** Banquet Concludes the Island’s ‘Tourism Month’ Activities **
** Prime Minister Douglas & Top Wyndham Executive make Keynote Speeches **
Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 5, 2008) – Continuing to focus on achieving sustainability in developing the island’s tourism product, St. Kitts has just concluded its annual Tourism Month with a special Awards Banquet held on Saturday, November 1, 2008.
Over 300 local tourism industry stakeholders and guests gathered at the 8th Annual Tourism Awards ceremony to honor businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to St. Kitts’ tourism over the past year. Keynote addresses were given by St. Kitts & Nevis’ own Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and special guest speaker Marco A. Roca, Senior Vice President of Wyndham Worldwide. Both speakers warned of challenging times ahead for the industry in the short term, but expressed confidence that the relative newness and the natural assets of the St Kitts product will continue to attract excitement in the market for the destination even during difficult times.
“The Tourism Awards ceremony is a particularly significant event for St. Kitts because it allows us to recognize those who share our commitment to the growth and development of the island’s tourism industry,” said Mrs. Rosecita Jeffers, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Each outstanding achievement makes an important contribution to the whole as St. Kitts’ tourism product continues to grow and prosper, becoming part of daily life for more and more of our citizens.”
The 8th Annual Tourism Awards Banquet was organized by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and served as the conclusion of St. Kitts’ annual Tourism Month. The Tourism Awards Banquet serves to recognize the outstanding efforts of various island businesses and individuals from both the public and private sectors as well as to encourage the creation of uniquely Kittitian visitor experiences and distinctive service elements that serve to enhance the island’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. This year’s Tourism Awards winners were divided into 10 categories and included-
Category:
Entity/Individual:
1. Tourism Partner of the Year - American Airlines
2. Hotel of the Year - Ottley’s Plantation Inn
3. Restaurant of the Year - Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack
4. Outstanding Cruise Partner of the Year - St. Kitts Scenic Railway
5. Outstanding New Business of the Year - Red Sail Sports
6. Most Creative Business of the Year - Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino’
7. Taxi Service Award of the Year - Raphael Liburd
8. Steward of Our Heritage of the Year - Victoria O’Flaherty
9. Steward of the Environment of the Year - Greg’s Safaris
10. Economic Linkage Promoter of the Year Farmer’s Co-operative Society Lts.
* - Special Recognition Award Robert S. Kelly
Robert S. Kelly, former Director of the New York office of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, was presented with a Special Recognition Award along with a gift from the St. Kitts & Nevis Hotel & Tourism Association in appreciation of his dedicated service to St. Kitts’ tourism for more than twenty years. Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by the Royaltiez Band while poetry and dance added further cultural elements. The event was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
St. Kitts’ Tourism Month is a series of special events and activities held each October with the purpose of increasing public awareness of the importance of tourism to St. Kitts and the various opportunities for individuals in the industry. Tourism Month has grown in importance over the years, as the island has shifted its focus from sugar production to tourism and other service-oriented business as the main economic driver. This year’s Tourism Month activities largely targeted the island’s youth and included a four-day Workshop for small- to medium-sized businesses, an internship program for secondary students, a Tourism Month slogan competition and many more.
Located in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, diverse cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as water sports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.
For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, or visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn.
This Saturday marks an historic occasion for the island of St. Kitts as Prime Minister Denzil Douglas welcomes in the inaugural British Airways service from the UK’s London (Gatwick) airport as it touches down at St. Kitts RLB International Airport at 16.45.With the inaugural flight, British Airways becomes the only carrier to offer a weekly scheduled service from the UK to St. Kitts. [ 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
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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.
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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.
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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 ad-hoc committee set up to review payroll tax is expected to submit its report to the Premier and Minister for Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE within the first half of this year. Making this disclosure yesterday during the third sitting of the second session of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Honourable O’Neal said the committee has been meeting on a regular basis. Once its work is complete, a report will be compiled and referred to Cabinet for a decision to be taken on what [ Read More... ]
The BVITU has donated a total of 75 cots; 25 to the BVI Red Cross, 25 to the Virgin Islands Cadet Corps and 25 to the BVI Department of Disaster Management. The presentation took place on the 23rd December at the BVI Red Cross office. Mrs. Edris O’Neal the Director of the BVI Red Cross accepted on behalf of the Red Cross and stated that the local Red Cross is an organization that depends heavily on donations from individuals and businesses in the community. She thanked the BVITU, [ Read More... ]
Government is reporting a slowdown in the growth of new incorporations in the financial services sector but there is optimism about the future. Premier and Minister for Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE made the disclosure today as he responded to a question posed by the Leader of the Opposition during the third sitting of the second session of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
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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... ]
Mr. Speaker, to date, the Government of the Virgin Islands has paid a total of forty-four million, seven hundred and ninety-three thousand, three hundred and twenty-six dollars and thirty-four cents ($44,793,326.34) to CARIMEX for the New Hospital Project. [ Read More... ]
Mister Speaker plans are in progress to commence the Commission of Enquiry into the alleged evasion of stamp duty on land transfers. To date, the Terms of Reference have been established and discussions are being held with a view of selecting a Commissioner. [ 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.
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