong Kong, part of it is governed by Chinese law and patrolled by mainland police. According to the agreement, the Chinese authorities will have the power to arrest individuals inside the station, or even transfer them to the mainland.
On the platform, technically part of China, passengers took photos and selfies as they waited for the Vibrant Express to whisk them northwards. At Shenzhen North station, the terminus for some of the short-haul trains for Hong Kong, there was a similar scene as tourists lined up outside the boarding gates bound for the city.
A Chinese police officer patrols a train on the first day of service of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in Hong Kong on September 23, 2018.

A Chinese police officer patrols a train on the first day of service of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in Hong Kong on September 23, 2018.

Controversial scheme

The joint checkpoint arrangement — the first time the authorities in Beijing have had direct control over Hong Kong since it was ceded to the British in 1841 — has been hugely controversial in the city. Many fear it could be the start of further erosion of Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous legal and political systems.
The case of several Hong Kong booksellers, two of whom were allegedly abducted by Chinese agents from Hong Kong and Thailand respectively, hangs large over the project. Critics fear that if Chinese police are able to operate in the city, this will give them a base from which to go after critics of the central government.
The joint checkpoint arrangement has proved very controversial in Hong Kong.

The joint checkpoint arrangement has proved very controversial in Hong Kong.
“The co-location arrangement cedes part of Hong Kong and applies mainland laws in those areas,” said opposition lawmaker Gary Fan at a small rally Saturday, where around a dozen protesters gathered outside the extravagant railway terminal to criticize the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, for selling out to China.
“To many Hong Kong people, this has damaged ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the rule of law,” Fan added, referring to the principle by which Hong Kong maintained some of its freedoms when sovereignty over it was passed from London to Beijing.
Chinese police patrol part of the West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong which is under Chinese law.

Chinese police patrol part of the West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong which is under Chinese law.
John Tong, a Hong Kong librarian who was on one of the first trains to China from West Kowloon station, said it felt “really strange” to see Chinese police and Hong Kong officials operating side by side.
“Perhaps this is a sign of greater integration between Hong Kong and China,” he said. “But I am not too worried, because people who do not visit China will not take the high-speed rail anyway.”
Passengers seen inside West Kowloon Station, bound for mainland China on the first ever high-speed trains to depart Hong Kong.

Passengers seen inside West Kowloon Station, bound for mainland China on the first ever high-speed trains to depart Hong Kong.

Survivor describes the terror when a ferry capsized in Tanzania, killing 224 people

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Survivor describes the terror when a ferry capsized in Tanzania, killing 224 people

(CNN)-A man who survived a ferry capsizing in Tanzania described the harrowing ordeal that left six of his relatives dead and the East African nation mourning 224 people killed.

Ochori Burana said the ferry was overcrowded with hundreds of people headed to a popular open air market when it capsized Thursday on Lake Victoria.
Moments before the tragedy, the ferry made a sharp turn and tipped to one side, throwing people and cargo into the frigid water, Burana told the state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corp.
He jumped out just before it went down and clutched on to a car tire swaying in the waters. He used it to stay afloat for about 15 minutes until fishermen rescued him, he said.
Burana said he lost six relatives who were traveling with him.
As the nation mourned, relatives dug mass graves as colorful coffins lined the shores. Family members awaited word on their loved ones, some weeping as crews removed bodies from the waters.
Volunteers arrange the coffins of passengers killed when the ferry capsized.
Volunteers arrange the coffins of passengers killed when the ferry capsized.
Most of the remains have been identified and will be buried in one place, Transport Minister Isack Kamwele told CNN.
“Till this morning we have been able to pull out 223 bodies out of the sea,” he said Sunday. “The exercise is still going on, and at the moment we are trying to fix apparatus to lift the ferry out (onto) land.” Later on Sunday he said the number had risen to 224.
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