By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (JANUARY, 2018)-Images that captured a safari truck (painted in the design of the St.Kitts-Nevis national flag) filled with cruise ship passengers going pass the Catholic church at East Independence Square Street, a resident non-national sitting amongst greenery following a hike at Mount Liamuiga, a Sugar Mas reveler (Mr. GQ 2017 Desyl Hamilton) in carnival costume on parade day, seagulls in flight about the coastline at the Bay Road were among the six (6) snaps that won  the judges’ nod out of 98 submissions in the recently concluded 2017 Best Destination Photo Contest.

On Monday this week (8th January), a ceremony was held at the office the Ministry of Tourism located at Port Zante to spotlight the winners of the said contest which saw two categories-Youth and Adult.

The results are as follows: Youth Division- first place Shermar Jr. Moore, second place Jacquan Olu Phillips and third place Carolyn G Adams while for the Adult Division-first place Pin-Hu Wu, second place Charlin Joseph and third place Maialen Langaran.

Gift distributed included cell phones, tablets and cameras. Folders consisting of the top judged photos respectively as well as a certificates of excellence were prepared as well.

Adams and Joseph were not present at the ceremony while Wu had a colleague representative.

In giving an overview of the competition, Taiwan ICDF Overseas Volunteer ITing Tina Wang informed that the contest ran from 1^st to 27^th November, noting that people were invited to visit any attraction and take photos to demonstrate the beauty of St.Kitts.

As explained by her, the photos could have been any image including important landmarks, historical sites, events, the sugar cane industry or lifestyle in St.Kitts.

Participants were asked to post their submissions to their personal Facebook page with #ILoveStKitts.

As it relates to the contest criteria, the following areas were focused on by the judges: Expression of Theme, Marketability, Memorability, Creativity and Technical Execution.

A contest judge Garth Archibald, who is a professional photographer and owner CreateOne Media, said he enjoyed the competition.

“The one thing that I can say is that I really enjoyed this competition. The reason why is because, I’ve been a photographer for close to fifteen (15) years and I’ve seen a real surge in young people being interested in photography, graphic design and general arts away from singing and that kind of thing. Videography is another thing that is shooting up. To the young people who have taken up these things, excel it.”

He added: “The competition was slow but it was good. You can see where it can build for more progress. This is an area for it to improve but the starting point as of now is proper; I have to give it props…”

Archibald applauded the top contest participants saying: “Spectacular images from the persons who won. I’m happy that you put in the effort even if it was just for fun. You might have just done it for fun and realised afterwards that you did something good. Social media is such a far reaching (network) these days…”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Carlene Henry-Morton touching on the observation made about young people as it relates to the arts and the advice given,  encouraged such positive outlets.

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life so that might be some of the areas that our young people can continue to look into.”

Henry-Morton continued: “That does not mean that I don’t want any older persons participating because I’m happy with whoever as long as we have persons who are willing to go and capture all the different sites and actions and get the word out that we are a beautiful island with warm people and we have a lot to offer. Whatever the avenues are for that type of exposure, we welcome them.”

More insight from competition judges and comments from contest winners to be provided in a follow-up report.

By Drizel Hanley

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (JANUARY 2018)-In light of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Honduras in Central America,  that led to a Tsunami Warning being issued to surrounding islands this week, Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Carl Liburd is urging residents to be vigilant.

Liburd noted that even though the tsunami warning was discontinued, residents must be cognizant of the fact that we live in a seismically active region hence we experience earthquakes from time to time which can trigger tsunamis.

“So we want you to pay attention to the public service announcements that have been going on for several years now and to be aware of what should be done if such threat was to be given,” he stated.

Liburd added: “There is no need for panic, we just need people to be aware of the signage and their surroundings and the principle is if there is a need for evacuation to safety, that we will be asking persons to move to higher grounds.”

The quake shook the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday night (9^th January). It occurred west of Jamaica at a depth of 6.2 miles. As a result, it triggered warnings for areas within 621 miles of the quake’s epicenter. No damage was reported despite its magnitude and strong aftershocks.

By: Drizel Hanley

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (JANUARY 2018)-The St. Kitts Nevis Amateur Athletic Association’s Athletic Season got underway on Sunday 7th January at the Kim Collins Stadium with its first Developmental Meet.

Some one hundred athletes from different sporting clubs and schools were on hand to exhibit their talents in various disciplines such as 200m, 100m, long jump, shot put and javelin.

Stewart Joseph, SKNAAA Secretary said that he was pleased with the turnout of both athletes and spectators noting that the meets play a significant role in the further advancement of our athletes.

Sunday’s meet is said to be the first of thirteen meets that is slated for the 2018 Athletic Season.

Other meets include the much anticipated Interschool Championships, CARIFTA Games Trials, National Championships and the Kim Collins Invitational Meet.

The athletic action continues Sunday 14th January with another meet

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Monday, 8^th January, 2018)- Police are reporting that run away teen 15-year-old Tunisha Caines was found over the past weekend and is in stable condition after receiving medical assistance.

Police informed that acting on information received, the police have been able to locate the teenage girl who was last seen at home on December 27, 2017 at about 7:00 PM.

Further details revealed that Caines, a resident of Saddlers Village, was found in Conaree just before midday on Saturday 6^th January and was taken to the JNF Hospital for medical assistance.

‘She in a stable condition,” a police press release stated.

The local authorities are praising public-police for leading to the location of the teenager.

As a result, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force takes this opportunity to thank all the persons who, in one way or another, assisted with helping to locate Caines.

A missing person flyer issued on Thursday 4^th January.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 6, 2018 – Former Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis said Friday his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is preparing to return to office to improve the quality of life of the people of the twin-island Federation.

In remarks at his 18^th annual New Year’s Gala at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, Dr. Douglas told over 600 patrons including representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps, businessmen, investors, visiting nationals and residents of the importance of the gala.

“It is important because it is intended to ensure that we can lift ourselves and look towards the future with hope, aspiring that things would change and asking that there would be continued protection and shelter from the continued deterioration in the quality of life of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Douglas, also the National Political Leader of the SKNLP.

He pointed out that each will leave with an umbrella which is symbolic of the need for shelter and protection.

“It is a significant demonstration that our people are crying out for shelter and protection from the viciousness of these times and they are asking that Labour would return,” he said to a tumultuous applause.

He highlighted the incompetence of the Team Unity Government as one of the many challenges that will face the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in 2018.

“We hear on a daily basis that things are hard. Things are not what they use to be before. Opportunities that abounded in the past three, four, five years ago, are no longer here. The economy continues to be in decline. Yes minimal growth, significantly reduced from the seven percent GDP growth of three, four years ago (under the Labour Party administration) to a mere two percent (under the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government,” Dr. Douglas said.

He called for an immediate overhauling of the health sector.

“As someone said recently, health is in the ICU and we need to take it from the ICU and give it life and energy as we would want to do overall with the economy and the other sectors here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Douglas said.

In challenging the patrons and the Nation, Dr. Douglas said there is hope in the future as the SKNLP has spent an enormous amount of time reorganising itself and training those who will be the architects and actors of a revitalised political organisation that would enhance the lives of each national and resident in St. Kitts and Nevis.

He said the Labour Party has undertaken a process of candidate selection through a new body that was created called the Candidate Selection Advisory Committee which takes its root and agenda from the constitution of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and delivered a message of assurance of all sectors of the nation.

“We want to demonstrate that there is a seriousness about this organisation in returning St. Kitts and Nevis to the heights that it used to be just four and five years ago. I challenge you to recognise that there is a fundamental change that is going to come. I challenge our young people in particular to become actively engaged in the process. Register yourselves as electors and become involved of the party of the people

I call upon those who are in business to join with us as we have reached out to you and we are saying here that just as we partnered with you over the last 20 years of his administration of building this country, so too, we want to emphasise that the partnership will continue under a new Labour Administration, and move our country to unprecedented heights that we have never seen before,” Dr. Douglas said.

“I asked our public servants to continue to have hope.

Hold strain. Civil servants at all levels are abandoning the government at this time, in the public service. We would need your competence, your experience and your expertise.  We would want to lift you up and not allow you to continue to become part of the nepotism, cronyism and corruption that have visited this country over the last nearly three years,” he said.

Dr. Douglas also challenged the professionals.

“Our doctors, our nurses, our teachers – there is enough space for you in the new and changed situation that will come over this country in the future,” he said

“We thank you for your support over the years. We thank you for working with us as a government. We thank you for working with us in opposition and thank you for working with us again when we would have returned to office to serve the interests of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas, who disclosed that the new makeup will create energy, dynamism and a conductive environment.

“We will reach across borders and boundaries. We will be as inclusive as we were before because we recognise that a government cannot do it alone. It needs investors, it needs developers, it needs businessmen, it needs the church community, it needs civil society and the entire nation to move our great country forward. It is with open arms therefore that we invite you to be part of the future a brighter future in St. Kitts and Nevis,” the former prime minister said.

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (FRIDAY 5^TH JANUARY,2018)- Police on St.Kitts are currently trying to track down the whereabouts of a teenage girl.

A missing person flyer issued yesterday (Thursday) labelled 15-year-old Tunisha Caines of Saddlers Village a “Runaway Teen.”

She is described to have fair skin of a mix race with a medium built and natural hair pulled back in one.

Additionally, she is said to be 5’ 3’’ in height and 120 pounds.

Police say Caines was last seen at home on December 27, 2017 at about 7 p.m. wearing a black short pants and an orange T-shirt.

IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION REGARDING THE WHEREABOUTS OF TUNISHA CAINES PLEASE CONTACT THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (SVU) AT THE BASSETERRE POLICE STATION BY DAILING 465-2241 EXT 4232/4252, OR VIA CELL PHONE AT 665-3091 OR THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.  PERSONS CAN ALSO CONTACT OFFICER ROGERS AT 762-4230 OR OFFICER AUDAIN AT 6655785.