.jpg) Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 25, 2004): The Youth Department is being praised for contributing to the development of the 160 children attending the Summer Residential Camp.
Camp Director Dave Connor said the educational classes offered at the camp including computer, mas making, cultural drumming, taekwondo and others have had a beneficial impact on the participants. Regional integration has also been stressed at the camp.
The camper’s progress was evident at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort last Friday, during the camp banquet, which was highlighted by Kidz Talk. This session allowed representatives from the various dorms (named after CARICOM countries) to engage in candid discussions with Ministers Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin and Hon. Rupert Herbert. Permanent Secretary Lloyd Lazar, Ian Naismith and Renee DiGulio of the Naismith International Basketball Foundation (NIBF) and Camp Director Dave Connor also sat on .jpg) the panel.
Ms. Alisha Joseph, 12, of dorm Guyana was the first interviewer. She set the tone for the evening by asking the definition of regional integration and what the benefits are for St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mr. Lazar gave a basic explanation of integration and used the camp to give an example of what regional integration could achieve. He noted that the concept in action brought together Ian Naismith from Canada, Renee DiGulio and two other attendees from the United States as well as campers from Jamaica and St. Lucia who joined the participants from St. Kitts and Nevis.
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin stressed the benefits. “In the Caribbean, in the fight against AIDS, we have ... OECS member states coming together … to purchase drugs at a minimal cost. That is a benefit that accrues to persons who are suffering.”
The minister also touched on free movement and summed up her presentation with a word of reassurance. “Life will be easier for us if we consider ourselves (Caribbean people) as one family. As members of one common family we all know that we have to look out for the needs of each member.”
Other areas discussed at Kidz Talk addressed; how tourism will be impacted by the CSME, the impact of the Cricket World Cup on youths, why the WNBA is not as popular as the NBA, the continued involvement of the NIBF in the camp and plans for next year’s event?
Mr. Naismith told SKNIS that he was pleased with the debut of the forum. He mentioned that the event, which is also held in Illinois, USA, has had tremendous success and will return again (in St. Kitts) next year.
The NIBF founder applauded the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sport for organizing the camp and pledged continued support from his organization. He further credited John Toti and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort for sponsoring the banquet and treating the campers as paying customers.
The Kidz Talk session was recorded and will be broadcasted on ZIZ Radio and Television.
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