By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 21st March 2024)- “Many workers in the Water Services media personality Michelle Stokes better known as ‘Sister Sensia’ teamed up for a public spotlight outreach in efforts to promote awareness about the genetic condition.
Such collaboration shared via social media-particularly Facebook on the government’s St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service-SKNIS pageshows an interactive video aired on Thursday 21st March 2024 featuring two individuals with the condition, a boy named Justin and a young woman named Erica.
“Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects a person’s health, learning abilities and features. It occurs when a person is born with an extra chromosome. So, instead of being born with 46 chromosomes, a person with Down syndrome has 47,” commented Phillip Sister Sensia stated: “According to the United Nations, each year approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children worldwide are born with Down syndrome.” According to Phillip: “There is no cure for Down syndrome but with the support from therapists, special education teachers, family, and members in the community, a person with Down syndrome can live a – LOCAL NEWS – healthy and fulfilling life.” “This means that they have many strengths and talents.
Many people with Down syndrome, they love music, and they give some of the best smiles and the sweetest hugs. Can I give a hug?,” said Sister Sensia who got a hug from Justin. “So if you know anybody, you can always be considerate if a person takes some extra time to say something or to do something.
Keep in mind that there are some persons with Down syndrome who are non-verbal. So, today we’re going to hear from Erica, who’s going to tell us something very important,” Phillip added. Erica’s short message spoke about “I love people” and also self-love.
According to www. worlddownsyndromeday. org, Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement in which a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21. It further reads: “Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition.
The sole characteristic shared by all people with Down syndrome is the presence of extra genetic material associated with the 21st chromosome. This happens because of an error during cell division when the egg and sperm first meet.
The effects of that extra genetic material vary greatly from individual to individual.” On the topic of whether the condition is a disorder, it was explained that “Down syndrome is not a disorder, it is a naturally occurring condition, which impacts the arrangement in a person’s chromosomes.” Additionally, “Down syndrome is not a disease, disorder, defect or medical condition and therefore does not require treatment, prevention or a cure. It is inappropriate and offensive to refer to people with Down syndrome as “afflicted with” or “suffering from” it.
People with Down syndrome can go to speech or motor therapy, but this does not treat Down syndrome itself. Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition.
The sole characteristic shared by all people with Down syndrome is the presence of extra genetic material associated with the 21st chromosome. This happens because of an error during cell division when the egg and sperm first meet.
The effects of that extra genetic material vary greatly from individual to individual.” Department get out of their beds at 3 a.m. in the morning to ensure that the water supply is restored, while others get up at 5 or 6 in the morning. Many of them respond to our calls around the clock and sacrifice time with their families on weekends and public holidays to ensure that we have a continuous water supply from dusk until dawn.” Such sentiments have been expressed by Minister of Utilities Konris Maynard in his World Water Day message on Friday 16th March 2024, leading up to the occasion-celebrated on 22nd March each year.
According to him: “Likewise, the government has demonstrated its commitment to solving the water crisis by increasing its expenditure on water by approximately 400 percent since taking administration.” The Utilities Minister pointed out that demand for water on St. Kitts currently stands at approximately six million gallons per day, while our supply capacity is only about 5 million gallons.
“This results in a deficit of about 20%. As a result, the Water Services Department has implemented nightly rationing for most communities.” Maynard went on to say that the government is committed to developing additional water sources to ensure a 24-hour supply and included redundancies.
“Thus, we have embarked on the following significant infrastructural investment in the island water supply system. Construction of a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in Bastille capable of producing 2 million gallons of water daily which is about to start construction.” He continued: “Drilling of additional wells across the island.
We have successfully drilled in the Cayon area and are getting ready to drill more in critical areas. Construction of new storage reservoirs and expansion of existing ones. Installation of new 3
pipelines and upgrading of existing ones. Introduction of modern technology to improve efficiency and optimize the use of resources.” The Utilities Minister also informed that the government is also recruiting additional water engineers and have begun to review the current institutional structure of the Water Services Department with a view to converting the department to a corporate body.
Additionally, he highlighted that the “sustainable management of our water resources is our shared responsibility.” “As the government continues to play its part, consumers have an equally vital role to perform. Consumers must be deliberate in conserving water by reducing consumption, repairing leaks promptly, and reporting faults to the authorities for 5 – LOCAL NEWS – urgent action.
He encouraged that consumers should also uphold our obligation to pay for the services that the Water Services Department provides whilst noting that the team at the Water Services Department has been working on a number of projects. “The team at the Water Services Department has been working assiduously to reliably bring water to our taps,” he commented.
The Utilities Minister is calling upon individuals not to take water for granted and also not only value it when such is lacking. “Water is an invaluable resource that we all agree should be treasured. However, most of us only think about it when it is unavailable.
This mindset needs to change. We can no longer afford to take water for granted and only value it when we lack it. We must acknowledge water’s crucial role in our socio-economic development and appreciate our convenient access to it.
Water is essential to our daily lives, whether for cooking, drinking, washing, bathing, flushing toilets, cleaning, manufacturing, or agriculture. It is a crucial component of the environment.” He added: “Our interactions with it directly impact our ability to access clean, fresh water continuously.
Managing the delicate balance between human activity and water is crucial for sustaining life and maintaining good health. Having a dependable source of clean drinking water for any community or country is not a matter of chance, but rather a result of deliberate planning.
It requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the government and citizens working together.” As shared by him, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22nd as World Water Day to raise awareness about sustainable fresh water management. It was also shared by Maynard that people worldwide celebrate this day by conducting various activities such as panel discussions, sharing information, and spreading awareness regarding the challenges faced in achieving sustainable water management.
He has extended heartfelt appreciation to the staff of the Water Services Department and congratulated them in celebration of World Water Day 2024, on behalf of his and by extension the government. Front Page Image sourced via screenshot from Shutterstock used for illustration purposes only shows the hands of someone using a water pipe.
