FirstCaribbean International Bank has announced the appointment of Clovis Metcalfe, a 35 year veteran of the bank, to the role of Managing Director in Jamaica. Clovis, replaces current MD, Milton Brady, who has been appointed to FirstCaribbean’s Executive Management Committee as Managing Director, Corporate Investment Banking. Mr. Metcalfe’s appointment takes effect from January 1st 2009. As well as overseeing the bank’s day-to-day operations in Jamaica, Mr. Metcalfe will play a key role in managing the  [ Read More... ]

FORMER Senator and agriculturist Alpheus Michael ‘Mickey’ Roberts died on Wednesday, December 2008. According to The St. Kitts-Nevis Democrat, Roberts was a stalwart of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) “who chose the Party as his avenue to be servant of his beloved St. Kitts and Nevis and, through this, was able to serve with distinction as a senator in the Federal Parliament”. Roberts served the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Federal Parliament from 1993 to 1995 and, as stated by The Democrat,  [ Read More... ]

DESPITE the cost associated with subsidising Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas, the government has taken the decision to continue, thus providing continued relief to consumers’ pockets. “Taking into account the need to continue to protect the poor and to control the cost of living in a time of global financial crisis, Cabinet took a decision not to remove or reduce the subsidy on LPG.” The January 5, 2009 post-Cabinet Briefing informs that Cabinet reviewed an  [ Read More... ]

SOME 20 visitors from Holland aboard a cruise ship, STAD AMSTERDAM, were in Nevis yesterday (Jan. 6) and expressed their excitement about visiting the island and the friendliness exuded by its residents. The ship’s captain, Cosmo Wassenaar, said STAD AMSTERDAM is navigated in an environmentally friendly way that minimises carbon emissions. He also informed that the visitors are on a Caribbean cruise and had arrived on St. Kitts and Nevis from St. Maarten. Wassenaar is of the view that Nevis is a very  [ Read More... ]

WITH a view to implementing proposals emanating from the National Consultation on Crime held last month, Cabinet gave ear to recommendation for the implementation of a task force during its most recent convening. Minister of State with responsibility for Education, Youth Affairs, Labour, Social Security, Information and Technology, the Hon. Nigel Carty, in presenting the January 5, 2009 post-Cabinet briefing said the proposal for the establishment of a task force was made by the Minister of National Security  [ Read More... ]

THE office of the Federal Ombudsman is now open for business and Kittitians and Nevisians with legitimate concerns now have an outlet to express their problems. His Excellency Walford Gumbs, a former Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, was appointed the Federation’s first-ever Ombudsman in August 2008. Gumbs officially assumed the position in October with his formal appointment by the Governor-General acting upon the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Federal Opposition.  [ Read More... ]

AFTER careful assessment, the government has concluded that the 2008/09 Carnival Festivities have been a success.According to the Post-Cabinet Briefing presented by Minister of State the Hon. Nigel Carty on Monday, January 5, 2009, Cabinet met on the same day and took the opportunity to make a general   [ Read More... ]

SPEAKING yesterday (Jan. 6) St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas said that his message to the youth for the new year is to “remain focused and to make use of the opportunities which are being provided for them”. “I think to a large extent our young people are challenged. There are several distractions and that is why I stress remaining focused,” Douglas said on his weekly radio program “Ask the Prime Minister”. Staying focused upon personal goals is a vital component to avoiding the distractions of drugs, violence and gangs, D  [ Read More... ]

SIX weeks of giveaways in the LIME Christmas Promotion came to an end yesterday (Jan. 6) at the company’s flagship store on Cayon Street, adding two more locals to the US $1 million draw. In this week’s final draw, Marilyn Liburd, owner of Lyn’s MiniMart located at Central Fiennes Avenue and Sharmaine Simmonds of Nevis were the lucky channel vendors, winning EC $500 each. Luck was definitely on Liburd’s side when she won the grand prize of EC $5000 in the final Channel Vendors Draw, which consisted of the 12 winning vendors  [ Read More... ]

Civil servants have been called upon to serve the public in a professional manner and that sloppiness and indiscipline will not be tolerated. Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in his first “Ask the Prime Minister” radio programme on Tuesday challenged the officers to discharge their duties with humility.   [ Read More... ]

The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) wasted no time in setting about its pledge to reduce the island’s debt and control public spending for 2009. In a press statement issued on Tuesday January 6, 2009, Chief Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Laurie Lawrence stated that the NIA was seeking to lead by example and has invested in technology through the use of a Cash and Call Accounting system.  [ Read More... ]

The closure of the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis is being seen as a blow to tourism St. Kitts and Nevis. Federal Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt said the closure will “hurt the federation in several ways,” including fewer visitors on the ground spending. Senator Skerrit told BBC Caribbean that St. Kitts and Nevis would also be hurt because a percentage of the visitors were arriving on international airlift that the government had contracted with airlines like British Airways to supply.  [ Read More... ]

THOUGH the world is currently facing gross economic and financial decline expected to continue through most of 2009, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino has reconfirmed its commitments to weather the storm and ensure the continued contributions of the hotel to the nation.General Manager of the Resort Flor van der Vaart told SKNVibes that 2008 started as a very fruitful year for the hotel primarily due to the hurricane impact on Mexico resulting in its business being diverted to the other islands.   [ Read More... ]

DAYRON ROBLES, Cuba’s 110m Hurdles Olympic Gold medalist and world record holder in the event, recently informed Cuban media that he doesn’t see “any limit” for his 2009 season. Though Robles had an astoundingly strong season in 2008 on the World Indoor Circuit, capturing nearly all of the fastest times at the events he competed in, he told Periodico26 that his failure to capture the gold in the 60m Hurdles at the World Indoor Championship spurs him on to train even harder for the new year. “I will be trying for a perfect  [ Read More... ]

West Indies captain Chris Gayle has indicated that Wednesday’s encounter against New Zealand will be a crucial part in the five-match One-Day Series. Speaking ahead of the match at Westpac Stadium, Wellington Gayle noted that his team is focusing on taking a 2-0 lead, with two matches remaining. “You could say this is sort of a final. If we win, we go 2-0 and that would put a lot of pressure on New Zealand. That’s what we are aiming for,” Gayle said. “We have confidence and we have momentum. But we are not over-confident,  [ Read More... ]

FORMER calypso monarch of St. Kitts, Ellie Matt said he is prepared to enter any calypso competition with anyone, including the four-peat National Calypso Monarch King Konris, and hopes it could become a reality soonest. The legendary calypsonian, whose real name is Elston Nero, said the young phenomenon [Konris Maynard] is boastful and that his competition was light because some of the big names in calypso were not in the 2008/09 Finals. “His idea of calypso does not sit well with me. His father can’t beat me and his uncle couldn’t beat me,”  [ Read More... ]

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Department of Education hosted a one-day Teachers’ Professional Development Day on Monday at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College which was greatly supported.Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Andrew Fahie acknowledged the huge turnout of principals and teachers and saluted them for their effort, dedication and determination to succeed as a lot was accomplished in the last school term. “There is always room for improvement but we did well”, Mr. Fahie said.  [ Read More... ]

VENEZUELA has ordered the expulsion of Israeli Ambassador to Caracas Shlomo Cohen in protest at Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. According to BBC News, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry released a statement ordering the expulsion of Cohen and some of his staff. Venezuela is the first country to take such a diplomatic step in protest at the violence in Gaza and President Hugo Chavez has strongly condemned Israel for its actions, deeming their invasion “an act of barbarism”.  [ Read More... ]

The quintessence of Ms. Donella Dias is captured in the unique blend of her charisma, intelligence, poise and wit. Born on May 20th 1984 to Daniel O’Garro and Shirley Dias, this Kittitian beauty has cherished her family life, having had the pleasure of growing up in a large family, with seven (7) brothers and six (6) sisters.