NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 20, 2021) – Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd, Director of the Culturama Secretariat, has announced the launch of the Culturama 47 slogan competition.
Mr. Liburd is calling on persons to fashion their slogan entries to reflect the new COVID-compliant version of the Nevis annual summer festival.
“We would like to invite persons to submit entries for the Culturama 47 slogan competition.
“Since we will not be having a lot of feting and gyrating we want to move away from those types of slogans and have a more COVID-compliant slogan. Based on the existing times that we are living in we want you to be a little more creative in terms of your slogans.
“So we want the slogan for Culturama 47 to reflect the COVID-19 environment in which Culturama will be staged this year. I want to invite persons to be very creative because we are looking for you to bring out that creativity to reflect the times we are presently living in,” he said, reminding that the slogan should be catchy and minus any form of vulgarity or profanity.
Entries can be submitted to the Culturama Secretariat at the Cotton Ginnery Mall in Charlestown in person, or emailed to slogan@culturamanevis.com.
“There’s a lot at stake for submitting the winning slogan for Culturama 47.
“The winner of the slogan competition will get a cash prize of EC $500 and a plaque or trophy.
“That person would also get free passes if they wish to attend the festival events in person or if they prefer to stay at home and view Culturama online, they will also be given free access to do so,” he said.
The deadline for submissions is May 14, 2021.
Culturama 47 will take place from July 27 to August 03, 2021 and the number of events has been scaled back due to the existing COVID-19 protocols in place for events considered to be mass gatherings.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 30, 2021) – – Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Lands in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), is encouraging persons to regularize their status with respect to any government land they currently occupy.
Hon. Jeffers addressed the matter during a statement at the most recent sitting of the Nevis island Assembly.
“I want to encourage the entire island of Nevis, anyone who currently occupies government land and has no documents for those lands to come in to the Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation (NHLDC), let us get you regularized so you have that tenancy.
“Come in to the Corporation or you can go to the Department of Agriculture where they rent crown lands…
“Whether you’re in Maddens, whether you’re in Potworks, whether you’re in Cades Bay- wherever you are on the island, if you are there I’m asking you to come and regularize your status,” he said.
He asserted that the NIA has simplified the process of acquiring government land on Nevis. Persons wishing to rent Crown land have to fill out an application at the Department of Agriculture and once the application is approved, terms and conditions will be determined.
The leasing and purchasing of government land is done through the NHLDC.
“We have made the process as easy as one, two, three for the citizens of this island to gain access to the lands that we call the people’s land.
“You can come in and buy the land and you get a certificate of title and then you’re on your merry way. You wave your papers through Charlestown as they,” the minister said.
Mr. Jeffers admonished Nevisians not to occupy government land without proper authorization through documentation.
“We [the NIA] are responsible for the patrimony of the people of this country, we are responsible for the management of our land resources…and we will do so within the law.
“The lands are available to us. Some may say it’s the people’s land but because it’s the people’s land it doesn’t mean that we get up one morning and say ‘I see an acre of land out there and I gone on it’.
“No! There is right way and a wrong way and if we are to live as decent, law-abiding citizens on this island we should always choose the right way because it’s the only way to go. We will encourage all of our young men and women to follow the rules as to what is required of you,” he stated.
The Minister of Lands emphasized that having proper documentation to prove legal access to government land will prevent any conflict between persons and the government or between individuals.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 23, 2021) — The Ministry of Agriculture in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) will host Agrofest, an all-day event highlighting local farmers and their produce on March 26, 2021, at the Villa Grounds in Charlestown, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mr. Huey Sargeant, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture during a visit to the venue on March 19, 2021, noted that the event with the theme “Eat locally; boost Immunity” which replaces the annual Agriculture Open Day, will be streamlined in keeping with the COVID-19 protocols.
“We understand that we are in the midst of the COVID pandemic and there are certain protocols that we have had to observe and the authorities which is the police of St. Kitts and Nevis [Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force] would have granted us permission to have this activity…
“We have to do this under very strict COVID protocols but still we are welcoming persons to come out and celebrate with us… Wear your masks. We have sanitising stations so we want you to come. We want you to celebrate. We want you to support our farmers,” he said, adding there would be light entertainment.
In relation to the theme selected, Mr. Sargeant explained that it took some doing to come up with one, due to the ongoing pandemic.
“We had quite a bit of debate in terms of coming up with a theme especially in light of our COVID pandemic.
“We want you to boost your immunity, and you know once you consume things that are produced locally it will boost that immunity. So in case the worst happens, we are sure once you consume locally you will be strong enough to fight off most and many things,” he said.
Mr. Sargeant stated that although patrons will not be required to pay an entrance fee, he called for patience entering the grounds due to expected delays because they will be required to provide their names, contact numbers and addresses as part of the COVID-19 protocols, in the event that they need to be contacted.
Mr. Steve Reid, Chief Extension Officer in the Department of Agriculture who accompanied Mr. Sargeant explained that this time around most of the booths would be for farmers to enable them to sell their produce.
He noted that eating healthy is something the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Health are actively promoting and the local produce is mostly organically grown.
Apart from the health benefits, Mr. Reid underscored what he described as reasonable prices patrons can expect.
“We have a range of vegetables including our famous local onions. We will have sweet potatoes, we will also have pumpkins and in great quantity and very, very cheap prices. So individuals who are preparing for their Easter dishes could come and get it at a very reasonable price.
“We would also have the Abattoir here with their products whether its sliced or processed meats. We also will have the ornamentals here for those of us who are looking for fruit trees, ornamentals we will cater to that. So it’s basically similar to our Open Day. We will have a range of stuff at fairly great prices. The only difference is we would not be congested. We would have people coming and going in sequence,” he said.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 01, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Now that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has secured an additional 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine courtesy the Government of the Republic of India, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris is urging even more citizens and residents to step forward and accept the vaccination jab.
The vaccines arrived via the RSS aircraft earlier today, Monday, March 01, and were handed over to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis by His Excellency Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of the Republic of India accredited to the Federation.
“To my fellow citizens and residents, I say it is now up to you to play your part in striking the final blows against COVID-19. You can play an effective part by being vaccinated. Already, over 600 plus of our citizens and residents have had their first vaccination shots, including Government and key frontline workers. This is a good start to be sure, but we need many more people to come forward,” Prime Minister Harris said during the handing over ceremony held at the RLB International Airport.
Monday’s ceremony was attended by Cabinet ministers, members of the National COVID-19 Task Force, health and tourism officials, and representatives of the media.
Prime Minister Harris said through this generous donation, St. Kitts and Nevis now has a chance to put the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear view mirror.
Dr. Harris said, “Let us not wait any longer for we now have 20,000 doses available. The message then is quite simple – Don’t wait, vaccinate. Don’t wait to protect your loved ones – vaccinate. Don’t wait to get our economy fully operational again – vaccinate. Don’t wait to get back to your way of life – vaccinate. Don’t wait to protect your family – vaccinate. Don’t wait to protect your health – vaccinate. Don’t wait any longer for COVID-19 to go away, the answer to it is to vaccinate.”
Prime Minister Harris used his own personal experience, as one of the first persons in St. Kitts and Nevis to take the vaccine jab, to dismiss the concerns of some members of society.
“I myself have had the vaccine last Monday (February 22), so has several other members of the Cabinet of St. Kitts and Nevis and I feel quite fine. So fine that last Monday and everyday thereafter I worked late every night after taking the vaccine and I continued my very busy schedule of activities,” said the prime minister.
Vaccinations are currently being done at the Newtown, Basseterre, Sandy Point, and Tabernacle Health Centres in St. Kitts, and the Charlestown, Gingerland, and Combermere Health Centers in Nevis.
According to Prime Minister Harris, with the addition of the 20,000 doses of vaccine the Government intends to expand the number of centers to which persons can go to get vaccinated.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 11, 2021) — The Public Works Department (PWD) in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is carrying out repairs on the Fisheries Complex in Charlestown, to improve safety at that facility. The project commenced on February 01, 2021, and is expected to run for a total of five weeks.
Mr. Jevon Williams, Director of the PWD told the Department of Information on February 11, 2021, that the area under repair had become a safety hazard for persons using the facility and had to be repaired.
“The works down there is ongoing. [It] is the repair of the concrete overhang of the roof. The roof has been deteriorating for quite some time. The steel has been exposed to constant sea blast and as a result there have been corrosion and the concrete has been cracking etc. It has been causing a hazard, with the possibility of the concrete chipping off and dropping off.
“So the work there is to update and to repair the concrete overhang. Knocking off the old deteriorating concrete and replacing it with new concrete with new steel. This would improve the safety of the patrons and the workers that frequent the fisheries facility, especially the fisheries facility at the back,” he said.
Mr. Williams added that repair work is also being done on the facility’s generator room.
“The roof had deteriorated very badly, and the concrete roof has been completely removed and will be replaced as part of this project,” he said.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 14, 2021) — The Department of Agriculture on Nevis will be resuming its Fresh Vegetable Market on January 15, 2021, at the Marketing Unit in Charlestown.
Mr. Randy Elliott, Director of Agriculture in the Department of Agriculture in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), said on January 14, 2021, that the initiative, which started in November 2020, has been well received by members of the public.
“Since November we have been organizing the event practically every Friday, but we took a two-week break over the Christmas period and people have been asking when we would be starting again.
“The general public has been very supportive of the event. I think they appreciate that they can get fresh local produce, and get them at a very low cost,” he told the Department of Information.
The Director said the initiative has a multipart objective, benefitting both the farmers and consumers.
“We want to ensure that persons have access to healthy foods. At the Marketing Unit we consolidate food from farmers around the island and sell the various produce at very cheap prices. We understand that due to the COVID-19 pandemic persons don’t have the resources they would have had before so we’re trying to keep the cost of locally produced food as low as possible.
“We also want to ensure that farmers can make a livelihood from their work, while not losing too much of their time having to leave their farms to go and sell the produce themselves,” he said.
Mr. Elliott noted that because more persons have ventured into farming since the onset of COVID-19, coupled with the NIA’s concessions to farmers, Nevis has seen an explosion with respect to the production of sweet potato and pumpkin.
Each week the list of produce sold varies based on harvesting patterns
This Friday [January 15], the Marketing Unit will be selling tomatoes at $2.50 per pound; pumpkin at $2.50; sweet potato at $3.50; green papaya at $3.00; seasoning peppers at $5.00; green banana at $2.00; string beans at $3.00; and sorrel at $10.00 per parcel.
The Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Vegetable Market will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 13, 2021 (ZIZ News): The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has stepped up its Covid-19 fight using the latest technology.
Thermal imagining cameras have been installed at the Bank’s head office at the corner of Church and Central Streets in Basseterre, and at the branch office on Chapel Street in Charlestown. The cameras allow for clients’ temperature to be taken without any contact as they are mounted on the wall, eight feet above the ground.
Security guards and frontline staff members at both offices have been trained on how to use a tablet to retrieve the information from the cameras if need be. According to Michael Peets of Digital Security Services Ltd. that information is important when it comes to contact tracing should any client show signs of the disease and can also be shared with the Ministry of Health.
Human Resource Manager at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Danienne Brin, has said that guidelines on how the thermal cameras will be used have been circulated and all clients are fully aware that when they enter the establishment they will have their temperatures taken using the new cameras.
Both Ms Brin and the Manager at the Nevis Branch Office, Ms Hyacinth Pemberton, note that the they are pleased with the way the cameras have been operating stating that the only time red flags would have been raised would have been due to a client’s elevated temperature as a result of being out in the hot sun for a lengthy period, as a second reading would be normal.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (December 22, 2020) — The Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA), on Monday, December 21, 2020, recognised four street cleaners at the Ministry of Health for their contribution to keeping Charlestown clean.
Mr. Donald Browne; Mr. Raoul Archibald; Mr. Joseph Prince; and Mr. Lester Nisbett were awarded at a ceremony at the Charlestown Sea Port as part of NASPA’s annual community outreach programme. They were presented with a certificate of appreciation and a gift basket for their contribution to keeping Charlestown clean.
Mr. Kenny Warner, Operations Supervisor at the Charlestown Sea Port, explained the purpose of the event.
“Every year at NASPA, we thank our sanitation workers in Charlestown for keeping the area clean and tidy. They have kept the city clean throughout the whole year, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, where cleanliness is so important and vital to keeping us and the community safe.
“As a port authority, we are very grateful for the sanitation workers, and we want to show our appreciation for all the hard work that they do throughout the year,” he said.
Ms. Loretta France, Human Resource Manager; and Ms. Michelle Lawrence, Administrative Officer, presented the gift baskets.
The street cleaners in Charlestown have been recognized by NASPA for the past six years during the Christmas season for their committed service to the community.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 23, 2020) — The Department of Community Development will combine two of its Christmas Season events this year. The “Miracle on Main Street” and “Christmas in the Capital,” will be held on December 02, 2020, in an all-day affair at the Memorial Square in Charlestown.
Mrs. Janette Meloney, Director of the Department of Community Development gave the Department of Information gave some insight into the event which will be held from midday in a recent interview.
“This event…should culminate at 8 p.m. …and then we will light the Christmas tree in Charlestown, and so we will be having a mixture of the Christmas sports which we all know as the Masquerade and Johnny Walker, along with singing and dancing and poems.” she said.
Mrs. Meloney explained the changes which will take place considering the COVID-19 protocols.
“For this year, I want you all to volunteer to be a part of The Miracle or to be part of Christmas in the Square. So if you think you can sing or if you can say a poem or you can dance, whatever you can do; You have a small group in your church or whatever group you may have and you want to do a performance, this is the time for you to come and showcase your talent…
“We are going to have time slots for each individual group to do their performance, and let’s say you come at midday and your time is from 12:00 to 12: 10 you will perform there and you can leave so that we won’t have the mass gathering, seeing that we have to take into consideration the social distancing. We want to have you for Christmas, so that’s why we have to change it up so that we can also protect each other while we enjoy ourselves,” she said.
Any persons or groups interested in participating in the Miracle on Main Street/Christmas in the Capital event can call the Department of Community Development at 469-1768; or 469-5521, ext.: 2185 or 2188.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 09, 2020) — The Health Promotion Unit (HPU) in the Ministry of Health on Nevis is hosting a week of activities starting November 09, 2020 in observance of World Diabetes Day.
World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14 to create awareness for diabetes and the importance of prevention, treatment and control. This year the theme is “The Nurse and Diabetes.”
As part of the week of activities for World Diabetes Day, the HPU will post daily health tips and healthy recipes on Nevis HPU Facebook page aimed at helping patients control their diabetes.
From Monday to Friday, November 9-13, the HPU will air a cooking show “Food for Thought with chef Michael Henville” on its Facebook page. On the programme, chef Henville, a food and nutrition specialist, will be sharing recipes targeting persons with diabetes or who may be at high risk for the disease.
On Wednesday, November 11 the HPU team will be out about Charlestown distributing commemorative paper pins to be attached to persons’ clothing. On that day there will also be a [Restore, Inspire, Secure, Empower] RISE programme workshop entitled “Food and Nutrition and the COVID-19 Environment.”
The general public is being encouraged to wear something blue on Thursday, November 12. The colour blue is used to symbolise diabetes awareness. The staff of the unit will be moving around downtown Charlestown with a decorative World Diabetes Day picture frame, giving persons the opportunity to have their photo taken to be posted on the Nevis HPU Facebook page.
Friday, November 13 will see the lighting of the World Diabetes Wall located upstairs the HPU offices at the Ricaldo Caines Building on Jews Street, Charlestown.
Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration, will deliver her World Diabetes Day Address on Saturday, November 14.
The week of activities will culminate on Sunday, November 15 with the Nevis 2020 Bike Relay in Charlestown, organised by SKN Moves Nevis Chapter in association with the National Weight Loss Programme.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 26, 2020) – The F.I.T. National Weight Loss Campaign and the Nevis Chapter of SKN Moves will be hosting their annual bike relay on November 15, 2020 in Charlestown.
At a press conference on October 26, 2020, at the Department of Gender Affairs conference room to launch the event, Ms. Shelagh James, communications specialist with the Health Promotion Unit (HPU) in the Ministry of Health on Nevis, and member of the organizing committee for the relay, provided details about the bike race.
“SKN Moves Nevis chapter in association with the [F.I.T.] National Weight Loss Program, this is their second event for the year, it’s the bike relay. We’re expecting it to be a fantastic event. It falls on November 15, start time is 6 a.m. We think it will be done within two to three hours…
“Registration is now open and we’re encouraging persons to participate. It’s $25 registration fee and the deadline is November 6, 2020 at 4 p.m.,” she said.
Ms. James stated that they will be catering for about 40 participants and each one will receive a medal of participation.
“Anybody who can ride a bike is welcome to come and participate,” she said.
Mr. David Walwyn of F.I.T. Wellness Centre and committee member, explained that the relay has been routed through downtown Charlestown to make it easier for participants of all fitness levels, and allow for better spectator access to cheer on participants.
The relay will begin at the car park on the Samuel Hunkins Drive, go around the base of Craddock Road, onto Main Street, and end back at the car park.
Mr. Walwyn said each member of the four-person team will ride four laps of the designated route, and then hand the bike off to the next team mate.
There will be giveaways and light refreshments, and breakfast will be sponsored for at least 20 entrants.
Sponsor Mr. Winston Crooke of Bike Nevis will be providing the racing bikes and helmets for the relay, free training sessions for female registrants prior to the event, and cycling t-shirts for the first 10 females to register following the press conference.
The police will control traffic for the relay and a bulletin will be issued leading up to the event to notify the general public of the traffic arrangements.
Interested persons must be 18 years or older to participate. Registration will be done at the Health Promotion Unit on Jews Street in Charlestown.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 09, 2020) — The Department of Agriculture in Nevis will host a week of activities, from October 12 to 17 to celebrate World Food Day, October 16, 2020, under the theme “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.”
Outlining the events planned, Mr. Randy Elliott, Director of the Department of Agriculture, said the activities are meant to highlight the sector and the importance of food production on Nevis.
On October 12 the department will host a promotion at the War Memorial in Charlestown. The general public is invited to meet and greet the technicians of the department and use the opportunity to ask the technicians about issues that relate to their farms or backyard gardens.
On October 13, the department will have its outreach day, with visits to retired farmers and retired staff. There will also be a farmers’ market at Beach Road from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with farmers, agro-processors and fishers. Director Elliott encouraged persons to support the event to get to know who is growing and supplying their food.
On October 14 there will be a similar farmers’ market at the top of Government Road from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The department’s staff will also be the guests on the “On the Mark” radio show from 8 p.m.
The department will move its activities to the Cultural Village and Cicely Grell-Hull Dora Stevens Netball Complex in Charlestown, on October 15, for Multicultural Day. Persons from at least eight nationalities will be on hand preparing dishes from their native countries.
Mr. Elliott noted that several crops including breadfruit, sweet potato and cassava will be showcased at the event.
“We are asking the public to visit the Cultural Village to enjoy food from across the region and to support the agriculture department. There will also be two master chef classes showing persons how to prepare some of those dishes,” he said.
On World Food Day, October 16, the department will host Grill and Beer Friday at the Cultural Village.
“On this day basically everything will be on the grill from local fish, to local beef, and local pork. There will also be a domino competition on that day and all domino players who are interested can reach out to the department to register. There will also be food preparation demonstrations for pork, fish and chicken and a master class for persons interested in preparing the dishes. The action will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” he said.
October 17, dubbed “Old Time Saturday,” will feature the sale of traditional foods from Nevis, a farmers’ market, mixology class, domino competition and Ministers’ cook-off between Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, and Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Minister of Agriculture in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).
The event heralding the end of the week of activities will be held at the Cultural Village.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 01, 2020 (RSCNPF): Police are investigating a fatal incident at sea which involved a 17-year-old male.
Police investigations into the matter are currently underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, investigations so far have revealed that sometime after 2 p.m. on August 31, the 17-year-old was at Gallows Bay in Charlestown when he experienced difficulties at sea. Efforts by members of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. The District Medical Doctor arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead. Personnel from the Forensic Services Unit processed the area.
An autopsy will be performed shortly to determine the exact cause of death.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 19, 2020 (RSCNPF): The Police are investigating a non-fatal shooting incident in which one person was injured.
At about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, a report was received that gunshots were fired in the Ramsbury area.
The Police responded and their preliminary investigations revealed that Ellison Smith-Bartlette of Stuart Williams Drive and a female were walking along a paved road, in the vicinity of the Alexandra Hospital, when unknown assailants shot at them. As a result, Smith-Bartlette received a gunshot wound to his arm. He was taken to the Alexandra Hospital where he is warded in a stable condition.
Personnel from the Crime Scene Unit processed the scene and collected several items of evidential value.
The Police are making an appeal to anyone who might have any information in relation to this incident to call the Violent Crimes Unit (Nevis) at 469-5269, 668-0636 or their nearest Police Station. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
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Charlestown, Nevis, August 5, 2020 (DBSKN) — The opening of the Livingstone Sargeant Cricket Practice Facility at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park in Charlestown has been hailed by the Minister with responsibility for Sports in the Nevis Island Administration, the Hon Eric Evelyn, who has commended individuals and institutions that worked hard to make it come to reality.
“I must give high commendation to Mr Keeth Arthurton for conceptualising this idea and I believe that Mr Arthurton is a fantastic example of someone who is giving back,” observed the Hon Evelyn on Tuesday August 4 at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Sports and held at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park to open and name the new Cricket Practice Facility.
Mr Keeth Arthurton, the person behind the Cricket Practice Facility, is a former Senior West Indies Cricket Team player. He was the third of the seven Nevisian cricketers who have worn the Senior West Indies Cricket Team colours. He approached, among others, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for funding to start the training facility. The Development Bank was recognised at the ceremony as the facility’s main contributor.
“A lot of the times the island offers quite a bit to some persons but some of us do not give back, and so Mr Arthurton I think you are a fantastic example of someone who is giving back,” noted the Hon Evelyn. “Mr Arthurton is someone who is very persistent, consistent and someone who is passionate about the game of cricket and when I walked in here and I looked at the facility this morning – I was wondering if I was at Lord’s (Cricket Ground in London). I think this is a first class facility and I think Mr Arthurton deserves a special round of applause.”
The Honourable Minister Evelyn, who is also the Federal Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, noted that the retired West Indies Cricketer who runs a cricket academy in St. Kitts had been there through thick and thin to ensure that Nevis has a facility of that nature and he attributed it to excellent collaboration and partnership.
He singled out his Ministry, the Ministry of Social Development, and thanked the Permanent Secretary Mr Keith Glasgow, Assistant PS Ms D. Michelle Liburd, Director of Sports Claxton, and Administrative Officer Mrs Shelly Liburd. He also thanked the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Bank of Nevis.
“The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has been an excellent corporate citizen and I do not think we could give too high commendation to (Nevis Branch Manager) Ms Hyacinth Pemberton and her institution, because they have been doing such excellent work,” said the Hon Evelyn who also advised the audience that the bank would be moving into new facility on Chapel Street in Charlestown on Wednesday August 5.
“We ask the Bank of Nevis, and the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis to continue to support us and continue to support sports,” stated the Minister of Sports in the Nevis Island Administration. “Continue to support cricket, because I believe we have some good raw talent here in Nevis that we must continue to exploit.”
The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis was represented at the ceremony by Nevis-based Director, Mr Stephen Jones, Nevis Branch Manager Ms Hyacinth Pemberton, and Marketing Officer Ms Vernitha Evelyn. The Bank of Nevis was represented by its Marketing Officer Mr Phéon Jones.
Present at the ceremony included the Premier of Nevis the Hon Mark Brantley, and representatives from organisations that would have contributed towards the setting up of the Cricket Practice Facility.
The honouree, Mr Livingstone Sargeant a legendary Nevisian cricketer from Cotton Ground who played for the Combined Islands and the Leeward Islands in the 1960s and the 1970s was not present but was represented by his wife Mrs Mildred Sargeant, and his son Mr Tavo Sargeant who delivered remarks from him.
“I say a special thank you to Mr Keeth Arthurton for recommending that this practice facility be named in my honour, and for seeing it come to reality,” said Mr Livingstone Sargeant through the message read by his son. “A facility such as this is very vital if young cricketers are to improve their game.”
The Nevisian cricketer added: “In my days I was not so fortunate to have anything close to this. I had to get my practice any way I could have, including putting a ball in a stocking on a string in the doorway of my house and hitting it for hours. That is how I got my practice. You now have a real practice facility here and I hope that you will make good use of it.”
In the meantime Minister Eric Evelyn also made a passionate appeal to young cricketers in Nevis to make use of the practice facility and to ensure that it is not vandalised and promised that his Department of Sports will continue to partner with Mr Keeth Arthurton to ensure that the facility is kept in prime form.
“To those who will benefit and use the facility: I think it is an excellent facility and I want the young cricketers in Nevis to take advantage of the facility,” said the Hon Evelyn. “A lot of work, a lot of money, a lot of effort would have gone into the facility and we want the young cricketers of Nevis to take full advantage.”
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