NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 02, 2024)- Delegates at the 2024 STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) LATAM (Latin America) Conference were able to get valuable information about the investment opportunities that exist in the island of Nevis, as a direct result of the participation of a delegation of experts from the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

The conference was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the period September 26 to 27, under the theme “Building Knowledge Across Borders, Advising Families Today and Tomorrow”.

The international event brought together more than 450 practitioners in the areas of investment and wealth management, such as lawyers, accounting professionals, bankers, and trust, estate and investment advisors, as well as service providers in the financial services industry.

Legal Advisor to the NIA Mrs. Hélène Lewis led the delegation to the conference, where Invest Nevis, under the banner of the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA), was a platinum sponsor. She was accompanied by NIPA Director Ms. Tamica Lawrence.

Also travelling to Argentina as part of the delegation were stakeholders in Nevis’ financial services sector Dahlia Joseph Rowe and Daisy Joseph Andall of Joseph Rowe Law Firm, Tracey Williams Morton of Trident Trust Company (Nevis) Limited, and Michele Hibbert of PMA Trust.

In her presentation Mrs. Lewis highlighted that Nevis provides a variety of international financial services products for persons interested in doing business in Nevis.

“We are open for business. You will be given encouraging tax incentives and we are assuring of you of expeditious attention to permits and other forms of licensing needed. Nevis is already punching above its weight as a financial services provider. Nevis’ financial services sector has outdone itself in terms of offering quality services from quality professionals in a very salubrious environment,” she said.

Ms. Lawrence also made a presentation during the conference, speaking to the benefits of investing in Nevis. She outlined the priority sectors for investment such as agriculture, light manufacturing, renewable energy, information technology, entertainment, and tourism. 

The NIA’s Legal Advisor, who has a background in property, trust, probate and corporate law, said it was important for representatives from Nevis to engage directly with potential investors and professionals in the wealth management and financial services sectors to provide detailed information on what Nevis has to offer them and their clients.

The island of Nevis is economically and politically stable and provides investors a jurisdiction that adheres to international regulatory standards whilst preserving client-friendly legislation to govern the use of international financial products and services.

Photo caption: Nevis represented at the 2024 STEP LATAM Conference in Argentina (l-r) Daisy Joseph Andall of Joseph Rowe Law Firm; Nevis Investment Promotion Agency Director Ms. Tamica Lawrence; Trident Trust Company (Nevis) Limited General Manager Tracey Williams Morton; Legal Advisor to the Nevis Island Administration Mrs. Hélène Lewis; and Managing Partner of the Joseph Rowe Law Firm Dahlia Joseph Rowe

Photo caption: Legal Advisor to the Nevis Island Administration Mrs. Hélène Lewis presenting at the 2024 STEP LATAM Conference in Argentina

Photo caption: Nevis Investment Promotion Agency Director Ms. Tamica Lawrence presenting at the 2024 STEP LATAM Conference in Argentina

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 3rd October 2024)-Team St. Kitts and Nevis recently secured success at the 2024 FIRST Global Robotics Olympics, officially ranked 20th out of 180 countries and holding first place in the Caribbean following the event held in Athens, Greece (located in southeast Europe) from 26th to 29th September at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

The team-The St.Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association (SKNRA) appeared on Freedom FM’s ‘Issues’ edition  with host Jamiella McPhail  on Thursday 3rd October 2024 to discuss their journey whereby spotlight was placed on the team’s leadership under the guidance of new captain Jaiden Clarke who in turn applauded the team’s togetherness. 

Although the team did not make it to the finals, their hard work, creativity, skills and commitment is being recognised nationally, regionally and on the global scale for the current ranking position.

Asked about the first time experience of being in charge as the team captain, Clarke commented: “…there wasn’t really any pressure. I had the confidence in the team, in everyone, so the pressure was not really there. I knew I could depend on my team if a problem had to occur, problems did occur, and my team did what my team does and we got over it.”

He reflected on their overall experience, saying: “For me, the experience was similar to everyone, but as of last year, it was a bit more stressful. But this year, we went with our robots, completed, finished, and working. So it was not as stressful as to say we have to get it done, get it working… but we had some problems during the event, but we came over them and we got through it. So even that made the event so much better. It was less stressful. We made friends and it was fun.”

Clarke’s leadership was praised in the team’s success, and his team members gave recognition to such his dedication. 

According to Hannah Marie Williams (Public Relations Officer) “…, our team captain, he probably wouldn’t really like to admit to it as much, but especially in the preparation before, he really put in the extra work above and beyond probably what the rest of us regular members did. He always made sure that we kept track of all of our deadlines. He was always there working the latest and stuff. Even after I go home, he’s still there. And especially since he’s from Nevis, you know, I just find it really commendable that he always puts in the hours. And especially when he couldn’t come [to meetings], he always made sure to keep up with what was going on.”

Another team member, Leah Jeremiah, highlighted Clarke’s organizational skills and hands-on approach in putting together a to-do list for the team, noting he “created a list of what needs to be done, and then you would have to call him and show him what you did.”

Host Jamiella McPhail then acknowledged Clarke’s role in ensuring the team was well-prepared as she chimed in saying to him “So I think you can be credited for the fact that the robot was ready early.”

SKNRA Chairman and Founder Dr. Ricardo R. Neil, was full of praise for the young leader: “I think a lot of credit must be given to Jaiden because he put a lot of work out this year. That’s one of the main reasons he was selected to be the captain because we saw the work last year. Okay, he wasn’t the captain last year, but if you would have observed the team, you thought he was the captain. He was busy up and down after a match, he would say we need to get ready for the next one, and if something is broken, he is ready to fix it to get going.” 

Front Page Image: Team St. Kitts and Nevis (members of the St.Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association-SKNRA) recently secured success at the 2024 FIRST Global Robotics Olympics, officially ranked 20th out of 180 countries and holding first place in the Caribbean following the event held in Athens, Greece (located in southeast Europe) from 26th to 29th September at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.  Team captain Jaiden Clarke seen second from right) -(Credit:Facebook/St.Kitts&NevisRoboticsAssociation)

Basseterre: St. Kitts, Friday, October 04, 2024: The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Primary School triumphed in the finals of the Primary School Independence 41 Elocution Competition (2024), held on Thursday, October 3, at the Antioch Baptist Church. The event featured eight St. Kitts primary schools that succeeded at the zonal eliminations.

Malachai McDermott who represented the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, secured the championship with his articulate and eloquent performance. 

Saddlers Primary School secured second place with an engaging performance by Xamique Taylor, while Beach Allen Primary School, represented by Juneliyah Whyte took third place. 

All participants recited the lyrics of Mighty Ali’s song, Nation Moving On.

The competition showcased the exceptional talent and dedication of the island’s young students, as they demonstrated poise, confidence, and pride in their nation.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 04, 2024 (SKNIS) – The National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention has engaged thirty frontline workers in a training programme designed to equip them with the necessary tools to identify and ultimately address substance abuse issues within communities.

This is being done through the Universal Prevention Curriculum Core Course, which commenced with an opening ceremony on Friday, October 04, 2024, at the Solid Waste Management Corporation’s conference room. The actual training sessions begin on Tuesday, October 08.

The Core Course comprises ten modules representing different aspects of prevention science and their application to practice. It is designed to give participants a foundation in the knowledge and skills needed to undertake evidence-based prevention programming at the community level.

Chairman of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention, Travis Rogers, stated that the training programme represents an opportunity to enhance and share best practices for combating substance abuse.

“Together, we can develop effective strategies to promote prevention and support those affected by substance abuse. The National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention remains committed to ensuring our frontline workers are adequately trained and certified to address the impacts of substance misuse and abuse across various fields,” Chairman Rogers added.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Glenroy Blanchette, described the Core Course training as extremely timely, as it will also help to address another pertinent issue plaguing our communities—crime and violence.

“At the heart of this course and at the heart of the Council is prevention, and so exercises like these will certainly empower our people to better understand and respond to the crime that we are witnessing in the Federation,” Mr. Blanchette said.

The course will provide an overview of the fundamental processes that underlie addiction and the brain, the basic pharmacology of psychoactive substances, and preventive mechanisms that are effective in more than 30 years of prevention science.

The training, led by International Trainer Dorothy Joann Lei Labrador Rabajante and local trainer, Sasha-Gay McDermott, will be conducted virtually.

The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission in the Organisation of American States (OAS) provided funding and technical support for the training programme.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 04, 2024 (SKNIS) – At the commissioning of the new six (6) Megawatt Temporary Power Plant at the St. Kitts Electricity Co. Ltd (SKELEC), on October 04, 2024, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, highlighted that St. Kitts and Nevis is in the transition towards reducing its dependence on fossil fuel through the careful implementation of renewable energy practices and projects.

This energy transition, one of the seven pillars upon which the government’s sustainable island state agenda hinges, is underpinned by the build-out of the dual-fuel power plant and battery energy storage plant in St. Kitts, as well as the introduction of renewable energy-powered desalination plants.

“We have determined, through careful analysis, that if we were to transition St. Kitts and Nevis to renewable energy it would transform St. Kitts and Nevis in its totality,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew. “It will transform our fiscal situation because renewable energy would cost at least two-thirds less than it costs to generate from fossil fuel. Additionally, it will create a lot more new jobs in the green energy space, and with the decrease in the cost of generation it means, to do anything else in St. Kitts and Nevis the cost of operations will go down.”

To further complement the energy transition, the Federal Government, in close collaboration with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), is making meaningful progress in geothermal exploration on Nevis to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy for the people of the Federation.

A confident Prime Minister Dr. Drew indicated that if the energy transition the government envisions takes place then “St. Kitts and Nevis will be in a different stratum of development.”

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 03, 2024 (SKNIS): The importance of a strong and resilient cybersecurity system was emphasised at a Cybersecurity Awareness Forum held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on October 03, 2024. The event brought together public and private sector officials from St. Kitts and Nevis, regional representatives and local secondary school students.

Photo: (l-r) Rodney Browne moderates panel discussion with representatives from the St. Kitts–Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, The Cable and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

The information was shared via presentations from experts in the field including Bevil Wooding, Director of Caribbean Affairs at the American Registry for Internet Numbers, Tracy Hackshaw, Head of .Post Business Management Unit, and a team from the Caribbean Cybersecurity Agency. A panel discussion on the imperative to establish cyber-resilient organisations with a focus on policy, strategic risk management, robust security controls, compliance and business continuity was held with dynamic professionals. A second panel shared on the topic artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in cyber defence and its implications for the Caribbean.

Photo: Ms. Blanchard

Ophelia Blanchard, the eGovernment Coordinator for St. Kitts and Nevis, emphasised that enhancing cybersecurity and building resilience are top priorities for the government as it advances its digital transformation agenda for the Federation.

“It is important to ensure that our citizens are educated about the consequences of cyber-attacks and look at ways in which they can secure their devices and their data in a safe way,” she stated. “This forum provides an opportunity for educating participants not just about cybersecurity but also cyber resilience in the event of an attack, how you can ensure that proper disaster recovery is done to safeguard your information and recover quickly.”

Considering the exceptionally high mobile penetration in St. Kitts and Nevis, which is estimated at more than 95 percent, Ms. Blanchard highlighted the importance of including secondary school students, as many of them are skilled in using smart devices, AI, and touchless technology.

“[They] are exposed to the technology and we really want to safeguard them,” she emphasised. “We have an emphasis on child protection online to ensure that we put measures in place to safeguard our youth as they engage in technology even more than the adults.”

Photo: Several participants during the forum.

eGovernment Coordinator Blanchard stated that the staging and outcome of the forum are critical as they will help inform an upcoming Cybersecurity Security Forum that is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2025. The aim is to continue to promote issues related to cybersecurity and to develop a National Cybersecurity Strategy.

The Cybersecurity Awareness Forum is part of the CTU ICT Week 2024 which runs from September 30 to October 04 in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 03, 2024 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in its efforts to achieve a sustainable island state, is rapidly positioning itself as a leader in digital transformation within the Caribbean, thanks to the strategic efforts of the government and the widespread access to technology among its citizens.

During the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s press conference on October 03 at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Minister of Information, Communications and Technology in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Konris Maynard, highlighted the near-universal penetration of smartphone technology and the growing technology infrastructure—such as the Internet Exchange Point (IXP), St. Kitts and Nevis Internet Exchange (SKNIX), and Electronic ID (eID) —as opportunities the government is seizing to fast-track its digital agenda.

“The fact that we do have that level of access to technology, because almost every person has a smart mobile phone in St. Kitts and Nevis, the rate is extraordinarily high,” he said. “It means then that we can take that opportunity now to go full force in implementing the digital services that the government has to offer.”

In recent years, the government has steadily introduced a range of digital services, from online tax submissions to digital platforms for air travel into the country. St. Kitts and Nevis is becoming increasingly efficient in delivering public services, making these accessible through mobile and web platforms.

The Minister added, “We want persons to be able to, in an instant, apply for their passport, apply for their driver’s license, open a bank account, apply to start a business, all at the touch of their handset or their computer at home. This is what we are aiming for with our digital transformation.”

Minister Maynard also views the size of the Federation as a significant advantage. He said, “In this case, size is not important to what we can achieve. We are actually in an advantageous position because of our size and how quickly we can deploy the solutions that exist.”

The Minister emphasized that key partnerships are vital to achieving the government’s goals. He explained that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is crucial to the digital transformation by providing consultations, while the CTU plays an important role in partnering with stakeholders and industry professionals.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 02, 2024 (SKNIS): Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew continued his efforts to advance agricultural development by touring Southern University and A&M College’s Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SUAREC) on October 2, 2024. This visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening ties with international institutions that can bring strategic value to St. Kitts and Nevis.

The tour follows the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this year, outlining shared initiatives between the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Agriculture and Southern University’s SUAREC. During the tour, Prime Minister Dr. Drew, accompanied by Chancellor Dr. Orlando McMeans and other key academics, examined Southern University’s innovations in areas such as horticulture, livestock management, agricultural sustainability, crop enhancement, and medicinal plant research.

The prime minister also visited various facilities, including the Meat Lab and Poultry Unit, where technological advancements are expected to enhance farming practices in St. Kitts and Nevis. The collaboration extends to providing essential food safety certification courses, particularly for local vendors, ensuring compliance with international food safety standards.

Dr. Drew emphasised the importance of these innovations.

“The integration of modern agricultural techniques is critical for the future of food production in small island states. Southern University’s advancements in this field provide a model for how we can further develop our own agricultural sectors in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew expressed that the engagements underscored the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, educational collaboration, and the expansion of knowledge transfer. The discussions during the visit also focused on potential future partnerships that could revolutionise agriculture in the Caribbean.

Dr. Drew further expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield transformative results.

“We are not just enhancing agriculture in the traditional sense but are working to build a sustainable and prosperous future for our nation,” he said.

The visit further cements St. Kitts and Nevis’ strategy to foster agricultural innovation, as previously highlighted by Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Samal Duggins.