NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 02, 2020) — The following is a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis through the Ministry of Human Resources in the Nevis Island Administration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Government and people of Saint Kitts and Nevis, is in full congratulatory mode as they celebrate two of the country’s nationals who received academic scholarships in furtherance of their educational pursuits.
Miss Hilary Ferguson, a Master of Education in Instructional Technology and Media PostGraduate major at Columbia University, New York, hopes to design learning experiences for optimal engagement and impact using technological tools in formal and informal educational settings upon her return. This she hopes, will inspire citizens to use this kind of education to contribute uniquely and meaningfully to national development.
Miss Ferguson is grateful for this opportunity to further build on strong pillars of education, democracy, human rights and security held by the Organization of American States (OAS) through this award, and proud to have the backing of Saint Kitts and Nevis in achieving her educational goals.
Miss Kelsia Liburd, an undergrad in Hospitality Management, Marketing and Advertising at Grand Canyon University, Arizona, U.S.A., hopes to couple training with her passion for tourism to serve as a bridge between government and the private sector upon return.
She is determined, despite the setbacks of COVID-19, to help Saint Kitts and Nevis maximize its potential to reap economic prosperity from the growth of a global tourism market.
Miss Liburd praises the OAS for the timeliness of this award, as it brings some relief to her single-parent mother, whose efforts have been exacerbated by the onslaught of the COVID-19.
She still encourages persons desirous of pursuing higher education not to be deterred by the challenges of the COVID pandemic, as achievement of their educational goals would only serve to help build a better nation.
The OAS Academic Scholarship Program (Regular Program), established in 1958, grants scholarships every year for the pursuit of Undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral Degrees and Graduate Research leading to a university degree.
The OAS Special Caribbean Scholarships Program (SPECAF), established in 1983, grants scholarships for the last two years of undergraduate studies to citizens and residents of the English-speaking Caribbean OAS Member States, and Suriname.
In addition to these programs, the OAS through its Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC), offer other attractive scholarship opportunities for academic studies with the support of its partner institutions in the Americas and around the world.
For further information on scholarship opportunities, visit www.oas.org/en/scholarships/.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 1, 2020 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in preparation for the reopening of its borders, has provided three thousand four hundred and fifty-eight workers in the hotel, hospitality and transport sectors with training on the new norms for living and working safely in a COVID-19 environment.
At his monthly press conference on October 1, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris said that the health experts “have been working with SCASPA on plans to retrofit our airport for passenger movement in a manner that minimizes risk of COVID-19 infection by our frontline workers at the airport including our Immigration Officers, Customs Officers and taxi operators.”
“The Chairman of SCASPA Mr. Damion Hobson has advised that works at our main airport the RLB International commenced on Monday, September 28, 2020. The first phase of the work addresses the Welcome Centre on the ramp in front of the arrivals area, converting the VIP Lounge into the medical screening area and constructing sneeze guards on the counters,” said the Prime Minister.
“The contractor, Baley Project Management has advised SCASPA that work will be completed not later than October 26, 2020,” he added.
]]>NEW YORK, NY (August 10, 2020 (Caribbean Tourism Organization) –– The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Scholarship Foundation is awarding two scholarships and three study grants for 2020/21 despite the fundraising challenges that the organisation has endured during the COVID-19 crisis. The five students receiving funds will be studying tourism and hospitality management as well as culinary arts at universities in the U.S., the Caribbean and Ireland.
“While we always want to do more than we have the funds for, we are proud to be able to help these five students further their tourism education and return to the Caribbean as future leaders in tourism,” said Jacqueline Johnson, CTO Foundation chairman and president of the Global Bridal Group.
The main aim of the CTO Foundation is to provide opportunities for Caribbean nationals to pursue studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality, language training and other tourism-related disciplines. The foundation selects individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership both within and outside the classroom and who express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism.
2020 Scholarships and Grants
This year scholarships and grants went to the following Caribbean students:
The CTO Foundation was established in 1997 as a not-for-profit corporation, registered in the State of New York, and formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Led by a volunteer board of directors, the foundation’s first set of scholarships and study grants were awarded in 1998.
Since 1998 the CTO Foundation has provided 117 major scholarships and 178 study grants to deserving Caribbean nationals, amounting to over US$1 million. Over the years, major foundation sponsors have included American Express, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Interval International, JetBlue, Royal Caribbean International, The Travel Agent Magazine, LIAT, Architectural Digest, CTO chapters worldwide and numerous allied members.
“The CTO Foundation wishes to thank everyone who submitted applications for the 2020 scholarships and grants and encourages those that were not fortunate enough to get a scholarship or grant this year to re-apply next year,” said Johnson.
For more information visit the CTO Foundation website at: http://ctofoundation.org/
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS July 23, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) — The following is an announcement from the Ministry of Tourism in the Nevis Island Administration regarding a series of COVID-19 sensitization sessions for all employees in the Hospitality Industry on Nevis.
In anticipation of the reopening of the borders of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Nevis Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Health, will be conducting a series of COVID-19 sensitization sessions for ALL employees in the Hospitality Industry.
The 1st phase of training will begin on Monday 27th July 2020 for hotels, guest houses and villa operations with the exception of the Four Seasons Resort. All training will take place at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC).
Please take note of the following schedule and be guided accordingly. Because of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols we must adhere to the schedule as set. However, if you are unable to attend at your slotted time period kindly call the Nevis Tourism Authority at 469-7550/1042.
Date: Monday 27th July 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Who should attend?
All those persons who are working or worked at the following establishments prior to April 2020:
Nisbet Plantation
Date: Monday 27th July 2020
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Who should attend?
All those persons who are working or worked at the following establishments prior to April 2020:
Hermitage Plantation Inn
Golden Rock Inn
Montpelier Plantation
Date: Tuesday 28th July 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Who should attend?
All those persons who are working or worked at the following establishments prior to April 2020:
Oualie Beach Resort
Paradise Beach Villas
Date: Tuesday 28th July 2020
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Who should attend?
All those persons who are working or worked at the following establishments prior to the closure of our borders:
Hamilton Beach Villas
Nelson Spring Villas
Nevis Style Realty
Deon & Associates
Date: Wednesday 29th July 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Who should attend?
All those persons who working or worked at the following establishments prior to the closure of our borders:
Nevis Houses / Suzanne Gordon
All Guest Houses
Chiverton Villas
Kay Loomis
Hart of Nevis
Fire Fly Cottage
Zenith Chrishi Beach
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 22, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – As the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues its careful and managed approach to opening up the nation’s borders to visitors, businesses engaged in the tourism and hospitality sectors are being encouraged to rethink the way they do business in order to tap into the local market.
Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, during his appearance on Tuesday (July 21) night’s edition of Leadership Matters, stated that his government continues to take the necessary steps toward restoring the hotel and hospitality sector back to a state of near normalcy during the last quarter of 2020.
“Our next big task is our hotel and hospitality sector. Most persons are optimistic that in good time we will see the place opening up, especially our hotel sector. This is the most challenging since this calls for the opening up of our borders to larger and more regular influx of persons many of whom will be returning from areas which are coronavirus hotspots, meaning the likelihood that they will transmit the virus on arrival is greater,” Dr. Harris said.
In the meantime, the significant relaxation in COVID-19 regulations in the country over time has allowed for citizens and residents to return to some semblance of normalcy with respect to their economic and social lives. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Harris is urging tourism dependent businesses, such as hotels, to begin to offer special services tailored specifically for locals.
“Whether it is catamarans, water sports or other facilities, there is a business opportunity. Even our taxi people have to begin to look at the build out and new range of services. So, it’s not just taking people over to Frigate Bay. You could develop something competitive to take somebody from down the terminal up to the hospital for example or to go shopping, and these are the new areas which people have to think about – how can we earn something in this winter season of the tourism product. Winter in terms of the absence…or the hard difficult period of the tourism sector,” the prime minister said.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister further advised that, “Even as we begin to think about opening, hotels have to build in – and some have already, but perhaps it has to be better promoted – special programmes for families to come and to stay and to make the rates almost giveaway. You lose on the rooms, but you gain through the restaurants and other supports and you keep an activity there that draws other people to come. These are some things that are happening elsewhere.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Ms. Racquel Brown noted that the Ministry of Tourism has met with stakeholders within the sector, particularly those engaged in water-based activities, and held discussions on introducing special rates for locals.
“They do have local rates but I’m sure they are going to look into revising them considering the extension of summer and us not having visitors come to the island internationally or regional,” CEO Brown added.
The hospitality sector, which has essentially been closed since March 2020, is one of the industries impacted hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
]]>