Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 27, 2020 (SKNIS): Director of Youth Empowerment in St. Kitts, Pierre Liburd, was inspired by the stories of the 25 Most Remarkable Teens summing them up as impressive and heart-warming.
“These young people are remarkable. They are strong, intelligent, creative, and innovative, they are resilient. I want to commend them for their resilience and all the other qualities that we recognize this evening,” said Mr. Liburd, while delivering remarks at the 25 Most Remarkable Teens Ceremony held at the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre at Lime Kiln, Basseterre on Thursday, November 26.
Such was the case with Khaela Hanley who received the award for courage to overcome. She was bullied in school which made her feel that she was ‘ugly’, ‘dunce’ and ‘fat.’ Her challenges grew even more intense after her mother passed away. Khaela resorted to self-mutilation as a way of escaping the emotional scars. However, guidance counsellors at her school intervened and the 16-year-old is using music, dancing and singing to overcome the grief and pursue her dreams.
Eighteen-year-old Gregory McGrath also has a touching story. Awarded in the category of coping with challenges, Gregory is brave and resilient and stands up for what is right. It is a remarkable achievement for a young man with autism. Gregory is an accomplished archer, an avid basketball player, skilled musician and a budding artist. Gregory is working to study art and music after graduating.
At 17 years old, Karyl Woods has published books and other literary works on Wattpad and Episode, which is a story-telling network. One of her submissions on Wattpad is ranked 96 out of 139, 000 books published in the Literature category. Also, her first book on Episode, ‘River of Tears,’ is in the top 1000 books out of 100, 000 books under the Romance category.
Mr. Liburd recognized persons who would have helped them along the way and encouraged them to continue working closely with young people.
“Thanks to each and everybody that would have been a part of their lives and continue to mould not just them but their peers and every young person that you encounter,” said the director. “I just want to encourage us to continue to be the pillars of strength, support and guidance that have been successful in bringing these young persons to the positive role models and the positive citizens that they all are and that we all recognize this evening.”
Mr. Liburd said, “…It is for us to train them to lead us as we would expect to be led and to take this country forward and for it to be productive, prosperous, and peaceful and all the other great things that we anticipate and hope for it to be. It is in our hands to continue to shape them to take the reins of leadership.”
The director thanked the many partners who played an integral role in ensuring that the 25 Most Remarkable Teens event for 2020, was successful, and for supporting and empowering the youth population.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 27, 2020 (SKNIS): Twenty-five (25) outstanding teens in the Federation were highly commended by His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, LL. D, Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis, for their outstanding contributions to nation-building.
The statement was read during the 25 Most Remarkable Teens (MRTs) Awards at a special sitting of Parliament on Thursday, November 26, by Jalen Monzac, a member of the Youth Ambassador Corps, on behalf of the Governor-General, who commended the teens on their achievement.
“I wish to take this opportunity to offer congratulations and commendation to the 25 Most Remarkable Teens. This years’ cohort once again demonstrates issues ranging from school pride, sports and academics, the culinary arts to coping positively with challenges,” the statement read. “The range and scope of the activities successfully pursued by the awardees are indeed impressive. I have only enumerated some of these, but they all represent youth in action overcoming obstacles in this challenging COVID-19 environment.”
In his message, His Excellency encouraged the young people to continue to make meaningful contributions to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I urge all 25 of you and other aspirants to continue on your journey. This acclaim is but the first step in reinforcing your citizenship and patriotism.”
The teens were awarded in the following categories: most promising; academics; technology; writing; sports; environmentalism; youth activism; performing and visual arts; culinary arts; school pride; volunteerism; spiritual commitment, music and leadership. Personal decisions to change; the spirit of hope; coping positively with challenges and courage to overcome also formed part of the list.
The 25 MRTs, a youth recognition initiative in the Federation, was founded in November 2011 by the Department of Youth Empowerment and is the only one of its kind in the region. To date, a total of 250 teens have been awarded under this programme.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 23, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister and Area Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Seven, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, has commended domino enthusiasts in his constituency who had twenty five years ago approached him to assist them to hold a domino tournament with the expressed wish to bring communities together.
“When in 1996, or thereabout, a group of persons came to ask me to intervene, at the heart of their concern, one was love for domino and they felt that domino could be that sport that breaks down the tension among the various communities,” recalled Prime Minister Harris on Sunday November 22 at the closing and prize giving ceremony for 25th edition of Constituency Number Seven Domino League which is the sponsor.
The Honourable Prime Minister went on: “Way back then the rivalry in between the village groups was very high, and there was development of violence in between groups. We can say that twenty five years after, this league has fulfilled the mission of building strong friendship across every community between Ottleys down to Parsons Ground,”
The ceremony which was held on the hardcourts at the Edgar Gilbert Sporting Complex in Molineux saw the distribution of over $15,000 in trophies and cash prizes to players of the record fourteen teams drawn from Constituencies Number Seven (twelve teams), and Number Six (two teams) at the end of what league officials commented was the best ever.
“I want to thank those who over the last twenty five years-plus have been part of domino in Constituency Seven,” said Prime Minister Harris. “Today we can say without a doubt we are the best and we are the longest going domino league in St. Kitts and Nevis, and perhaps anywhere else in the world.”
He thanked Mr Osmond Petty and Mr Winston Morris who were former organisers of the league, and Mr Calvin Farrell who is the current President of Constituency Number Seven Domino League, and League Coordinator, for the selfless work they would have put in to make the league the success it is today.
Domino clubs from Constituency Number Seven had for a long period dominated the league until that monopoly was broken in 2018 when Parsons Domino Club from Constituency Number Six became the first team from outside Number Seven to be crowned champions. They defended the title in 2019 but this year the title returned to Constituency Number Seven with Tabernacle Domino Club taking the top honours for the first time.
“For me on the occasion of the 25th anniversary to have had Tabernacle done so superlatively well, I feel very proud to be from Tabernacle and I want to thank them and congratulate them,” said Dr Harris. “Twenty five years we have waited for this in Tabernacle. Twenty five years we came close and there are times when we were too distant from it. But again, young men like (Kerone) Roache stepped up, and all the other young people with (Captain) Jason ‘Spoon’ Nisbett, who came and gave Tabernacle the unbelieving power so that tonight the victory is Tabernacle’s and they will be taking home $5,000.”
He thanked all the fourteen teams and their players who took part in this year’s tournament, and promised them that with the completion of the new Lodge/Ottleys Community Centre now under construction, the tournament next year would be held in better facilities and hoped that more teams would take part.
Due to Covid-19 protocols in place, this year’s league was restricted to three venues, namely the Lodge Community Centre in Lodge Project which has over the years been the home to Constituency Number Seven Domino League, the pavilion at the Edgar Gilbert Sporting Complex, and the Tabernacle Police Station.
Coming in second position were former champions Unity Domino Club, followed by Lodge Domino Club, also former champions, and Phillips Domino Club in the fourth place. Small Corner Bar Domino Club took, for the second year in a row, Best of the Rest Championship.
The other teams in the competition were Sylvers Domino Club, Unstoppable Domino Club, Parsons Domino Club, Molineux Domino Club, Christ Church Domino Club, Saddlers Domino Club, Mansion Domino Club, Guinness Domino Club, and Giants Domino Club.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 19, 2020 (SKNIS): Eight outstanding males in St. Kitts and Nevis were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the development of the twin-island federation during an award ceremony held on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the CUNA Caribbean Conference Centre in celebration of International Men’s Day.
The men who were awarded for their positive impact on society are Ira Liburd for Agriculture; Deepak Dinesan for Education; Nigel Williams for Culture; Dr. Bichara Sahely for Health and Medicine; Lauston Percival for Law Enforcement, and Vincent Fough for Caregiving for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities.
The Humanitarian Award went to Ernest Amory MBE, while Pastor Judah Payne received the prestigious Prime Minister’s International Men’s Day Award 2020.
Minister of Gender Affairs, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, congratulated the awardees and noted that men and boys play an important role in society.
“Men and boys play a significant role in contributing to our society. It is why it is important that we take the time out to applaud and to recognize the achievements of men and boys,” said the Minister. “I am particularly pleased to say that St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the 70 plus countries who acknowledge this day because we acknowledge the vital importance of men in the overall development of our Federation.”
Minister Hamilton reflected on the theme for 2020, “Better Health for Men and Boys.
“As a result of that theme, we take a deeper look into the physical and mental health of men and boys around the world. No difference here in St. Kitts and Nevis. This theme comes at a time when our health has been put at risk because of the coronavirus disease,” he said. “The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to encourage all men and boys to take a special interest in their own health.”
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