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Friday, January 7th, 2022 The Federation’s Politically Independent News Source Issue #1420
ILLEGAL ENTRY IN BATH S T O R Y O N P A G E 7
STORY ON PAGE 11 ... STORY ON PAGE 3... STORY ON PAGE 9...
QUESTIONS SURROUND PM: CONSTRUCTION TO BRANTLEY: 2022 PROMISES
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS BUILD ECONOMIC GROWTH TO BE EXCITING
CMYK
Page:2 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 LOCAL NEWS
St. Kitts and Nevis
Assumes the
Chairmanship of
the Permanent
Council of the OAS
In a brief virtual inauguration ceremony held on Monday 3rd January,
2022, the Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the
Organization of American States (OAS), H.E. Dr. Everson Hull officially
assumed the Chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council, until March
31, 2022.
The new Chair, H.E. Dr. Hull in his maiden address highlighted some of
the key achievements of St. Kitts and Nevis in recent years noting, “Prior
to the 2020 pandemic… St. Kitts and Nevis, the smallest sovereign state
in the Western Hemisphere acquitted itself with distinction… St. Kitts
and Nevis recorded, in 2018, the third highest level of per capita income
among sovereign states of the Western Hemisphere.”
He further noted that the outstanding performance of St. Kitts and Nevis
was not a result of happenstance, but “the direct result of building eco-
nomic resilience by efficiently managing its budget, living within its
means, and reeling in its outstanding debt load from 136 percent of GDP
in 2010 to an impressive 40.6 percent in 2020, the lowest among OECS
member states.”
While pledging his commitment to Chair the august body for the first
quarter of 2022, H.E. Dr. Hull, stated, “We have to confront our chal-
lenges together and learn from each other… There is much work ahead
to be done.”
He underscored that it is important for the OAS to examine the root
causes, why member countries are “trapped at a low average annual per
capita income level of US$15,727”, noting that this contributes signifi-
cantly to the human capital flight that is being experienced in some parts
of the Western Hemisphere. He stressed, “Performance matters and mat-
ters a great deal.”
He therefore advised, “Performance scorecards on changes in productiv-
ity, changes in income levels, changes in debt ratios, changes in foreign
direct investment and changes in imports of goods and services are criti-
cally important” if the region is to propel forward.
He further emphasized that in the pursuit of democracy, which is a ma-
jor pillar of the OAS, member states must pay keen attention to three
causal factors influencing changes in democracy that have been identi-
fied by the World Bank; 1. Control over Corruption, 2. Political Stability,
and 3. Voice and Accountability. He admonished that these contraction-
ary forces can adversely impact the resilience, which the OAS seeks to
strengthen.
St. Kitts and Nevis will serve as the first of five successive CARICOM
member Chairs over the next 15 months, which is deemed as a unique
opportunity for CARICOM to advance its collective interests at the OAS.
The Permanent Council of the OAS reports directly to the OAS General
Assembly. The Permanent Council keeps vigilance over the mainte-
nance of friendly relations among the member states and for that pur-
pose, effectively assists them in the peaceful settlement of their disputes.
It carries out those decisions of the General Assembly or the Meeting
of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the implementation of
which, has not been assigned to any other body. It also watches over the
standards governing the operation of the General Secretariat.
St. Kitts and Nevis joined the 34-member state Organization of American
States on September 16, 1984.
LOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:3
PM: Construction sector to
drive double-digit growth
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Timothy Harris
By Loshaun Dixon Timothy Harris, who minister said that in this our economy. We have the people. for lower-income
said this is based on regard, the strong sup- budgeted $180.9 mil- groups, we welcome
government’s projec- port given by his admin- lion in capital expendi- “We will need all of and support the mid-
The construction sector tions, and those of inter- istration to agriculture ture for the year 2022.” us working together range and luxury
will be the main driver national agencies. and the construction as partners, and I am developments being
behind the projected sector will continue in He said they will not confident that we shall undertaken with pri-
double-digit growth for “This positive growth is 2022. lose sight of long term deliver more working vate sector partners.”
St Kitts and Nevis in a corollary of the deci- issues confronting the together.”
2022. sion my administration “My government will federation, noting that He said the public-
has taken in fulfilment continue working will the issues of slowing Dr Harris said the private sector partner-
That is according to of the pledge and prom- all stakeholders and en- productivity, growth, planned outlay bodes ship will help them
Prime Minister and ise of a stronger, safer tities to consolidate the climate change and the well for the construc- to achieve the growth
Minister of Finance, Dr future.” The prime continuing recovery of ever-changing global tion sector this year. needed to assist and
financial architecture, create jobs, and gener-
must be considered “This sector by design ate wealth for citizens
and addressed. is one of the pillars of and residents.
the stronger economy.
“Therefore, in 2022, The undertakings of “We have a bright fu-
we will increase our my administration ture filled with new
strategic and direct in this new year will opportunities. We have
investment in our peo- stimulate this impor- always been resilient
ple, into infrastructural tant sector.” and innovative people.
development and insti- It is that innovation
tutional strengthening, He added that in ad- and resilience we must
thereby propelling our dition to building and continue to employ in
country towards the repairing public infra- the face of the current
achievement of our de- structure, the govern- challenges. It is what
velopment goals.” ment will facilitate we need to find niches
several housing and and opportunities for
He urged the full sup- infrastructure projects. our continued ad-
port of the private sec- vancement, despite liv-
tor in order to deliver an “While the NHC con- ing with COVID-19.”
even stronger econom- tinues to strive for big-
ic growth scorecard for ger and better housing
Page:4 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 LOCAL NEWS
EDITORIAL West Indies
The reschedule Tour to
monumental South Africa ahead
struggle of ICC Women’s
Cricket World Cup
continues West Indies Women’s team will play has been a lot of hard work and col-
four One-Day International (ODI) laboration with our friends at Cricket
There has never been doubt or any measure of ambiguity in our position against South Africa Women in South Africa regarding this tour and
with respect to vaccination. From the beginning, we have made it clear Johannesburg from January 28 to we are very pleased that we have
that the advice and guidance provided by reputable scientists and health February 6 as part of their preparations been able to confirm this rescheduled
experts should not be ignored. for the ICC Women’s Cricket World ODI Series, allowing us to play vital
Cup. Ahead of the first ODI West high-level international competition
The dawning of 2022 has seen an increasing number of Covid-19 cases, Indies will have a warm-up match and complete preparations ahead of
with the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant creating a against a South Africa XI on January the ICC Women’s Cricket World
greater sense of urgency worldwide. The numbers are staggering. 25. Cup. We are extremely grateful to
both CSA’s and CWI’s operational
Many countries are returning to dreaded lockdowns and stringent pro- Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket and medical teams for their efforts
tocols are reemerging. Business activity in several countries has been South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday in confirming the schedule and we
restricted. confirmed a revised schedule as both look forward to an exciting ODI
teams finalize preparations for the ICC series.’’
In the United States, for example, major airlines this week cancelled Women’s Cricket World Cup to be
thousands of flights, public transit systems in New York and Washington played in New Zealand from March 4West Indies Women’s Head Coach
curtailed service because of staffing shortages, and professional sports Courtney Walsh said: “This tour
to April 3, 2022. West Indies Women
schedules were upended. were previously scheduled to play will give us a chance to get some
cricket in before the World Cup es-
three (3) T20 Internationals and five
Economic recovery, even with the most optimistic predictions, remains (5) One Day Internationals againstpecially since we have played less
vulnerable to the coronavirus’s unpredictable trajectory. South African Women from January cricket than than anticipated fol-
lowing the cancellation of the ICC
15 to February 6. All matches in South
Medical Chief of Staff at the JNF Hospital, Dr Cameron Wilkinson, has Women’s World Cup Qualifier in
Africa will be played in a bio-secure
again restated the obvious. He has had to do so because there are still too Zimbabwe. This tour will show us
environment at the historic Imperial
many undecided minds that are in essence complicating the efforts to get Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg,exactly what we need to fine-tune
a grip on this wearying challenge. before departing for New Zealand,
a venue close to the teams’ hotel which
so that when we get there we can
has been secured for exclusive use due
“One of the things that we’ve said all along is that the Federation of St. to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. hit the ground running and give a
Kitts and Nevis is not immune to what is happening around the globe, proper showing of ourselves on the
and so we said right here that a fourth wave was inevitable; that it was CWI CEO Johnny Grave said, “There world stage.”
only a matter of time before the Omicron variant came here, and the best
defence we have is to get vaccinated.”
That statement from Dr Wilkinson can be applied to most if not all coun-
tries, but he is speaking to his people, and it’s about time that his people
stop dragging their feet on this issue.
The Federation’s Politically Independent News Source
If the hardships and restrictions haven’t sent a clear message that things
are different, and that we need to all be on the same page to reverse St. Kitts Nevis
course effectively, then we can only surmise that selfishness has become POB 657, Lower Market Street #1 Observer Plaza, Observer Drive
an overwhelming part of the general psyche. Basseterre, St. Kitts, W.I. Charlestown, Nevis, W.I.
Tel.: (869) 466-4994 Tel.: (869) 469-5907
It boggles the mind that there has been so much resistance to life-saving Fax: (869) 466-4995 Fax: (869) 469-5891
advice. Yes, advice not instruction or demand. There has never been one Email:observsk@sisterisles.kn Email: observnv@sisterisles.kn
word expressed in anger about the importance of us all getting vacci-
nated. It has basically been two years of cajoling.
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Kenneth Williams
These are not our parents laying down the law. These are people who Website: newstkittsnevisobserver.com
know the possibly dire consequences of being unprepared, and are beg-
ging those who do not, to take precautionary steps.
Editorial Policy: The Observer reserves the right to edit, rewrite, summa-
We at The Observer will not relent in spreading the message. It is our rise or reject any unsolicited material. We will assume that all letters ad-
responsibility. Get yourself vaccinated. Encourage your family, friends dressed to The Observer or its staff are intended for publication unless oth-
and neighbours who have not done so to get vaccinated. erwise stated. Letter writers are required to sign their names and are asked
to include a telephone number to allow verification. Views expressed in
We thought that by now we would not have to implore for better judg- letters, commentaries or personal columns do not necessarily represent the
ment to prevail, but the circumstances indicate differently. It’s a new viewpoint of this newspaper. Limit submissions to 1000 words
year, but the monumental struggle continues.
LOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:5
HPU launches
vaccination
campaign and raffle
By Monique Washington aiming to do, is have referring others that are
persons encourage their not vaccinated must be
friends or their family fully vaccinated”.
The Nevis Health members to get vacci-
Promotion Unit (HPU) nated. We know that She said that the person
has launched its “Let’s the vaccine provides referring and the referral
Get Vaxxed referral another level of pro- must fill out a form and
drive” and “Let’s Get tection, along with the sign it, and they will be
Vaxxed campaign” non-pharmaceutical entered into the raffle.
which target both adults measures that we have She added that there
and children who have been practising such as are some terms and
not been vaccinated mask usage, sanitizing, conditions. The raffle
against COVID-19 as distancing, proper ven- began in December and
yet. tilation, those things are will end in February.
important.” The second aspect,
Speaking with dubbed the “Let’s Get
The Observer on She noted that vacci- Vaxxed campaign” tar-
Wednesday, Programme nation is an additional gets youth from 12-21.
Coordinator in the HPU tool that can be used to She revealed that since
of the Nevis Island protect oneself against December 21, 2021,
Administration, Nadine the various COVID-19 there have been 1,298
Carty-Caines, high- variants that are out youth vaccinated, and
lighted the aim of the there. pointed out that indi-
recently launched cam- viduals between the
paigns, firstly explain- Carty-Caines revealed ages of 12-17 must
ing the referral drive. there will be a raffle, have parents’ consent.
“Basically what we are and “the person who is She also highlighted
Programme Coordinator in the Nevis Health Promotion Unit, Nadine Carty-Caines
the rules for the raffle. it is important that we much of these infec-
increase our reach in tious diseases that are
“Once they have had terms of offering this. prominent in other
their second dose then countries.
they will enter into a “We hope persons can
raffle. There will be six see the importance “The federation’s vac-
draws and each draw of the vaccine. It of- cination status is a
will allow someone to fers protection against very strong one, and it
win.” severe COVID-19 is an opportunity for us
and hospitalization. It to keep that going, and
The items that will be does not prevent you keep the population
raffled are a smart- from catching it if you protected.”
phone or tablet of are not practising the
their choice, air pods non-pharmaceutical She said clinics in
or galaxy pods, smart- measures. It is an ad- Nevis are open Monday
watch, laptop, Xbox/ ditional boost to your to Fridays from 8am
PlayStation, Amazon immune system,” she -4pm to offer the vac-
gift cards and a 60- said cine, and “we recom-
inch smart TV. mend that you call
She added that vac- ahead to let them know
The Programme cines have been given that you are coming”.
Coordinator under- in the federation for a
scored the impor- number of years. “Hopefully we will get
tance of youth being persons to get vacci-
vaccinated. “We have had the vari- nated, and increase the
ous types of vaccines protection of all of our
“They are out there. in our community. We citizens here on Nevis,
They are in the school have a very strong vac- and by extension St
setting. They are at risk cination program. That Kitts.”
just like an adult, and is why you don’t see
Page:6 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 LOCAL NEWS
U19 World Cup
bowls off in SKN
this weekend
By Loshaun Dixon at Conaree. Tuesday players tested posi-
will feature Zimbabwe tive for Covid-19 on
versus Bangladesh Monday, before arriv-
Warm-up games in at Warner Park and ing here, and are now
the 2022 ICC U19 Pakistan against self-isolating.
Men’s World Cup will Canada at Sandy Point.
bowl off in St Kitts Zimbabwe Cricket
this weekend with Wednesday will see the confirmed the posi-
games at Warner Park, final warm-ups in St tive results after PCR
the Conaree Cricket Kitts, with Afghanistan tests were admin-
Centre and Sandy Point versus the UAE at istered, and said all Warm-up games in the 2022 ICC U19 Men’s World Cup will bowl off in St Kitts this
Recreational Ground. Sandy Point and players who tested weekend
England facing Papua positive were “well and
The first warm-up New Guinea at Warner asymptomatic”. the ICC Under-19 Ireland bounced back to the final of the previous
games will be played on Park. Men’s Cricket World triumph in the fourth. edition in 2020.
Sunday, with Pakistan “They are now self- Cup 2022 proper gets
facing Bangladesh The group games in isolating and will be underway.” The World Cup will see Zimbabwe are in
at Warner Park and St Kitts will bowl off re-tested before they the top two teams from Group C alongside
Zimbabwe taking on January 15 with games can join the rest of The Zimbabwean each of the four groups Afghanistan, Pakistan
Canada at Conaree. at Warner Park and the squad in St Kitts squad took part in a advance to the Super and Papua New Guinea
Conaree. and Nevis where the four-match Under-19 League, while the re-
On Monday, England team will face Canada series with their Irish maining teams feature The tournament will
will go up against The teams that will fea- and Bangladesh in counterparts which in the Plate competition. be held from January
Afghanistan at Warner ture in St. Kitts started official warm-up ended on Sunday, with 14-February 5. Matches
Park, while Papua New arriving on January 2. matches scheduled Zimbabwe winning Bangladesh are the will also be held in
Guinea will face the for 9 and 11 January 3-1. Zimbabwe won the defending champions, Trinidad, St Kitts,
United Arab Emirates Four Zimbabwean at Basseterre before first three games before having beaten India in Guyana and Antigua.
LOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:7
Haitians detained after
unsuccessful illegal entry
File photo of a previous illegal entry in St Kitts
By Monique Washington Village. According to a press in quarantine.” The press re- By air, it is more difficult for are involved locally “she
release from the police on lease also revealed that the persons to enter. said. She emphasized that
Wednesday, “later that same captain and mate of the vessel any person found harboring
Almost two dozen Haitian day (Jan 2), seventeen na- are still at large. Bartlette said that they have illegal migrants will be ar-
migrants were caught this tionals of Haiti comprising been unsuccessful in find- rested and charged.
past week in Nevis illegally eleven males, four females The Observer spoke with ing the people on the ground
and have been placed in quar- and two juveniles were taken Senior Immigration Officer that are involved in trying When questioned as to what
antine, with the next steps to into Police custody and are in on Nevis, Sergeant Paulette to get the migrants into the will happen to the Haitian
be determined. quarantine. The vessel, which Bartlette, who said that ille- country. detainees, Bartlette said “we
does not bear a name, was gal entry into Nevis’s borders cannot say yet. The investi-
On Sunday, January 2, the also seized. happens “a lot”. “No one is talking, and it gation is still ongoing.”
Police were alerted that is making it difficult. That
several persons entered the “Following an operation con- “It happens more than twice is why we need the help Individuals with informa-
Federation via Nevis ille- ducted on a home in Nelson’s a year. Our borders are open of everybody. If you know tion about the latest incident
gally, on a vessel that ran Spring on January 3, an addi- ,and persons come in anytime something say something. or the whereabouts of the
aground at Bath Village. tional seven persons – two na- of the day. It is a problem that Someone might be afraid to additional persons of inter-
tionals of St. Kitts and Nevis we have been having dealing talk to the police, but there est are asked to contact the
Last year a similar situation and five nationals of Haiti, with for a while,” she said. must be someone in im- Charlestown Police Station
occurred in St Kitts, when a two of whom currently reside migration, the government, by dialing 469-5391, the
number of Haitian nationals in the Federation – were also She noted that the illegal en- that they trust, and can tell nearest Police Station or the
were apprehended in Keys taken into custody and placed try happens mostly by sea. who these people are who Crime Hotline at 707.
Page:8
Page:12 The St.Kitts
The St.Kitts Nevis Observer
Observer -- Friday
Friday January 7th,10th,
September 2021 2021 ADVERTISEMENT
LOCAL NEWS
NewS
ST KITTS-NEVIS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
CoNCEPT To
CrEaTioN
A strong CBI Programme aims to:
• Create job opportunities
• Upgrade the interior airport terminal building
• Complete the construction of the Old Road Bay realignment project
• Install a new runway and lighting at the RLB International Airport
• Construct more hotels
• Construct better roads
• Construct the bus terminals
• Complete the second cruise pier
Prosperity for our country, a bright future for our people. ciu.gov.kn
CMYK
LOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:9
Brantley: 2022
promises to
be exciting
By Monique Washington School was completed; and
ground was broken for hous-
ing developments ii Mountain
Premier of Nevis Mark View Crescent, Sugar Mill
Brantley has promised devel- Residence, Chimney View
opment in health, education, Residences, Bay View
housing and medicine among Residences and Cedar View
other things for 2022. Housing Phase Three.
During his New Year’s Day The Premier disclosed that
address, the Nevisian Premier in 2022, the Gingerland
highlighted some of his ad- Secondary School TVET
ministration’s accomplish- Centre as well as the
ments in the year just ended, Alexandra Hospital Wing
and plans for the current one. will be opened, with the
hospital unveiling a new
“The year 2021 was the year CT scan machine. He said
of grand opening ceremonies there will also be the com- Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley
and unprecedented infrastruc- missioning of a 250,000-gal-
tural projects. 2022 promises lon glass fused steel-coated of the affairs of Nevis. We frontline workers, security a need for doctors, nurses,
to be just as exciting and per- storage tank at the Pond Hill will continue to give focused forces, teachers, farmers, nurses’ aides, bio techni-
haps even more so,” he said. Reservoir; the Charlestown attention to the island’s phys- fisherfolk, public and private cians, physical therapists,
Secondary School will have ical and economic infrastruc- sector – whose collective ef- public health educators,
He noted that in 2021, the a bigger TVET project; over ture, including road repairs, forts ensured that our coun- emergency response person-
CCTV Command Centre 100 homes will be built in and the improvement and try registered growth and is nel, and mental health prac-
and Malcolm Guishard different parts of Nevis, and expansion of our water and moving towards a sustained titioners, to be trained at the
Recreational Park opened; the long-awaited dreams of electricity supply.” path of recovery and resur- highest levels.
the NIA acquired two PCR geothermal energy “will be gence during this challenging
testing machines; installed realized”. Brantley also lauded Nevis’s period”. Brantley said that “We will intensify our ef-
a water tank at Hamilton, frontline workers whom for 2022 his government is forts in providing an educa-
along with a water filtration “I give the commitment that he said “made significant committed to providing the tion and health care system
system boosting the water my government will continue sacrifices” in the interest necessary support to the unequalled and unmatched
supply; the TVET centre at to be faithful to the prudent of the country during the health care resources. He in the region,” he assured.
the Gingerland Secondary and transparent management COVID-19 pandemic, “our said that currently there is
CMYKPage:10 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT
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thesknobserver@yahoo.comLOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:11
Questions remain whether
schools can open Monday
By Loshaun Dixon Ministry of Education
will be given guid-
ance by the Ministry
With schools scheduled of Health to determine
to reopen on Monday, when schools will
questions still remain reopen.
as to whether it can
be done safely, with “The Ministry of
COVID-19 cases rap- Health has already
idly increasing again indicated that keeping
in St Kitts and Nevis. schools closed will be
the last resort.
Schools have been
closed for Christmas It is anticipated that
since early December, the Ministry of Health
and are supposed to will soon advise if we
reopen for the second should proceed to open
term of the school school on Monday.”
year on Monday.
Hodge said they have
Permanent Secretary to provide additional
in the Ministry of guidance to principals,
Education, William and encouragement to
Hodge, noted that insist they enforce the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, William Hodge
schools are set to be- wearing of masks by
gin on Monday, but the students.
given the prevailing the distance.” School (BHS) and the are not going home at the end of the term.
situation with the num- “We are asking them Washington Archibald to do work online or Last week Medical
ber of positive cases to insist on these, and He said that the High School (WAHS) anything. “We don’t Chief of Staff at the
trending upwards, the where possible keep Basseterre High will continue on the want that for our stu- JNF Hospital, Dr
shift system started in dents, we want them Cameron Wilkinson,
the first term. in school full time.” said the best way to
keep schools open
“We have already giv- He said it was also im- is to have students
en clearance to those portant to get students protected.
principals that we will vaccinated, noting
bring those students “the percentage is re- “The answer to keep-
back full time with ally low”. ing our schools open
the situation as it is. is to have the children
We will have to say He added that the properly protected,
the shift system will Ministry of Education and the best protection
continue. is continuing its is the vaccine. The
awareness campaign clinics are open, and
“With higher vac- in light of school op- so I encourage persons
cinations rates, we erations during the to get vaccinated.
will be able to say pandemic
Washington Archibald “One of the things that
High School should “The Ministry of we’ve said all along is
be able to bring back Education urges the that the Federation of
their students. This public to pay close St. Kitts and Nevis is
cannot happen with attention to bulletins not immune to what is
low vaccination rates published by the EMU, happening around the
in face of spiralling as well as addresses globe, and so we said
active cases.” made by the Minister. right here that a fourth
With the daily increase wave was inevitable;
Hodge said he was of active cases of the that it was only a mat-
concerned about the coronavirus, the act of ter of time before the
two secondary schools school opening is on Omicron variant came
continuing on the shift everyone’s mind.” here, and the best de-
system, and the loiter- fence we have is to get
ing of those students In Term Two, sched- vaccinated.”
around Basseterre. uled to begin in
January 10 and con- This past week COVID
“Too many of the clude to April 1, teach- cases in St Kitts and
students from both ers will be required to Nevis have swollen
WAHS and BHS are meet for a few days to to well over 600, after
around town for part bring up to date their health authorities an-
of the day because registers, report cards nounced the presence
they have already and all other records of the Omicron variant
done their shift. They that ought to be done last week.Page:12 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT
LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 Page:13
St Kitts Tourism Authority has a new CEO
By Loshaun Dixon partnerships; and stake- Directors of the St. Kitts
holder communication. Tourism Authority, said
The St Kitts Tourism According to the SKTA, Thompson brings more
Authority (SKTA) Thompson will focus than three decades of
has appointed Ellison on leisure and cruise, Caribbean tourism
“Tommy” Thompson as two perennially high- sales and marketing
its new CEO, to succeed performing areas for experience, including
Racquel Brown, who tourism to St. Kitts. a deep knowledge of
resigned with effect He will also prioritize marketing Bahamas’
December 31 last. the romance and MICE outer islands.
markets, with the goal
The SKTA announced of increasing tourism’s “He has proven suc-
the appointment of Mr economic benefits cess increasing leisure
Thompson who will across the island. travel, expanding key
lead international mar- industry relationships,
keting efforts for the He will begin his tenure and implementing cre-
destination, with a fo- on Monday, January 10. ative global market-
cus on trade and airline ing campaigns. We are
relationships; earned, Nick Menon, Chairman thrilled to have his ex-
paid and owned media; of the Board of pertise at the helm of
New CEO of the St Kitts Tourism Authority, Ellison Thompson
the Tourism Authority.” “looking forward to and Latin America, and
developing and imple- oversaw campaigns tar-
Minister of Tourism menting creative strate- geting consumers, tour
Lindsay Grant said Mr gies that will increase operators and wholesal-
Thompson’s experience St. Kitts’ visibility in ers, travel agents and
working with tourism our key source markets, airlines.
ministries and destina- put St. Kitts into the
tion marketing entities, consideration set for Mr Thompson has
make him the premier travellers, and ultimate- also held a number
choice to lead the St. ly drive bookings”. of other positions for
Kitts Tourism Authority. both The Bahamas
Most recently, Mr Ministry of Tourism
“We are confident that Thompson served and The Bahamas
under his leadership, as Deputy Director- Tourist Offices in the
we will continue driv- General of The UK. He has additional
ing high demand for the Bahamas Ministry of experience managing
destination among air Tourism. In this role, visitor relations, cruise
and cruise passengers he developed global development, product
as part of tourism’s con- marketing strategies development, and sales
tinuous rebound.” for the Ministry, with representation.
a focus on the Family
Speaking about the Islands, Grand Bahama Mr Thompson will re-
appointment, Mr Island, and niche mar- place Ms. Brown, who
Thompson said St. Kitts ket promotions. has held the position
is an emerging destina- since 2013, and played
tion with tremendous He also led the sales a big role in the revolu-
potential to excite teams in the United tionizing of the tourism
travellers from around States, Canada and sector in St Kitts and
the world, and he is Europe, as well as Asia Nevis.Page:14 The St.Kitts Nevis Observer - Friday January 7th, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT
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