NASSAU, BAHAMAS March 8, 2021March 8, 2021 — A search continues for five Cuban nationals after 19 were picked up on Friday, March 5, 2021, in the Southern Bahamas during a joint effort by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Operation Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
According to the RBDF, on Wednesday, March 3, six individuals were captured after being sighted on Anguilla Cay, and taken aboard a US Coast Guard cutter.
While in the area, the USCG vessel also sighted 18 Cuban nationals on Cay Sal and HMBS DURWARD KNOWLES, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Jataro McDonald, was dispatched to investigate.
The six Cuban nationals were transferred from the USCG vessel to the RBDF patrol craft shortly after 2pm on Thursday, and an extensive search of the surrounding cays, waters and inlet was launched to find the remaining 18 individuals
Shortly after 4pm on Thursday, HMBS DURWARD KNOWLES spotted a capsized vessel in waters approximately three nautical miles south of Cay Sal, and retrieved 13 Cuban nationals, including a deceased male.
The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), in a separate statement, noted Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) had received three of the Cuban migrants rescued from the capsized vessel — the deceased man, who was transported to the morgue, and another two women who were transported to the Emergency Department for treatment of chemical burns.
That statement noted “initial triage, resuscitation and stabilization of the migrants was carried out by RBDF Medical Department, Department of Public Health staff and NEMS at the HMBS Coral Harbour”.
Both the RBDF and USCG are still searching for the remaining Cuban nationals who were not apprehended and who are presumed missing.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 10th, 2021 (ZIZ News): The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is offering high school and college students in St. Kitts and Nevis and from its other member countries, the opportunity to express their creativity through art with the opening of its 2021 Creative Youth Competition (CYC).
On a recent episode of ECCB Connects, Senior Corporate Relations officer at ECCB, Elizabeth Wayland spoke about the competition over the years and what it offers the students.
She said the competition allows the students to express themselves about current issues that may be affecting the region through creative arts.
“The Creative Youth Competition allows our students in high schools and community colleges across the ECCU the opportunity to express themselves through art, essay writing, poetry and song writing which are the various genres, they are allowed to express themselves regarding different socio-economic issues that may occur within our region for example with Covid-19 right now, through their submissions, through their art, they will be able to express themselves and talk more about it.”
She reflected on last year’s staging of the competition which garnered 56 submissions and winners from countries such as Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Wayland said for this year’s CYC competition the focus will be on art and participants are required to submit pieces which depict one of the following topics, “The Evolution of Payment Methods: How Will the Use of Money Transform in the Future”; “Women, the Forgotten Resource: Equal Opportunities for Women in the Workplace and Society”; or “The Rise of Domestic and Social Ills in the Face of COVID-19.”
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 31st , 2020 (ZIZ News):
St. Kitts and Nevis reopened its borders to international travellers on Saturday October 31 2020 after a 7 month closure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this time, the Federation will observe a phased reopening with specific entry and travel requirements to be observed by visitors. The travel requirements outlined here are for Phase 1 which will designate visitors into three categories: Travelers from the CARICOM Member States that are part of the “Caribbean bubble”, International travelers outside the “Caribbean bubble” and Returning Nationals/Residents.
Travelers from within the “Caribbean bubble” include those traveling from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia & St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Travelers from the “Caribbean Bubble” can stay at private homes, condos, villas or “Travel Approved” certified hotel properties including Hermitage Inn, Hamilton Beach Villas & Spa, Montpelier Plantation & Beach, Golden Rock Inn, Sugar Bay Club and Timothy Beach Resort.
International travellers include persons coming from outside of the “Caribbean bubble” including the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Africa and South America. These travelers must complete the Travel Authorization Form on the website, www.knatravelform.kn and submit a negative PCR test completed within 72-hours of travel from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory; undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check and a health questionnaire; Download the SKN COVID-19 contact tracing mobile app to be used for the first 14 days of travel or less.
Approved hotels for international travelers are Four Seasons, Koi Resort by Curio, Hilton
Marriott Vacation Beach Club, Paradise Beach Nevis, Park Hyatt, Royal St. Kitts Hotel and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
All residents and visitors alike are asked to follow basic health and safety protocols of frequent handwashing and or sanitizing, maintaining the required social and physical distancing as well as mandatory mask wearing during this time.
St. Kitts is expected to receive its first commercial flight on November 7th. This flight will be an American airlines flight from Miami.
On March 25, 2020, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis closed the borders to all commercial airline flights to protect citizens and residents against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 29, 2020 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis has the intention of participating in the CARICOM Bubble and therefore has been monitoring what is happening in the eight participating territories, says Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws, speaking at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)/Border Reopening Press Briefing on October 28.
The eight territories include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Montserrat.
Dr. Laws informed that Antigua and Barbuda, within the last 14 days, has reported 13 newly confirmed cases bringing its total to 124. Barbados reported 25 new cases within the past 14 days bringing its total to 233. Saint Lucia also has reported 34 new cases within the past 14 days bringing its total to 73.
The Chief Medical Officer stated that the Owen King Union Hospital in Saint Lucia is experiencing some challenges. Three employees tested positive and their outpatient services have been suspended for the next two weeks. Only emergency services will be performed.
The Ministry of Health in the Federation and the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) Committee is continuing to monitor the situation in the participating territories, said Dr. Laws.
“We are really looking out for the evidence of community transmission of COVID-19,” she said. “In essence, we are in the process of evaluating the risk of participating in the CARICOM Bubble.”
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