NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 13, 2021) – – The Nevis Island Administration has been given the green light to host Culturama 47.
Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd, Executive Director at the Culturama Secretariat said following several consultations with the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force and Mr. Hilroy Brandy, Commissioner of Police, approval was given on April 12 to host a contracted version of the annual summer festival.
“A number of persons have been calling the Festival Secretariat asking about the staging of Culturama 47. You know because of COVID-19 last year Culturama 46 had to be cancelled, and so early in January we decided that this year we would want to have a festival of some sort.
“The good news is yes, Culturama 47 will be staged this year from July 27 until August 03.
“We would have gotten that green light on Monday and so now we are ready to begin to market and sensitize persons that we will be having a Culturama of some sort in 2021,” he said.
Mr. Liburd explained that while there would be several of the traditional activities, venues have been changed and the number of patrons allowed to attend will be limited. He outlined how the local public in St. Kitts and Nevis and persons overseas can still participate in the festival.
“What we’ll be offering this year however is having the events streamed online, pay per view, so you can enjoy the Culturama festival from the comfort of your home because we want all and sundry to enjoy the Culturama Festival.”
He stressed that all events would be hosted in a COVID-19 compliant environment and the Committee will be adhering to all of the established protocols.
Some of the events for Culturama 47 include the Senior Calypso Monarch Competition, Soca Monarch Competition, Mr. Kool and Miss Culture Swimwear.
In the absence of street activities such as J’ouvert and Parade Day, Mr. Liburd said the Secretariat will host a virtual “Jam where you are J’ouvert” on August Monday.
No fetes will be permitted during the Festival.
The Director said more details about the activities for Culturama 47 will be rolled out in the coming days.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 12, 2020) — Authorities on Nevis say they are managing an increase in the number of persons at COVID-19 quarantine facilities since the re-opening of the St. Kitts and Nevis borders to commercial travel on October 31, 2020.
In an interview with the Department of Information on November 12, 2020, Mr. Brian Dyer, Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD) and Co-Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force, informed that since commercial flights began arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis on November 07, 2020, government quarantine facilities are now at capacity.
“Flights have come into Nevis since border re-opening, so we are dealing with both transfers from St. Kitts and those who come directly into Nevis.
“Of course, those persons go straight into quarantine, so the government quarantine facilities are at capacity at this time. The facilities are being manned by Police and members of the Defence Force so we’ve had no problems or breaches,” he said.
He assured that all COVID-19 protocols are being adhered to with respect to transporting passengers to quarantine facilities. He said only designated taxis that have installed the physical barriers to separate driver and passengers are being used to transport those passengers.
Mr. Dyer issued an appeal to persons wishing to send food and personal items for friends and family members in quarantine, to adhere to the established process and drop off packages at the Disaster Management building ahead of the delivery times.
“I am appealing to persons who may have items to deliver at the centres to bring these items to Disaster Management where we will take care of those packages and deliver at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
“Transportation leaves Disaster Management twice daily, so we ask that you bring the items by 12:45 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. to ensure they can be accommodated,” he said.
For persons living in the St. James’ area wishing to send packages to any of the quarantine sites, special arrangements can be made with Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD) to meet at the Nevis Bakery & Deli in Potworks to have the items collected.
The Nevis COVID-19 Task Force Co-Chair reminded that it is an offence for members of the general public to visit the quarantine sites.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS October 09, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) — With 10 percent of the global population affected by COVID-19, Dr. Judy Nisbett, Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force says Nevis is part of the majority of persons who are at risk worldwide, with only six confirmed cases of the virus.
Dr. Nisbett made the comment at the Nevis COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre Briefing on October 05, 2020, at Long Point, while urging persons on Nevis to use the tools available to keep the island safe.
“We have the tools to keep us safe if we use them. These tools are the preventive measures that are at our disposal. We urge everyone to practise the preventive measures and keep Nevis safe. We are on the verge of opening our borders… There isn’t a vaccine yet, and when there is a vaccine, it is likely that the entire population of St. Kitts and Nevis will not be vaccinated right away, with the more vulnerable of our population being prioritised.
“The preventive tools of social distancing and physical distancing, including crowded areas, washing of hands correctly and frequently, wearing of face masks correctly, covering your nose and your mouth, cleaning high-touch areas often, sneeze and cough etiquette, keeping hands out of your face, staying at home if you are sick with a respiratory illness and call ahead before heading to your health care professional,” she said
Dr. Nisbett also reminded of the need for persons to be disciplined and to practise using the tools at hand to keep all on Nevis safe.
In response to a question raised regarding the use of masks for children, the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force Chair said it is unfortunate there are still school children in public places without masks on.
“It’s really unfortunate that there are children still walking around without masks because this is one of the measures that we have been speaking about for a very long time. We really have to encourage persons to get serious about this including the children.
“We know that children six and under are not required to wear the mask because they might not be able to manage, however, persons who are older than that, they are encouraged to wear the masks. With the opening of the borders this is even more important, and therefore we would have to strengthen our surveillance in that area, and work along with the police in ensuring that this happens,” she said.
According to Dr. Nisbett, persons between the ages of six and 11 should be wearing a mask if they are being supervised.
“If they are walking through town and are not supervised technically, we can’t really do anything about that but once they are in the company of an adult, we expect that they should be wearing their masks,” she said.
The borders of St. Kitts and Nevis are scheduled to reopen on October 31, 2020.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS August 18, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) — The Nevis COVID-19 Task Force hopes to meet with entertainers and persons involved in promotion later this week, as St. Kitts and Nevis moves towards returning some of the civil liberties which were restricted as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
Mr. Brian Dyer, Director at the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD), and Co-Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force spoke of the upcoming meeting during the Task Force’s weekly briefing on August 19, 2020, at the Emergency Operations Centre on Long Point Road.
“Persons who consider themselves promoters or entertainers, you are asked to come to the EOC [Emergency Operations Centre] on Long Point Road for a 2 p.m. meeting [on Thursday October 19, 2020], where we would have discussions with the COVID-19 Task Force both the Nevis Task Force and the Federal Task Force, along with your counterparts on the island of St. Kitts.
“The aim of this meeting is to develop guidelines for the next [Statutory Rules and Regulations] S R and O, when we continue to give back some of the civil liberties that were restricted as a result of the impact of COVID-19,” he said.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS July 21, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) – Beachgoers and persons engaging in sporting activities in Nevis are being commended for adhering to the COVID-19 regulations and protocols.
Superintendent Lyndon David, Divisional Commander of the Nevis Division, Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, in his presentation at the Nevis COVID-19 EOC Briefing on July 20, 2020, credited those persons visiting beaches for maintaining social distancing and not having large gatherings.
“Having made some visits to some of the beaches, I realise there are a number of persons who are trying their best to ensure they comply with the regulations and I would want to say, continue to do so,” he said.
The Nevis COVID-19 Task Force member took the opportunity to remind citizens and residents that there should be no picnics at the beaches, and no parties, especially social gatherings where large groups of persons would be in attendance.
He said that could easily cause the transmission of the COVID-19, which would create a problem in the Federation. Members of the same family are permitted to congregate in small groups when accessing the beach.
Superintendent David further informed that so far there have been no challenges with persons practising sports or conducting sporting exercises, as they have also been largely compliant with the COVID-19 regulations.
“To all sporting organisations, teams, and clubs, continue to ensure your athletes and participants are compliant with the protocols of the regulations,” he said.
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