Basseterre, St. Kitts (15 October 2025) — The St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) is proud to announce that its innovative SKY Program has been named a Gold Winner in the 2025 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, recognized in the Hospitality – Overall Travel Advisor Support category.

Launched in 2024 across the source markets, the SKY Program, short for St. Kitts Your Way, is a dynamic training and engagement initiative designed to empower travel advisors with the tools, resources, and insider knowledge needed to sell St. Kitts with confidence. Through immersive learning modules, interactive webinars, destination incentives, and personalized communication, the program deepens trade engagement. It strengthens the connection between St. Kitts and the travel advisor community in its key source markets.

“This award is a proud moment for St. Kitts and a reflection of our continuous drive to strengthen the island’s global presence,” said the Honourable Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism. “The SKY Program has been instrumental in helping us engage travel advisors in through authentic storytelling and impactful education. It exemplifies our commitment to innovation and excellence in promoting St. Kitts as a premier Caribbean destination.”

“We are truly honoured to receive this recognition from Travel Weekly,” said Kelly Fontenelle, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “The SKY Program represents our dedication to empowering our travel partners with meaningful insights and resources to showcase St. Kitts with confidence. This award affirms the effectiveness of our collaborative approach and motivates us to continue enhancing the tools that help advisors bring the spirit of St. Kitts to their clients.”

The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards celebrate the best in the travel industry, recognizing outstanding design, marketing, and services across hospitality, airlines, cruise lines, and destinations worldwide. The full list of 2025 Gold Winners is available on Travel Weekly’s website, and a special feature will appear in the November 17 issue of Travel Weekly.

Basseterre, St. Kitts (15 October 2025) — The St. Kitts Tourism Authority is proud to announce the groundbreaking of The Wedge Boutique Hotel, a distinctive new property set to redefine hotel accommodation on the island. Designed to seamlessly blend the comfort of at-home living with the personalized service of a boutique hotel, The Wedge will offer an immersive hospitality experience tailored for today’s discerning traveller.

Scheduled to open in February 2027, the property will feature 18 thoughtfully designed suites including nine two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom units, each outfitted with fully equipped kitchens, smart home technology, and contemporary design features. With its family-friendly ambiance, housekeeping, room service, front desk and concierge services, The Wedge will cater particularly well to multi-generational families seeking both comfort and convenience. Other amenities will include a rooftop bar and lounge and on-site parking.

Beyond the accommodation offering, the development will include seven commercial spaces on the ground level. Envisioned as a vibrant retail promenade featuring luxury boutiques, cafés, and duty-free shops, creating a dynamic and walkable destination for both visitors and locals.

The hotel’s prime location on Zenway Boulevard in the Frigate Bay area will offer guests easy walking access to a variety of shops and restaurants, including Frigate Bay Marina and the lively beach bars along “The Strip.” Guests can also stroll to nearby beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea sides of the island.

Kelly Fontenelle, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, expressed excitement about the project’s potential:

“The concept of The Wedge Boutique Hotel reflects the growing demand for accommodation that feels like home while delivering elevated hospitality,” said Fontenelle. “Multi-generational families continue to choose St. Kitts, and this property arrives at exactly the right time to meet their needs while enhancing our destination’s diverse offerings.”

Hamir Sabnani, Owner of the Wedge Boutique Hotel, added:

“The Wedge Boutique Hotel is designed to transform the hospitality sector in St. Kitts, offering visitors a unique, at-home experience rather than traditional accommodation. Diverse property options afford the destination to attract a diverse group of travellers who all share a common interest in experiential travel and authentic vibes.”

With this development, St. Kitts continues to position itself as a premier Caribbean destination where innovation, culture, and comfort converge.

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 16, 2025)- The Cabinet of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) will host a public town hall meeting on the proposed Destiny Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) development, as part of the administration’s ongoing commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and open dialogue with the people of Nevis.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Charlestown. Members of the public are encouraged to attend, share their views, and hear firsthand from the government about the details of the proposed project.

Premier of Nevis and Minister of Foreign Investment, the Honourable Mark Brantley, said the meeting represents another opportunity for citizens to engage directly with the Administration on major development plans for the island.

“You have heard much conversation in the public space about a proposed project on the south coast of Nevis. This project is intended to be part of a sustainable zone on the island. We are inviting you, the members of the public, to come out and share your views and opinions and to hear from the government as to what is actually proposed.”

In recent weeks, the NIA has held a series of stakeholder meetings with key sectors of society, including representatives of the tourism industry, Opposition parliamentarians, religious organizations and church leaders, and the business community, to share information and receive feedback on the proposed development. These consultations are part of the Administration’s deliberate effort to ensure that all voices are heard in shaping the island’s sustainable future.

Premier Brantley reaffirmed his government’s dedication to open governance and community involvement in the development process.

“We are an open government. We are a transparent government. We have started these meetings through a series of stakeholder engagements with various groups. It is now for your turn to come and share your views and opinions.”

The NIA has also indicated that additional meetings will soon be held with other stakeholder groups, including the Police High Command, construction companies, and second year students of the Nevis Sixth Form College, as part of its broad-based approach to consultation and inclusion.

The Premier urged members of the public to take advantage of the upcoming meeting to learn more about the proposed SSZ initiative and to contribute to the ongoing national conversation about sustainable development and economic growth on Nevis.

“We look forward to seeing you and to exchanging views and opinions with you as we bring these big ideas to you for discussion and for you to give your informed positions on the development of our beloved Nevis. I look forward to seeing you there.”

The NIA continues to emphasize that public participation is a cornerstone of its transparent and consultative approach to governance, ensuring that the development of Nevis reflects the collective vision and aspirations of its people.

By: Spokesman Newsroom  

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 16th October 2025) -Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities Konris Maynard has highlighted that the country’s largest desalination project-a two-million-gallon-per-day facility located in Basseterre-is now entering its testing phase. 

He made the disclosure during a 2026 National Budget town hall meeting held at the Saddlers Community Centre on Wednesday 15th  October 2025 under the theme ‘Turning Conversations into Action: Building Our Sustainable Island State Together.’

Describing the project as “the most monumental and largest” of its kind in the Federation’s history, Maynard said the $50 million facility represents a major leap forward in achieving water security and resilience for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Infrastructure Minister highlighted the success of the Federation’s first solar-powered desalination plant, located at the Canada Industrial Site, which produces 70,000 gallons of water per day. The project, partially sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, “is the first of its kind in our nation powered by clean, renewable solar energy, symbolizing the marriage of technology and sustainability,” he said.

Turning to the latest development, Maynard elaborated that the two-million-gallon-per-day Basseterre desalination plant includes a 500,000-gallon storage tank and backup generation capacity. Once commissioned, it will supply water to the entire Basseterre area and surrounding communities-stretching as far west as New Guinea, as far east as Cayon, and as far north as Ogees in St. Peter’s.

“This plant will soon be commissioned in Basseterre, ensuring that our capital city and its environs-the heart of where our commerce and governance is-will finally have a resilient water source,” he said. “The aim, of course, is to return the entirety of Basseterre and its environs to a 24-hour-a-day water supply.”

According to Maynard: “Infrastructure, as you know, is the backbone to national development, and it is how we can connect our people; it empowers our economy and sustains our communities. Every road we pave, every pipe we lay, every project we build is really a commitment to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis-a commitment that progress will reach every home, every village, and every generation; a commitment we have for powering progress.”

Identifying his governmental portfolio, Maynard expressed that he is proud that under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew “we are delivering the most ambitious water and infrastructure agenda in the recent modern history of the Federation.”  

He reminded the audience that water security has been one of the government’s top priorities as the nation moves “from scarcity to sustainability.”

Maynard also explained that over the past decade, St. Kitts and Nevis has faced worsening water shortages due to climate change, which has made dry seasons longer and rainfall patterns more unpredictable. 

“Receiving more rain in short periods-that’s actually not good for our water services, although the farmers might enjoy the extra rain,” he noted. “Yet this government has refused to let geography or climate dictate the future; we’re taking decisive action to guarantee a reliable, climate-resilient water supply for all our people.”

Maynard emphasized that these projects represent not only impressive feats of engineering but also “a fundamental shift in how we think about water-as a renewable, manageable, and equitable resource that must be protected and expanded for the benefit of all.”

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, October 16, 2025 (SKNIS) – October 16, 2025, marked a proud and emotional milestone for residents of La Guerite, as the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis officially handed over land titles and ownership rights to individuals and families who have occupied the area for generations.

The handing-over ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, forms part of the Government’s ongoing Squatter’s Regularisation Project, L.A.N.D. (Land Allocation, Normalisation and Distribution) Initiative, and broader Land Regularisation Programme. These initiatives aim to promote equitable access to land ownership, community empowerment, and secure tenure in alignment with Pillar 5 of the Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA): Sustainable Settlements.

Delivering remarks at the ceremony, the Honourable Konris Maynard, Member of Parliament for St. Christopher Three, which includes La Guerite, celebrated the moment as one of justice, fulfillment, and empowerment for the people.

“For generations, the people of La Guerite have lived, loved, raised families, and built their lives on this land. Yet for too long, true legal ownership seemed just beyond grasp. Today, that changes,” Minister Maynard declared.

“You now stand not just as residents, but as landowners, rightful heirs to what you and your families have built for generations,” the minister added. “You now hold the key, your certificate of title, proof that this land, your land, is officially yours.”

Minister Maynard underscored that the initiative was made possible by the dedication and promise-keeping of the Labour Party Administration, led by Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, who had committed to transferring the lands at no cost to residents.

“Your caring Labour Party Administration took care of all your legal fees and completed all the registrations at the land registry on your behalf,” he said. “The only thing now remaining is for you to go, like everybody else who owns land, down to the Inland Revenue Department, pay your stamp duty, and you will have the original [title] for now and forever.”

Minister Maynard assured the residents of La Guerite that the government is committed to further supporting the continued development of the community by funding the construction of roads linking the community to Buckley’s and Shadwell in the near future.

“This is not just about land,” Minister Maynard emphasised. “This is about empowerment, equity, and social justice.”

The La Guerite handover marks one in a series of similar exercises planned across Saint Kitts, with additional ceremonies scheduled for Amsterdam, St. Paul’s later today and Upper Monkey Hill, St. Peter’s on Friday, October 17.