Current Events

• Commemoration of the V Inter-American Week for the People of African Descent in the Americas.
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Wednesday March 16, 2022
  
  The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States is commemorating the V Inter American Week for the People of African Descent in the Americas under the theme "Stories of Courage in the Americas: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism".
  
  The OAS Office in St Kitts and Nevis will be showcasing Artwork in keeping with the theme to bring awareness to the people in St Kitts and Nevis.
• Signing of Documents for the Implementation of the Development Cooperation Fund
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Wednesday September 15, 2021
  
  The Signing Ceremony for the Implementation of the Development Cooperation Fund was held at the OAS Office in St Kitts and Nevis. The documents were signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Entrepreneurship and the Administrative Assistant in the OAS Office St Kitts and Nevis.
• Establishment of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in CARICOM Member States
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Monday November 26, 2018
  
  The Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), through the Department of Economic Development (DED) of the Organization of American States (OAS), in collaboration with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis - launched Phase II of the project, "Establishment of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in CARICOM Member States", on Friday, November 16, 2018 in Basseterre, St Kitts.
  
  Ms Rene Penco in the Department of Economic Development of the OAS, gave brief remarks and the Honorable Lindsay Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs gave the Feature Address at the Launch.
• Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC)
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Monday November 26, 2018
  
  The Department of Legal Cooperation, Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), conducted an on-site visit to St Kitts and Nevis to "Follow-up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC).
  
  The group of OAS Experts consulted with Government officials and civil society organizations during the period October 16-18, 2018.
• OAS SPONSORED ARTISANAL PRODUCERS WORKSHOP
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Monday October 29, 2018
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) Office in St Kitts and Nevis was invited by the Ministry of Tourism to attend the opening ceremony of the OAS Sponsored Artisanal Producers Project workshop, entitled “Achieving Market Access for Niche Artisanal Producers”; at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI), Fortlands, Basseterre, on Thursday, October 25, 2018.
  The artisans and entrepreneurs, at the end of the workshop would have acquired the skills and knowledge as to how to improve their products and manage their businesses.
  In accepting the invitation to the opening ceremony of the Artisanal Producers workshop; the OAS Staff in the St Kitts and Nevis Office, thought it was useful. The participants, presenters and other stakeholders became aware of the existence and purpose of the Organization of American States, as it is currently celebrating its 70th Anniversary (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019).
  The Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Tourism, said in her remarks that, “As a Ministry we are pleased and proud to be endorsing and hosting yet another workshop for our artisans; this time in collaboration with the OAS (a round of applause for the OAS who is this year celebrating 70 years of existence and service to the people of the Caribbean and the Americas). The OAS is also fully invested in people development and empowerment and did not hesitate when asked to support this initiative. Ms Seaton, please convey our heartfelt thanks for the kind assistance received for this project.”
  Attached are two photographs taken at the Artisanal Producers workshop, held Tuesday, October 25, 2018.
  
• CLARENCE FITZROY BRYANT COLLEGE'S (CFBC'S) "INTERNATIONAL STUDY FAIR"
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Monday October 29, 2018
  
  The Organization of American States’ (OAS’) Office in St Kitts and Nevis responded positively and enthusiastically to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College’s (CFBC’s) request to participate in its (CFBC’s) “International Study Fair”, held at the College’s Main Campus, Burdon Street, Basseterre, St Kitts on October 23, 2018.
  The “International Study Fair” targeted the hundreds of annual High School/Secondary School graduates – the potential college cohort.
  For its part, the OAS Staff in St Kitts and Nevis had an information booth and kept it manned by said staff who interacted, over the course of the day’s event, with the various students, teachers and other interested stakeholders.
  The information, exhibits and dialogues tended primarily to focus on the origins and nature of the involvement of the OAS in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis; kind and process of scholarships disbursed to date and opportunities for the future; and the fact that the OAS is currently celebrating 70 years of existence (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019).
  All in all, the OAS St Kitts and Nevis Staff indicated that, “the outreach proved useful to both students and the OAS, especially in light of the 70th Anniversary celebrations now taking place.”
  
• OAS INTER AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION (CICAD) SEMINAR
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Wednesday April 11, 2018
  
  OAS/CICAD in collaboration with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis hosted a national seminar on the control of chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs and synthetic drugs/NPS identification, investigations and interdiction for the officers in St Kitts and Nevis from April 3-5, 2018.
• CAREER COLLEGE HEALTH EXPO
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Thursday March 1, 2018
  
  The OAS Office in St Kitts and Nevis participated in a Career College Expo, under the theme, "Opening Doors, Creating Opportunities Through Service and Empowerment", organized by the Department of Labor of the Government of St Kitts and Nevis on February 23, 2018 at the Independence Square in Basseterre, St Kitts.
  
  The Office in St Kitts and Nevis took the opportunity to promote the OAS Sponsored Scholarships offered by the Organization.
• OAS DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FUND (OAS/DCF)
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Tuesday April 3, 2018
  
  The Staff at the General Secretariat of the OAS Office in St Kitts and Nevis witnessed the Signing of the OAS Development Cooperation Fund (OAS/DCF) Program on Education 2017-2021 Agreement on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the local Office.
• OAS INTER AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION (CICAD)
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Tuesday February 27, 2018
  
  OAS through its Executive Secretariat of the Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) in partnership with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, the European Union (EU), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convened a regional workshop, entitled "Design and Implementation of National Drug Strategies and Plans".
  
  The Workshop provided an opportunity for the Caribbean to share its experiences in the "design, implementation and the evaluation of Strategies and National Drug Plans". Fourteen (14) OAS member states, including a large contingent from the host country, St Kitts and Nevis, participated in the joint efforts aimed at producing a Strategic Plan.
  
  The venue of the Workshop was held at the Ocean Terrace Inn for the period February 21-23, 2018 and was of great success.
• SUMMITS 101: Informative Session with Civil Society Organization and Social Actors about the "Summits of the Americas Process".
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Wednesday December 14, 2016
  
  Through this information session, representatives of civil society organizations and social actors across the Hemisphere will obtain a better understanding of the Summits Process and the diverse mechanisms of participation available to them.
  
  The Summits Secretariat wants to strengthen the participation of all social actors and civil society organizations looking towards the next Summit of the Americas, to be held in Peru in 2018.
• ELECTORAL REFORM
  Basseterre, St Kitts , Thursday September 22, 2016
  
  Meetings with the Supervisor of Elections.
  
  Implementation of the recommendations of the Observer Mission of last held General Elections (February 2015).
• PROCCER/CICAD TRAINING
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Thursday September 22, 2016
  
  Graduation of drug prevention specialists and counselors. A total of 45 persons graduated as prevention specialists and counselors.
• SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Thursday September 22, 2016
  
  Disseminate information to the public especially students, through the schools and social media.
  
  For the 2016/2017 Academic Year, four (4) students were awarded scholarships.
• EARTH WEEK SKN
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Thursday September 22, 2016
  
  March 21, 2016 a Media Launch of Earth Week SKN and Celebrations for Earth Day. Awareness for the community and a platform for stakeholders to share their views.
• ELECTORAL REFORM
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Thursday September 22, 2016
  
  Engaging with the Government and the relevant stakeholders to exchange ideas on Electoral Reform, so far 3 of the 5 major parties have been interviewed on their position regarding this issue.
• ITEN/OAS TECHNICAL COOPERATION MISSION IN ST KITTS AND NEVIS
  Basseterre, St Kitts , Tuesday May 19, 2015
  
  ITEN/OAS TECHNICAL COOPERATION MISSION IN ST KITTS AND NEVIS
  
  Representatives of the Ministries of Education of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines met last week, from May 12-15, to revise the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Lower Secondary School Science and Technology Curriculum.
  
  This team effort has also produced a policy draft on science and technology education to be implemented in the OECS region. Furthermore, an online repository of resources on science for teachers will be created, with the goal of facilitating knowledge exchange among science educators on the theme.
  
  This initiative was sponsored by the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN) of the Organization of American States (OAS), under the framework of the OAS-ITEN Technical Cooperation Missions on Education.
  
  Also, as a result of this cooperation, in the upcoming months, the OAS-ITEN together with the OECS Ministries of Education will be offering professional development for teachers in the region. These certified courses will be free of cost, and offered through an online platform and podcasts, with a focus on science and critical thinking.
  
  For more information on OAS-ITEN programs please visit:
  http://www.oas.org/en/iten/default.asp
  
  
  Photo Subtitle: Representatives of the OAS-ITEN and Ministries of Education OECS Countries.
  
  
  List of Participants of the Ministries
  Amaala Muhammad – St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  W. Anthony Spencer – Antigua and Barbuda
  Shefton Liburd – St. Kitts and Nevis
  Sheddie Conliffe – St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  Motielall Singh – St. Lucia
  Lyrill Arthur- Stanislaus – St. Lucia
  Lloyd Panchoo – Grenada
  Olston Strawn – St. Kitts and Nevis
  
  OAS-ITEN Representatives
  Adriana Vilela – ITEN Project Coordinator
  Nathalia Khayat – ITEN Technical Missions Coordinator
  
  
• Involvement of Small States in MEM called Invaluable
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday May 26, 2014
  
  OAS Representative, Starret Greene called the involvement of Small States of the OAS in the OAS/CICAD Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) invaluable. The Representative at the time was speaking at a workshop organized by the Secretariat of the National Drug Council in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in collaboration with the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) MEM Unit. The event was held on May 19, 2014, at the National Emergency Management Agency.
  
  The OAS Representative emphasized the importance of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) becoming intimately involved in the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism. Greene said that by cooperating and collaborating fully with other member countries, SIDS helped to strengthen the chain that connected all the countries together in their collective efforts to address all aspects of the drug problem at the national, regional and hemispheric levels. The OAS Diplomat called on the Stakeholders in the Federation to be consistent and conscientious in performing their particular tasks and he also exhorted them to ensure the timely submission of the MEM questionnaire as well as their reporting on progress made in fulfilling the assigned MEM recommendations.
  
  Mr. Greene said that the MEM was designed as a Multilateral Inter-Governmental Evaluation regime to evaluate the policies of countries and to facilitate evaluation of individual and collective progress, in dealing with various manifestations of the drug problem. The OAS Representative stressed the value of the MEM in that it allowed for the sharing, among member countries of CICAD, of the most successful practices and methods used in addressing the drug phenomenon. Representative Greene also remarked that the mechanism helped to promote the exchange of experiences between implementing authorities. He concluded by reminding participants in the workshop that the MEM was based on the principles of shared responsibility, comprehensiveness and balance in the treatment of the issues, consensus among States and respect for the sovereignty of each State.
  
  The Coordinator of the OAS/MEM, Angela Crowdy, and Karen Sanjines, Specialist in the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), were the facilitators of the workshop. They also used their presence in the Federation to meet with key stake holders to include the Ministry of Health, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Officials at the Customs.
  
  
• OAS Collaborates with CFBC to Launch Multinational Project entitled "Provisions: Organic, Hydroponic and Hybrid System, Growing for Caribbean Schools and Model for Local Caribbean Entrepreneurship".
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Monday May 12, 2014
  
  Through its Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Organization of American States (OAS) joined forces with the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and stakeholders throughout the region to launch a multinational project entitled “Provisions: Organic, Hydroponic and Hybrid System – Growing for Caribbean Schools and Model for Local Caribbean Entrepreneurship”. The project is sponsored by the OAS through its Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI). Partnerships have been forged with the University of the West Indies (UWI), Central Florida University, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Legacy International and leading Government agencies in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, to include the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Sustainable Development.
  
  At the Opening Ceremony on May 8, 2014, held at the UWI Open Campus in Basseterre, St. Kitts, the OAS Representative Starret Greene said that the project attracted the participation of Barbados, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, and that it was designed to help Caribbean countries addressed some of the Climate Change challenges they now faced. According to the OAS Diplomat, “the recommended actions to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change are deserving of speedy implementation even as we consider that climate change is not futuristic, it is already happening and impacting on all aspects of our development” He also mentioned that the project was designed to improve science and engineering education relating to climate change. The OAS Representative also remarked that the project would allow for the transfer of knowledge that would assist partners in the region to develop and implement education initiatives for climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship.
  
  The project coordinator, Dr. Leighton Naraine who chaired the Opening Ceremony explained that the project proposal that was reviewed by the OAS CENPES for Science and Technology grew out of a student-based research on sustainable agriculture within the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Environmental Science program. Dr. Naraine explained that the project emphasized writing, implementing, evaluating, revising and disseminating a curriculum resource that was multi-media and multi-lingual.
  
  During May 8 and 9, 2014, the coordinators from the participating countries and experts who are closely affiliated with the project were part of a planning workshop to begin the planning, outline the curriculum and to map the project’s activities to be implemented in the various countries.
  
  It is anticipated that implementation of this multinational activity would be completed by June 2016.
  
  
  
  
• OAS Funds Multi-National Projects in St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday April 14, 2014
  
  OAS Funds Multi-National Projects in St. Kitts and Nevis
  
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI), continues to provide technical assistance to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In this connection, the OAS has largely shifted its approach to the delivery of technical cooperation by placing greater emphasis on the implementation of multinational projects.
  
  The three (3) projects are as follows: (1) Preparing Students for 21st Century Employment in the Eastern Caribbean. This activity is being executed by the Ministry of Education and Information. It was designed to improve the use of Information Technology in the class room as a toll for quality learning. (2) Organic, Hydroponic and Hybrid-Systems. This project is executed by the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC). It will focus on strengthening organic, hydroponic and hybrid-systems for agricultural development and for the transfer of knowledge to local farmers and those in the Caribbean region as well. (3) Craft Enhancement and Business Planning and Training. This multinational activity is being executed by the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport. It will support the building of human capacity in the public and private sectors by providing intense training opportunities for persons in the craft industry.
  
  Significant to the successful implementation of OAS’ technical cooperation activities in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are the administrative, logistical, monitoring and promotional role of the OAS Country Office. In this regard, the OAS Representative and his Staff have been actively engaging the designated Coordinators and relevant officials associated with the different executing agencies to ensure not only timely implementation of the projects but also to provide any necessary technical input and to offer as well guidance and support, especially in the proper and businesslike utilization of the financial resources and the signing of contractual engagements associated with the projects. In addition to the above, each project has been assigned a Coordinator at Headquarters who is responsible to monitor all aspects of the projects implementation and to provide the requisite guidance and support to functionaries and stakeholders on the ground.
  
  Each multinational project has a life span of approximately three (3) years and usually involves the participation of three (3) or more countries.
  
• OAS Funds Multi-National Projects in St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday April 14, 2014
  
  OAS Funds Multi-National Projects in St. Kitts and Nevis
  
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI), continues to provide technical assistance to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In this connection, the OAS has largely shifted its approach to the delivery of technical cooperation by placing greater emphasis on the implementation of multinational projects.
  
  The three (3) projects are as follows: (1) Preparing Students for 21st Century Employment in the Eastern Caribbean. This activity is being executed by the Ministry of Education and Information. It was designed to improve the use of Information Technology in the class room as a toll for quality learning. (2) Organic, Hydroponic and Hybrid-Systems. This project is executed by the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC). It will focus on strengthening organic, hydroponic and hybrid-systems for agricultural development and for the transfer of knowledge to local farmers and those in the Caribbean region as well. (3) Craft Enhancement and Business Planning and Training. This multinational activity is being executed by the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport. It will support the building of human capacity in the public and private sectors by providing intense training opportunities for persons in the craft industry.
  
  Significant to the successful implementation of OAS’ technical cooperation activities in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are the administrative, logistical, monitoring and promotional role of the OAS Country Office. In this regard, the OAS Representative and his Staff have been actively engaging the designated Coordinators and relevant officials associated with the different executing agencies to ensure not only timely implementation of the projects but also to provide any necessary technical input and to offer as well guidance and support, especially in the proper and businesslike utilization of the financial resources and the signing of contractual engagements associated with the projects. In addition to the above, each project has been assigned a Coordinator at Headquarters who is responsible to monitor all aspects of the projects implementation and to provide the requisite guidance and support to functionaries and stakeholders on the ground.
  
  Each multinational project has a life span of approximately three (3) years and usually involves the participation of three (3) or more countries.
  
• Canada hosts Women in Security Event and Annual National Focal Point Meeting
  Basseterre, St Kitts , Tuesday March 11, 2014
  
  The OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis used the Federation’s leading Media House, ZIZ Radio and Television, to promote a Regional Workshop for Women in Security and the Annual National Focal Point Meeting of the OAS Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (OAS/CICTE). Both events were sponsored by the OAS/CICTE with considerable support from the Government of Canada. Both events took place at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Headquarters in Ottawa, Canada.
  
  According to the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Starret Greene, the Workshop was held during the period March 10-12, 2014. He explained that the focus of the event was to strengthen the capacity of female security practitioners in the region, who had demonstrated the potential to advance to the management level in the fields of crime prevention and security governance and who were intimately involved in managing elements of major event security as well. The OAS Diplomat also informed that Inspector Rosemarie Roberts of the St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force was chosen to represent the Federation at the workshop.
  
  Mr. Greene also used the occasion in his interview with the Media House to speak about the Annual National Focal Point (NEP) meeting of CICTE and noted that the event brought together all the appointed NEPs from the participating member countries of the OAS as well as selected subject matter experts. He remarked that the representatives would exchange best practices and lessons learnt in the filed of major events security and crime prevention. The OAS Representative pointed to the fact that the meeting of NEPs in Canada was the final NFP Meeting of the current Programme Phase and expressed his view that the occasion would undoubtedly be used to expound on all the achievements of the past 3 years and to elaborate future activities in the region that would require attention and collaboration among NEPs. Starret Greene also disclosed that Inspector Adolph Sylvester Adams of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police force represented the Federation at the event that was held during March 12-14, 2014.
  
  The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) works with member countries of the OAS in coordinating all aspects of security matters in the Hemisphere.
  
• OAS Country Office helps in Coordinating the participation of Local Officials in Hemispheric Workshop and Consultation on Capacity Building in Travel Document Security and Identification Management
  Basseterre, St Kitts, Friday February 28, 2014
  
  Staff in the Office of the OAS General Secretariat in St. Kitts and Nevis assisted in providing the requisite administrative and logistical support for two Government Officials in the Federation who participatd in a Hemispheric Workshop and Consultation on Capacity Building in Travel Document Security and Identification Management.
  
  Ms Cecile Hull, Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security and Ms Ernesta Phipps, Immigration Officer, joined colleagues from across the region in attendance at this OAS Sponsored Event that took place in Miami, Florida, from February 26 to 28, 2014.
  
  The Workshop and Consultation was organized by the OAS' Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Its primary objective was to present the findings and recommendations compiled from sub-regional workshops held in the region during the past three years on international standards for travel documents, new technologies, issuance and control of travel documents, improvement and modernization of civil registries and strengthening of the rules and requirements on border control. In addition, the workshop focused on promoting the exchange of information, experiences and the sharing of best practices on travel document security and identification management. Discussions also focused on identifying the key challenges facing member countries, gaps in knowledge as well as training and support needs for the future.
  
  The workshop format combined technical presentations by representative of OAS, ICAO, and other international, regional and national experts and authorities, with a breakout session designed to allow each sub-region to discuss continued challenges associated with travel documents.
  
  The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) works with member countries of the OAS in promoting critical aspects of their security.
• OAS Country Office Assists in Coordinating and Promoting Train the Trainers Workshop
  Basseterre, St Kitts , Monday February 17, 2014
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, working with the Federation's National Drug Council Secretariat and media houses, to include ZIZ Television, VON Radio on Nevis and WINNFM on St Kitts, played a leading role in coordinating and promoting an OAS Sponsored Train the Trainers Workshop. This workshop is an activity within the Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation (PROCCER), and is being executed by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Secretariat.
  
  The workshop, held in Miami during February 17-21, 2014, attracted drug treatment and prevention service providers from OAS Caribbean Member Countries and included six (6) participants from the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Based on information that emanated from the CICAD Secretariat, the workshop will, among other things, provide training for treatment service providers who are actively working in drug treatment institutions in OAS Caribbean Member States, with specific focus on exposing participants to the 5 Modules of PROCCER. These include, (1) understanding drug dependency (2) clinical evaluation and coordinating services (3) treatment plans (4) counseling skills and (5) professional ethics and education for the patient, family and community.
  
  PROCCER was launched in the Caribbean in May 2011, and it is the first PROCCER initiative that contemplates a regional approach and the dual offering of training for drug treatment and prevention service providers. The first regional meeting was held in Barbados and included the participation of all OAS Caribbean Member States and the involvement of additional drug demand reduction experts.
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis continues to provide tangible coordinating, administrative, promotional and logistical support to the various programs, projects and activities conducted in St Kitts and Nevis under the auspices and sponsorship of the Organization of American States (OAS).
• OAS Department of Sustainable Development made Onsite Visit to Project in Nevis
  OAS Office in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Friday January 24, 2014
  
  With administrative, promotional and coordination inputs, the OAS Country Office played a leading role in the preparations for an Onsite visit to an OAS/DSD sponsored project in Nevis entitled, "Building Resilience to Natural Disasters One Community at a Time". The project was designed to bring about the implementation of sustainable preventative practices to safe guard the communities from hazards, natural or man-made.
  
  The visit occurred on January 23, 2014, when Mr. Richard Huber from the OAS Department of Sustainable Development and Mr. Starret Greene, OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis arrived on the island to the greetings of Executive Members of HOPE Nevis Incorporated - a nonprofit NGO that is overseeing the management and implementation of the project.
  
  The visit included a briefing on the progress that had been made since implementation begun. Members of the implementation team reviewed the work that was done in five (5) communities across the island and made special memtion of the remarkable cooperation and collaboration that was obtained from the local government agencies and members of the private sector. Specifically, mention was made of training received by 130 persons in fire safety, light search and rescue, standard first aid, CPR, disaster management , team dynamics, levels of communication, disaster psychology and sand mining.
  
  Additionally, a tour of parts of Nevis provided the opportunity to see first hand three (3) beaches that were previously used for sand mining, a practice that has posed a serious threat to marine life and the existing ecosystems. Erection of signs made available through the project and placed on the relevant beaches gave clear and unmistakable notice that the practice of sand mining was illegal. According to the project officers, since the placing of the signs at the entry of the relevant beaches and the commencement of an awareness campaign, the number of incidents of sand mining had been drastically reduced. Visits were also made to emergency shelters in three (3) communities, where through the project, water tanks, gutters and hurricane shutters were installed to make the properties more resilient to incidents of storms, and to also provide a level of comfort to those who may have cause to occupy them.
  
  Although the project is still in the implementation stage, there is strong evidence to suggest that significant and admirable progress had been made in equipping local persons in Nevis with the requisite knowledge and technical skills to prepare, respond, and minimize the fallout from natural and human induced hazards.
• Coordination of Training Workshop for Authorities in School System with responsibility for the use of Technology in the Classroom
  OAS Office in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Monday January 20, 2014
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was an integral partner in coordinating an OAS/FEMCIDI Workshop that designed to provide training for Principals, Administrators and Education Officers who held leadership positions in the Federation's school system. With administrative and promotional support of the Country Office, the event was managed and administered by the Ministry of Education which was designated as the Executing Agency.
  
  The Workshop was an activity within the FEMCIDI sponsored multinational project entitled "Preparing Students for 21st Century Employment in the Eastern Caribbean". This event was specifically designed to introduce participants to the various modalities, methods and techniques that could be applied when using technology as a tool for effective and quality learning in the classroom.
  
  This particular focus of the workshop was consistent with the efforts of the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its Ministry of Education and Information, to use technology as a tool for improving the quality of learning among students as well as a means to help teachers to be more skilled in the use of information technology. This dovetails with a recent government's program that provides students in secondary schools with a laptop computer.
  
  The Facilitator was Mr Christopher Herbert, the Director of the Department of Information Technology within the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Sports and Post. The Workshop attracted some 20 participants drawn from both St. Kitts and Nevis and was held at the Curriculum Development Unit, an arm of the Ministry of Education.
  
  This multinational project - Preparing Students for 21st Century Employment in the Eastern Caribbean is implemented in Antigua, Dominica, Grenada (the coordinating country) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• OAS Selected Candidates for Scholarships at the Graduate and Undergraduate Levels for the Academic Year 2014-2015
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday December 13, 2013
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE) has selected three (3) Nationals of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to receive OAS Scholarships awards at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the 2014-2015, academic period.
  
  Ms. Isalean Felicitee Ciara Phillip was selected to receive the Special Caribbean Fellowships (SPECAF) for undergraduate studies to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Government, at the Saint Mary’s University, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Beverley Laverne Supersaad, was selected to pursue a Master’s Degree in Teacher Education at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus Barbados, or at a University in the United States that remains to be determined. Doldria Valdena Penny was also selected to pursue a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development, at the University of the West Indies at campuses in Barbados or Jamaica.
  
  Each scholarship will be awarded for an initial period of one academic year and may be renewed subsequently for up to one additional academic year. In this regard, a maximum of US$30,000 will be made available for each selected candidate and will be distributed to cover administrative costs, tuition, lab fees, books, a monthly stipend, medical insurance and airfare to and from the place of study, if applicable.
  
  OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Starret Greene said that his organization remained committed to supporting the academic aspirations of the citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The OAS Diplomat emphasized that strengthening the country’s human resources, through education and training was indispensable for achieving sustainable development.
  
  Competitive selections sponsored by the OAS are guided by the OAS’ Charter that supports the fundamental rights of the individual without distinction to race, nationality, creed or sex.
  
  
  
  
• OAS Country Office Organizes Consultation to Launch Youth-IN Entrepreneurship Assessment, Mapping and Assessment Exercise conducted by YABT and UNDP Barbados and the OECS
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday November 25, 2013
  
  Working in partnership with the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Office for Barbados and the OECS, the OAS Country Office was instrumental in bringing together a group of stakeholders in the both St. Kitts and Nevis to formally launch a regional consultation and assessment exercise. The participants in the consultation were stakeholders who were from institutions and agencies, which worked closely with young people in administering and coordinating programs, projects and activities designed to develop their business acumen and entrepreneurial skills.
  
  The primary purpose of the consultation was to identify, through a mapping and assessment exercise, current entrepreneurial programmes targeting young people in CARICOM Member States, with a view to recognize potential synergies that would give rise to promoting more effective cooperation and collaboration between institutions, agencies and young entrepreneurs. According to the primary partners involved in driving this initiative, the outcome of the exercise would help to build a comprehensive strategy to benefit both young entrepreneurs and institutions in the Caribbean region.
  
  At the sessions held on November 14, 2013 at the OAS Country Office, and November 15, 2013 at the Ministry of Finance in Nevis, Ms. Anna Vichnevetskaia, a YABT staff member, made a presentation on how the mapping exercise would be executed and explained to representatives of the various institutions present the details of the questionnaire. It was noted that the information gathered would form the basis for conducting an analysis of the entrepreneurial programmes in the region that would be critical to deciding, among other things, where support may be warranted and what adjustments would be necessary to improve and perfect entrepreneurial activities across the region.
  
  Other presenters were Ms. Janine Chase of the UNDP-Barbados who provided an overview of the Youth –In Entrepreneurship Programme to date and plans for the next steps and Mr. Luis Viguria, YABYT’s Chief Executive Officer, who spoke about the Caribbean Innovative Challenge 2013 and the Plans for 2014.
  
  It should be noted that part of the objective for the consultations was to receive recommendations from local stakeholders on next steps for the Youth-IN Entrepreneurship programme, with special reference to the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC). In this connection, participants became engaged in a spirited but substantive conversation that elaborated topics such as outreach, awareness creation, the involvement and coordination between the public, private and academic sectors, among others.
  
  The Consultation was moderated by Starret D Greene, OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
• OAS Country Office Involved in Preparations for the 3rd Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday November 13, 2013
  
  Mr. Phillip Browne, Business Development Officer within the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport, Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, will represent the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis at the 3rd Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Authorities, to be held in Brasilia, Brazil, November 11-12, 2013.
  
  The dialogue will focus on Public Policies to Promote the Internationalization of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In this connection, attention will be given to examining the effectiveness of polices and tools that have been developed in each participating country for the internationalization of small businesses. It will also examine how countries coordinate between the different sectors – government, universities, research and development institutions and the private sector, in order to provide effective support for the internationalization of MSMEs. Additionally, the dialogue will also feature the importance of MSMEs in exports and imports in both Latin America and the Caribbean, and the contribution these entities can make to growth and diversification of their countries’ exports.
  
  The Office of the General Secretariat in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, working with the Department of Economic and Social Development at OAS Headquarters, has been most instrumental in providing the requisite administrative and logistical support to facilitate the participation of Mr. Browne.
  
  The event is organized by the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development of the Organization of American States (SEDI/OAS) and the Ministry for Micro and Small Enterprises of Brazil.
  
• OAS Sponsors Seminar to Investigate the Sale of Drugs on the Internet
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday September 30, 2013
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), in collaboration with public and private institutions in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is sponsoring a Seminar that will investigate the sale of drugs on the Internet.
  
  The Seminar, organized through the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD) Secretariat, is being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort in Frigate Bay, from September 30 to October 3, 2013.
  
  Given that the sale of drugs on the Internet has become a growing global problem, and bearing in mind that member countries of the OAS have received recommendations on this matter, through CICAD’s Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) process, the Seminar in the Federation will seek to:
  
  - increase the awareness of the problem of internet sale of drugs
  - increase the capacity of officials to detect and investigate such cases, and
  - promote increased cooperation, coordination and the exchange of information among stakeholders at the regional and hemispheric levels
  
  The event has attracted strong support from the law enforcement community, the customs, border security personnel, Ministry of Health and Social Services, the National Drug Council, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Information Technology, the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  
  Speaking from the OAS Office in Basseterre, OAS Representative Starret Greene reiterated the organization’s commitment to working closely with member countries in order to address all aspects of the illegal drug trade and to promote a multi-pronged approach to solving the drug problem.
  
  The event is being facilitated by experts from Sweden and members of the OAS/CICAD Secretariat in Washington, D.C.
  
  -end-
  
• Organization of American States Received Education Partners Award
  Basseterre, St. kitts, Monday September 30, 2013
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) recently received an Education Partners Award from the Ministry of Education in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The Award was presented to the Organization’s Representative, Mr. Starret D Greene, in acknowledgement of the OAS’s Leadership and Partnership in connection with the programs, projects and initiatives that both the OAS and the Ministry of Education and Information have collectively championed in the twin-island State.
  
  In receiving the award, the OAS Representative expressed his profuse appreciation on behalf of the organization’s Secretary General, His Excellency Jose Miguel Insulza as well as on behalf of the Staff of the General Secretariat, with special reference to the Department of Education and the Secretariat for Integral Development. The OAS Diplomat reiterated his organization’s commitment to strengthen its partnership with the Government of the Federation, through the Ministry of Education. Mr. Greene concluded by emphasizing the importance of the OAS and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis working together to respond meaningfully to the educational pursuits of the citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The Ceremony, which included presentation of awards to other Education Partners, was held on September 14, 2013, at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) to coincide with the celebrations marking the 30th Anniversary of Independence of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Having as its theme “Commitment to Excellence”, the gala event also recognized citizens of the Federation and other organizations which partnered with the Ministry of Education. The following categories were established:
  
  Long Service Award
  Employees Excellence Award
  Retired Employee Award
  Posthumous Award
  Appreciation Award and
  Education Partners Award
  
  In addition to the OAS, the Education Partners Award was presented to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the telephone company LIME, Trading Development Company (TDC) and the largest supermarket group in the Federation called RAMS. These entities were described as Partners who have unconditionally and continuously assisted the Ministry of Education as well as its academic institutions.
  
  -end-
  
• OAS Representative Highlights Progress in Civil Registry Project
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday September 23, 2013
  
  The Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS), Mr. Starret Greene told the Media that the collaborative efforts of his organization and the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its Ministry of Health, are bearing fruits as the modernization process of the Federation’s Civil Registry moves forward at a satisfactory pace.
  
  According to Mr. Greene, implementation of the project commenced on March 18, 2013, when a team of OAS technicians joined their local counterparts in the Federation to set up the requisite equipment and to provide training to a group of data entry clerks and a scanning technician. The workers were hired, under the terms of the project, to digitalize the vital records of births and deaths, dating back to 1859 and those of marriages as well, dating back to 1885. He said that the records of the Civil Registry were stored in hundreds of books in a vault at the Registry Headquarters.
  
  The OAS Diplomat explained that digitalizing the data involved the application of a Computer Software called the Caribbean Civil
  
  Registry and Identity System (CCRIS) that he said was tailored to meet the specific needs of the Civil Registry of St. Kitts and Nevis. In providing a concise overview of the process, Starret Greene said that a “bookdrive” scanner was set up to scan the data from each of the books in the vault; the scanning technician, via electronic means, then distributed the said data to each of the clerks who, after a series of steps, including a very important procedure called verification, organized the data within a given template containing various fields.
  
  Representative Greene also noted that the implementation of this technical cooperation activity was part of a sub-regional exercise that involved other islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and fell within the broader OAS Universal Civil Identity Program of the Americas (PUICA).
  
  Mr. Greene concluded by noting that phase one of the project, that for the most part involved the digitalization of the data, was likely to continue for at least 12 months.
  
• OAS Representative Challenged Graduating Class to Persevere towards Success
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday July 9, 2013
  
  Speaking at the Irish Town Primary School Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony on July 9, 2013, and focusing on the theme “Achieving Success through Perseverance and Excellence”, OAS Representative, Starret Greene, told the Graduating Class of 2013 that they could achieve success through hard work, obedience, discipline, kindness, tolerance and respect for those in authority.
  
  The OAS Diplomat spoke at the Church of God, located on Durant Avenue, Basseterre, St. Kitts, where the audience comprised of education officials, staff members of the school, parents, relatives, friends and well wishers.
  
  Mr. Greene explained to some 21 graduates, who were scheduled to start their high school education in September 2013, that there was a road that led to success and the road was called excellence and perseverance. He challenged the class of 2013 to strive to consistently do the right thing. The Representative called on the students to be obedient and respectful, particularly to their parents, teachers and those in authority. He exhorted students to show kindness and love to each other. The OAS Diplomat also called on all children to avoid conflicts. Mr. Greene said that every attempt should be made to settle disputes peacefully and time should be spent on learning how to work together in the spirit of friendship, mutual respect and good will.
  
  He further challenged the graduates to read good books, spend time preparing for exams and to try and earn good grades in all of their subjects. Mr. Greene said that his definition of perseverance was to continue doing what was good and upright even when it was difficult, and notwithstanding that others were doing the opposite.
  
  Speaking to an audience of over one hundred and fifty persons, the OAS Representative told graduates that constantly reaching for the stars, being honest at all times, staying away from bad company, saying no to things that would place them in conflict with the law, showing kindness to each other and helping those who required their support would get them to the road called excellence and perseverance – the road that led to success.
  
  The OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis is located in the same neighborhood as the Irish Town Primary School.
  
  -the end-
  
• Security Partners support Access Control Course in St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday June 18, 2013
  
  Security partners in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, to include the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCSAPA), Customs, Coast Guard, the Police and the Defense Force, joined forces with the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in organizing a security course on “Access Control”. The event is sponsored by the OAS, through CICTE and in collaboration with the US Transportation Security Administration and the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The course commenced on June 17, 2013, and attracted more than 20 participants from various security related Ministries, departments, agencies and organizations within the Federation. It is currently being conducted at the Customs training facility and falls within CICTE’s Aviation Security Program. This program will provide participants with the opportunity to examine access control requirements in-depth. They will be exposed to subjects such as airside perimeter, perimeter barriers, zoning of restricted areas, terminal access control points, aircraft security, breach procedures, vehicle security in the SRA, ID systems and other identification requirements for those with access to the secure area of the airport.
  
  In opening remarks, OAS Representative Starret Greene called for a vigorous and sustained implementation and enforcement of all elements of the Access Control policy for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. He suggested that priority should be given to strengthening enforcement mechanisms and remarked that violators should be dealt with swiftly and effectively, within the law. The OAS Representative encouraged the participants to remain vigilant and to be professional at all times. The OAS Diplomat recommended that participants should keep abreast of developments at the sub-regional, regional and hemispheric levels that are applicable to their duties and responsibilities.
  
  Also providing brief remarks was the Chairman of the St. St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority Mr. Jonathon Bass. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ian Queeley, gave the featured address in the absence of the CICTE Point of Contact, Dr. C.G. Walwyn.
  
  Ms. Shevaun Culmer is the Program Officer, within CICTE in charge of the Aviation Security Program.
  
• OAS Sponsors Workshop for Owners & Operators of Small Hotels in Federation
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday June 3, 2013
  
  Owners and Operators of Small Hotels in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis participated in a workshop that was sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Executive Secretariat for Integral Development and supported by the Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism. The OAS also collaborated with Tourism stakeholders in the Federation, namely, the Federal Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotels and Tourists Association, to hold the event.
  
  The workshop, held at the Ocean Terrace Inn hotel, during May 30 and 31, 2013, attracted 21 participants from tourism properties in both St. Kitts and Nevis. Officials from Government, the private sector and industry stakeholders also attended the two day event.
  
  Facilitated by Consultant Ms. Shirlene Nibbs from Antigua and Barbuda, the workshop was conducted under the theme “Achieving Service and Business Excellence”, as part of a strategy to assist small hotels in the Federation and in the wider Caribbean region to operate at international standards in the context of costs, level of service, operational standards and quality. Consequently, the Facilitator placed emphasis on topics such as training, standards, branding and marketing. Also, participants were given the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive overview of the critical elements that were effective
  in achieving profitability and excellence in respect of small hotel operations.
  
  At the Opening Ceremony, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis remarked that the OAS had a genuine interest in the small hotels subsector. He told his audience that the organization had been working with owners and operators of small tourism properties, dating back to the 1980’s. Representative Greene said that the OAS understood that the hotel subsector was critical for the growth, development and sustainability of small businesses. He also pointed out that small tourism properties were essential in terms of providing employment, and that the subsector was indispensable for the viability of the hotel industry in the region. The OAS Diplomat mentioned that profitability was a strong measure of enterprise competitiveness, and called on the owners and operators to give due attention to competitive factors such as leadership, innovation, international benchmarking, quality focus and responsiveness to competition.
  
  All participants received a certificate of attendance when the event was brought to a close on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 3:45 pm. Representative Starret Greene and Permanent Secretary Patricia Martin, in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport distributed the certificates.
  
• OAS Representative made Presentation to Energy Unit
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday May 29, 2013
  
  At a brief Presentation Ceremony, on Monday April 27, 2013, held in Nevis, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Starret Greene, formally presented some equipment and furniture to Mr. Ernie Stapleton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Natural Resources, Physical Planning, Works and Utilities.
  
  The presentation, which included a lap top computer, a multifunction color printer, an Office desk and Chair, was directly connected to activities within the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP).
  
  This is a sub-regional program that is executed by the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), and financed by the European Union (EU) and involves 7 countries namely, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  Specifically, the donation was designed to assist the Ministry of Communications, Natural Resources, Physical Planning, Works and Utilities establish an Energy Unit. The said unit will be responsible to, among other things, promote the development of the energy sector on the island of Nevis and to give priority to developing the island’s renewable energy resources.
  
  In brief remarks, the OAS Representative reflected on the partnership that the organization had built with the Federation. He said the collaborative efforts of his organization and energy stakeholders in the Federation were targeted at helping the twin-island country to achieve its goal of gradually moving away from its dependence on fossil fuels to developing and harnessing its available renewable sources of energy. Mr. Greene mentioned the establishment of a Wind Farm on Nevis that he said was already providing electricity directly to the local grid. The OAS Diplomat also expressed optimism about the prospects of successfully harnessing geothermal resources on the island as well.
  
  Permanent Secretary Stapleton in his response thanked Representative Greene for the unwavering support that the OAS had provided to the development of a viable and sustainable energy sector on island of Nevis. He also applauded the Organization, through its Department of Sustainable Development, for the high quality technical and legal inputs that have been provided to the Nevis Island Administration. Mr. Stapleton said this kind of support coming from the OAS would ensure that Nevis emerged as a leader in developing and using ‘green energy’.
  
• Sixth Graders learned about the Organization of American States (OAS)
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday May 29, 2013
  
  A class of Sixth Graders from the Elizabeth Pemberton Primary School on the island of Nevis was the recipient of a Presentation by the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene.
  
  The OAS Representative was at the time observing a simulation exercise that was part of an activity within an OAS sponsored “Sustainable Communities” project entitled “Building Community Resilience One Community at a Time”. The exercise included a scenario where the said Primary School had collapsed, due to an earthquake. While observing the event, the OAS Representative was approached by a Sixth Grade Teacher who requested him to make a brief presentation to her class on the Organization of American States.
  
  The OAS Diplomat readily agreed and spoke to the children in the simplest of terms about the role and functions of the Hemispheric Body.
  
  Mr. Greene explained to the children that the OAS was the oldest regional body in the world and that some 34 Independent Countries, with democratically elected Governments, were members of the organization. He also spoke about the staff of the General Secretariat of the organization and mentioned that the principle of geographical representation was an important consideration in its composition. The Representative also told the children, who ranged between the ages of 10 to 12, and who will be entering high school next September, that the OAS Scholarship and Training Program provided an opportunity for qualified citizens from member countries to pursue their tertiary education at academic institutions anywhere in the Hemisphere. He encouraged the children to give attention to their school work and to always show respect to their teachers. The OAS Representative also spoke about the Regular Budget of the organization and explained how the quota contributions to the Regular Fund were used to help carry out its various mandates.
  
  In giving thanks to the OAS Representative for his presentation, one of the sixth graders said that she was pleased to learn about the OAS and that she looked forward to earning a scholarship that would help finance her way to college, when she completed high school.
  
  The OAS Representative made a commitment to return to the school at a future date to continue enlightening students and teachers about the organization and its role in the hemisphere.
  
• OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis Observes Simulation Exercise on Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday May 29, 2013
  
  On Monday, May 27, 2013, over 100 Nevisians, representing the island’s 5 Parishes, participated in a simulation exercise that was one of several activities implemented under the “Sustainable Communities” project entitled “Building Community Resilience One Community at a time”. This project is sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), and financed by the Government of the United States of America.
  
  During the months of March to May 2013, the project, through a series of workshops, provided specialized training that equipped 133 persons from the 5 Parishes with the knowledge and technical skills to prepare, respond to, and minimize the fallouts from natural and human induced hazards. Presentations at the workshops included Fire Safety, Light Search and Rescue, Standard First Aid, CPR, Disaster Management, Team Dynamics, Levels of Communication, Disaster Psychology and Sand Mining. In an effort to reinforce the topics and techniques learned during the training sessions, a simulation exercise was planned.
  
  The activity attracted experts from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CEDMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), St. Kitts and Nevis Chapter of the Red Cross, Fire and Rescue Services, the Local Ministries with responsibilities for Health, Communication and Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response, Law Enforcement Agencies and scores of voluntaries from the island of Nevis. Some ten scenarios, representing natural disaster and emergency situations, were designed and included two (2) collapsed buildings, a serious traffic accident on a primary road, two major house fires and a number of injuries suffered as a result of a natural disaster.
  
  At the Franklyn Browne Community Centre which was used as the staging area for the exercise, the OAS Representative, Starret Greene, praised the participants for their due diligence and spirit of cooperation and collaboration that was exhibited during the exercise. He reminded the participants that it was important to build expertise at the community level and emphasized that the preservation of communities was in the hands of the people who resided within them. “When hazards strike, when natural disasters occur, it is the community based people who will become the first responders”, the OAS Diplomat said. Mr. Greene also said that the OAS will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders at the Hemispheric, Regional, sub-regional, National, Local and Community levels to strengthen institutional capacity and build human resource capability in the areas of natural disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery.
  
  The Experts from CDEMA gave their evaluation of the simulation, and provided a set of recommendations that will help to strengthen institutional capacity and build human resource capability in the area of natural disaster, preparedness and response. Representatives of other agencies also made observations and provided recommendations that will help the local communities to deal with the advent of man induced natural hazards and disasters.
  
  Given that the hurricane season is now formally declared, the simulation exercise, according to the experts and participants alike, was a timely event that helped to raise awareness among the citizens in the communities about the effects of natural disasters and how citizens can respond in order to save lives and minimize damages.
  
  The Sustainable Communities project is implemented by Hope Nevis Incorporated, a Non-Governmental Organization based on the island of Nevis.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• OAS Praised for its Work in helping to Develop Federation’s Energy Policy
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday May 13, 2013
  
  
  At an Energy Awareness Fair, sponsored by the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the St. Kitts Electricity Company LTD (SKELEC) and the St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF), the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Division of Energy and Climate Change Mitigation of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (DSD/DECCM), received high praise for its singular role in helping the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in formulating a National Energy Policy.
  
  The event, which was held on Friday, May 10, 2013 at Independence Square in Basseterre, was organized to educate the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis about the energy saving tips that could be used to lower their energy costs as well as to inform of the new Solar Rooftop Project to be undertaken by the Ministry of Energy and the planned fuel surcharge reduction initiative. It attracted a number of High level Authorities within the Federal Government, including the Honorable Dr. Earl A. Martin, the Energy Minister, leading energy organizations and groups in St. Kitts and Nevis, energy investment companies, college students, senior students from the leading high schools and scores of citizens in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  OAS Representative, Starret D. Greene, who addressed the large gathering on the role the organization played in helping to develop the Federation’s National Energy Policy, said that one of the rationales for working with the Government was that the OAS understood the importance of creating a supportive policy environment. He said such an environment would help attract private investors who were required for the successful development of the energy sector. Mr. Greene remarked that the OAS believed that a sustainable energy sector required (1) the right policy framework (2) an attractive mix of incentives and (3) the existence of specific legal and regulatory provisions that dealt with issues such as land use, resource use and allocation of rights. He told his audience that just over two (2) years ago, with significant inputs from the Ministry of Energy and energy stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis, the OAS handed to the relevant authorities a National Energy Policy. He said that the Energy Policy had been approved by the Cabinet and that the Federation was positioned to begin implementing it. He credited his colleagues in the Division of Energy and Climate Change Mitigation of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development for their untiring efforts in completing the policy document.
  
  The Division of Energy and Climate Change Mitigation of the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) has been partnering with governments, national institutions, international organizations and civil society groups, to advance policy responses to energy related issues such as modern energy services, linkages between energy and climate change, energy supply reliability and energy price volatility.
  
• OAS Representative Discussed Project Implementation in Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday May 7, 2013
  
  As part of monitoring and following up on those technical cooperation activities sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), Starret Greene, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis made a visit to Nevis on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, to meet with Government officials and functionaries who are intimately involved in the coordination and management of two separate projects.
  
  At Long Point, the OAS Representative met with Executive Members of HOPE Nevis Incorporated, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), to discuss the progress made in the execution of the project entitled “Building Resilience to Natural Hazards one Community at a time”. Implementation of this project commenced earlier this year with a measure of oversight provided by the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) under the program known as “Building Sustainable Communities in Central America and the Caribbean”.
  
  During the meeting, members of HOPE reported to the OAS Representative on progress achieved in the successful conduct of workshops held in 4 of the 5 communities, namely St. Paul’s, St. Thomas, St. John’s and St. George’s. These workshops provided training to participants in (1) First Aid and CPR (2) Light Search and Rescue (3) Fire Safety and Emergency Care (1V) Radio Communications Techniques, and (V) Shelter Management and Initial Damage Assessment Methodology. HOPE Executives also discussed expenditures associated with the above activities and they confirmed that implementation of the activities was well within the agreed timeframe and on budget as well. Discussions included the challenges and difficulties that were being encountered in implementing certain activities, the lessons learned and possible solutions. It was also revealed to the OAS Representative that the first Technical Narrative Report would be sent to the DSD on May 1, 2013.
  
  At the end of his informative and satisfactory discussions with HOPE Executives, the OAS Representative met with Mr. Ernie Stapleton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and the Environment. Both men discussed matters relating to a handing over ceremony of Furniture to the Nevis Energy Department that was purchased with funds from the Organization of American States, under the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP). Agreement was reached to organize a formal ceremony at the above Ministry before the end of May 2013. The OAS Representative will return to Nevis on an agreed upon date to formally hand over the furniture to Permanent Secretary Stapleton.
  
• OAS Representative Presented Check to Treasury Official
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday April 19, 2013
  
  In a presentation ceremony, held at the OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis, on April 19, 2013, OAS Representative, Starret D Greene, presented a check to the Assistant Accountant General Mrs. Melicia Phillip, to cover expenses associated with the undertaking of a Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The survey is an initiative sponsored by the Organization of American States, through its Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). Through this initiative, the organization seeks to support the efforts of member countries in the Hemisphere as they work assiduously to address the problem of illegal drug use, particularly among college and university students and those at the secondary level as well.
  
  In the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, CICAD has been working directly with the Secretariat of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention to conduct a Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey in eight (8) secondary schools, six (6) in St. Kitts and two (2) in Nevis, to ascertain whether there is a problem of illegal drug use. Persons engaged in the implementation of the survey have been drawn from the relevant stakeholder groupings to include the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Homeland Security, the Ministry of Education and Information, the Department of Statistics and the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention. This exercise involves the gathering of data, its collation, analysis and the writing of a Report that will reflect the findings. The report is likely to include recommendations and conclusions. The data gathering component of the survey is likely to be completed before the end of May 2013.
  
  Present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security, the Assistant Accountant General, Chairman of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention, the CEO of the Secretariat of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention and the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  It is believed that the Report, when approved, will be discussed with Stakeholders in the Federation in hope of addressing any problems or concerns contained therein
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is providing the requisite Administrative, public relations, logistical and technical support for this exercise.
  
• Implementation of Civil Registry and Identity Project Commenced in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday April 2, 2013
  
  Under the OAS Universal Civil Identity Program of the Americas (PUICA), the up-dating and modernization of the Civil Registry in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis formally began on March 18, 2013. Under this technical cooperation initiative entitled ‘Civil Registry and Identity Project’, records in the Civil Registry of St. Kitts and Nevis will be computerized, using the Caribbean Civil Registry and Identity System (CCRIS), a software that was developed through PUIA.
  
  Activities of the project included the installation of the requisite computer hardware and specialized training for data entry personnel and technicians, who will be involved in the scanning of hundreds of books containing births, marriages, deaths and adoptions records dating back, in some cases, to the seventeenth century. The creation of a Book Log to track the movement of the books from the Registry’s vault to the scanning equipment and back to the vault also forms a critical part of the process. Moreover, Data Entry Clerks, hired by the OAS for a period of 6 months, will also be engaged in the cropping of records, data entry and data verification of the said records. Additionally, training of a supervisor to do search and printing of records will be carried out as well
  
  The Organization of American States, through its Department for Effective public Management, is collaborating with the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its Ministry of Health and Social Services, within which the Civil Registry falls, in sponsoring, managing and executing this project.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, who has been involved in the planning and development of this project since 2006, said that he was delighted to witness the commencement of the project for which discussions had commenced as early as 2003, if not prior. The OAS Diplomat remarked that the project was another shining example of the critical role of the OAS in helping member countries to build and strengthen institutional capacity while at the same time supporting the development of their human resource capability. Mr. Greene also noted that the project was especially important for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in that it supported the Government’s efforts at modernization, building capacity and improving operational efficiency in its Civil Registry.
  
  OAS direct involvement in phase one (1) of the project will continue until September 2013. Phase 2 will, among other things, see the drafting and passage of new legislation that will legally authorize the printing of certificates on secure paper.
  
• OAS Launches Building Resilience to Natural Hazards Project in Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday March 12, 2013
  
  
  On Monday, March 11, 2013, and in the presence of sustainable development Stakeholders, OAS Representative, Starret Greene, joined forces with the Premier of Nevis, the Honorable Vance Amory, to launch a sustainable development project entitled, “Building Resilience to Natural Hazards, one Community at a time”, at Long Point, on the island of Nevis.
  
  The project is sponsored by the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), within the Secretariat for Integral Development. Funding was provided by the US Government, through its State Department and with the cooperation of its Permanent Mission to the OAS.
  
  A grant of US$50,000 was made to Hope Nevis Incorporated under the “Sustainable Communities in Central America and the Caribbean Project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations and community associations in Central America and the Caribbean to build sustainable communities within the framework of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.
  
  According to the Chairman of Hope Nevis Incorporated, Mr. Kyle Weeks, the goal of the project is to enhance disaster risk management in five designated communities and to improve their communication strategy in disaster risk management. He said the project will train a minimum of 100 persons throughout Nevis, including at lest 20 persons from each parish, who will receive training in Community Emergency Response techniques. The Chairman said the training will focus on First Aid and CPR, fire Safety, Light Search and Rescue, Emergency Shelter Management, Vector Control, the Dangers of Sand mining and Gender Issues.
  
  In opening remarks, the OAS Representative said that the threat to many communities comes from natural disaster occurrences such as flooding, fires, erupting volcanoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. The OAS Diplomat said that in many regions of the world, the sea had made numerous encroachments on hundreds of acres of arable lands, as the level of the sea rises, due to the gradual melting of ice sheets in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, resulting from warmer temperatures.
  
  The OAS Country Office has been tasked with providing the requisite administrative, logistical, technical and promotional support for the project.
  
• OAS Team held Meetings with Premier and Deputy Premier of Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday February 25, 2013
  
  
  An OAS three (3) member team, comprising of Mark Lambrides, Chief of the Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section within the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), Mr. Kevin De Cuba, Energy Engineer, in the DSD and Mr. Starret Greene, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, met with the recently elected Premier of Nevis, the Honorable Vance Amory and the Deputy Premier, the Honorable Mark Brantley, on Thursday, February 21, 2013, at their offices in Charlestown, Nevis.
  
  The Team used the occasion of the visit to brief both high level officials in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) on the outcomes, recommendations and conclusions of the recently concluded Prefeasibility Study of an Electricity Inter Connection between St. Kitts and Nevis and between the Federation and Puerto Rico. In this regard, the officials were informed of the Study’s findings that an inter connection between St. Kitts and Nevis was indeed feasible to the point that once sustainable geothermal resources were found on Nevis, and the requisite infrastructure were put in place, the return on investment could take as little as two (2) to three (3) years. Likewise, the team mentioned that the proposed inter connection between the Federation and Puerto Rico is a longer term prospect that may be possible under certain plausible assumptions. Additionally, the team briefed the Officials of the NIA on how the Organization of American States, working with its development partners, would support the efforts of the Administration in helping to develop the potential geothermal resources on the island.
  
  Furthermore, prospects for a regional electricity inter connection between the islands of the Eastern Caribbean were also discussed on the assumption that geothermal resources were found in sufficient quantities on several islands to include Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and St. Lucia.
  
  For its part, the Nevis Island Administration Officials heaped praise on the OAS for the work it has already done in providing the requisite technical and other support to the Government of Nevis in its quest to develop its potential geothermal resources. They committed the new Local Administration to working with the OAS and promised to move the process forward including working to resolve current legal challenges that had temporarily stalled progress in respect of harnessing, producing and distributing geothermal power to the citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
• OAS Country Office Organizes Electricity Inter Connection Presentation
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday February 25, 2013
  
  
  The Staff at the OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis played an integral role in planning and organizing a Presentation of a Prefeasibility Study of an Electricity Inter Connection between St. Kitts and Nevis and between the Federation and Puerto Rico. Working with their colleagues in the OAS Department of Sustainable Development, the staff was instrumental in supporting the administrative, logistical, technical and promotional aspects of the event. The Presentation occurred at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI), on February 20, 2013, in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis gave the welcoming remarks to approximately thirty (30) participants representing a wide cross section of energy stakeholders, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister with the portfolios of Housing, Energy, Public Utilities and Works, the Honorable Earl A. Martin. The OAS Diplomat recalled that financing for the Study came from the US Government, through its State Department. He also said that the funds were channeled to the OAS, which served as the Clearing House for the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).
  
  Participants also included High Officials from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the two power generating entities in the Federation, namely, St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) and the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC), the Federal Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Physical Planning on Nevis and the Energy Bureau, within the US State Department in Washington, D.C. The Presentation of the Study was given by Mr. Jeffrey Palermo of KEMA Consulting in the United States.
  
  The study revealed that if geothermal resources were developed on the island of Nevis, it would be feasible to build an electricity Inter Connection between St. Kitts and Nevis with a return on investment within 2 to 3 years. Concerning the more long term proposal for an inter connection between the Federation and Puerto Rico the study examined a number of factors that could make the project viable. In this regard, it provided possible outcomes based on the assumption that the geothermal resources were available on Nevis in quantities of 200, 400 or 600 mega watts.
  
  With the Presentation of the Study completed, the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development will continue working with the Federal and Local Governments and indeed with energy stakeholders to achieve the goal of harnessing the potential geothermal resources on Nevis for the benefit of the citizens of the twin-island country.
  
• Over 40 Customs, Immigration and Border Security Officials receive Training
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday February 5, 2013
  
  training to carry out immigration, customs and border control/security functions. This became possible because of a Specialized National Workshop that was sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE). It was held at the St. Kitts Customs Training Facility, at the Customs Headquarters, during the period February 4-8, 2013.
  
  According to the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Starret Greene, the OAS, through CICTE, joined forces with the Government of Canada to meet the costs associated with the event. Mr. Greene also said that the workshop was designed to include elements of Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP) and that there was substantial collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted police as well. The Representative was careful to mention the full collaboration and support of the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its Customs and Excise Department, in making the workshop possible.
  
  In his feature address at the opening ceremony, the OAS Representative told the audience that the advent of globalization had ushered into the 21st century an increase in the free movement of people, goods, services and capital across borders – and such movements had produced a small but criminal minority who were deliberately engaged in trafficking in persons, in illegal drugs and in banned substances, to include certain chemicals. Mr. Greene remarked that they were also trafficking in dangerous weapons, ammunition, exotic animals, stolen goods, fake travel documents and high technology items. The OAS Diplomat assured his audience that the OAS through CICTE understood the need to better equip customs, immigration and border security officials, so that they could detect, prevent and combat criminal activity at all points of entry in St. Kitts and Nevis and the surrounding participating islands as well. He exhorted participants to make effective use of the training, not only as a means to pave a path to the realization of their career goals, but also to develop a culture of alertness and sustained vigilance on the job.
  
  The workshop was organized by the three branches which compose the OAS Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, namely the Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the Department of Public Security (DPS).
  
  February 5, 2013
  
• OAS Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Participates in CFBC Career Day
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday February 5, 2013
  
  OAS Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Participates in CFBC Career Day
  
  
  The Office of the OAS General Secretariat in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was among the leading participants in the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Career Day and Exposition, held on January 24, 2013, on the College campus in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
  
  The Office took full advantage of the widely attended event to promote and highlight the OAS Scholarship and Training Program by distributing information on the organization’s undergraduate, graduate and post graduate scholarship offers.
  
  Visitors to its booth were provided with brochures on the organization’s interest free loan program, namely, the LEO S ROWE FUND and its Professional Development Program, administered by the FUND Secretariat and the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture (DHDEC) respectively.
  
  The Career Day and Exposition attracted international and regional universities, business establishments operating in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and other institutions that are involved in counseling for higher education, the provision of training and employment for young people and disseminating information on career choices and career development.
  
  Mr. Winston Hanley, a member of the OAS General Secretariat Staff represented the OAS Office at the Career Day and Exposition.
  
  The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) is an educational institution that provides instruction, conducts research and disseminates knowledge of the standard required in liberal and creative arts, business, science, technology, agriculture and other branches of learning.
  
  January 25, 2013
  
• OAS Opens its Application Process for Academic Scholarships - 2014-2015 Academic Year
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday December 19, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Human Development, Education and Culture (DHDEC), has announced the opening of the application process that governs its scholarship program for graduate, undergraduate and postgraduate studies, for the 2014-2015 Academic Year. Qualified citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are invited to visit the organization’s webpage at WWW.EDUCOAS.ORG, where the Application Form and other invaluable details, specific to the scholarship program, can be found. Applicants are also invited to visit the OAS office in Fortlands, or call 1-869-465-2636, to obtain additional information on the application process.
  
  A maximum limit of US$30,000.00 is established on the total cost per scholarship per academic year. The benefits include: round trip ticket, tuition, mandatory fees, fixed monthly subsistence allowance, fixed annual book allowance, health insurance and administrative costs. These benefits vary according to the modality and length of the scholarship.
  
  According to the OAS Country office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, applicants have until February 28, 2013, to complete and forward their applications to the OAS, via online. For vetting purposes, applicants are also required to submit copies of their applications to the Department of Human Resource Management, at Government Headquarters, on Church Street. Persons should call or visit the said office to establish the specific date by which the submissions are due.
  
  The OAS Academic Scholarships are awarded to persons to undertake undergraduate or graduate studies, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree and/or graduate research that lead to a degree at a university of higher learning institution, in an OAS Member State, with the exception of his/her own sponsoring country.
  
• OAS Concludes Youth Conference and Highlights Recommendations
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday December 6, 2012
  
  The OAS Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, closed the Conference “Youth in Action for Democracy and Entrepreneurship, which took place at the headquarters of the organization, in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 2012. The event concluded with a series of recommendations that were presented to the OAS Member States, at a meeting of its Permanent Council on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
  
  The conclusions and recommendations of the forum urged the OAS General Secretariat to create a permanent technical unit that specialized in youth issues. The forum suggested that these issues should have a cross-sectoral perspective and should promote the democratic participation of the youth of the Americas as well. It was also recommended that a strategy of communication, dissemination and exchange of workable practices, including specific OAS programs related to youth civic participation, should be promoted.
  
  Additionally, suggestions were made to develop programs that would support youth entrepreneurship in its various phases, and to provide follow-up and development services for youth businesses, with plans for cooperation, the exchange of best practices and synergies between stakeholders. One of the conclusions called for the incorporation of business training and fostering entrepreneurship at all levels of education, including the development of skills from an early age, to create and conduct business in a global world.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes of the Conference. The OAS Diplomat said that it was important to give young people a voice and a forum to express their views openly on issues of concern to them. Mr. Greene emphasized that providing solutions that addressed the needs of young people were an essential response that would bring about trust, respect and good will between the youth of the hemisphere and stakeholders in government, the private sector and civil society organizations.
  
  The general outlines of the work that the Organization of American States is mandated to carry out on behalf of youth in the Hemisphere are defined in the General Assembly’s 2008 Declaration of Medellin.
  
• OAS Holds Youth Conference 2012 and related Exposition
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday December 4, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States is convening the OAS Youth Conference 2012: “Youth in Action for Democracy and Entrepreneurship” at its Headquarters in Washington D.C., today, December 4, 2012.
  
  The Conference is organized by the organization’s Interdepartmental Working Group on Youth (IWGY) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary General, and it is sponsored by PepsiCo, the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) and Google Argentina.
  
  The Objective of the OAS Youth Conference are (1) to engage, dialogue, socialize and forge partnerships with youth and youth authorities in OAS activities; (2) to showcase current OAS Youth activities organized under two thematic areas: Youth and Democracy and Youth and Entrepreneurship and (3) to follow-up on OAS youth mandates.
  
  Participants will include Youth Organizations, Youth in OAS Member States, OAS Interns, Universities and Academic Centers and OAS Member States, including Ministers and Highest Authorities on Youth, Youth Representatives in Member States and OAS Permanent Missions, based in Washington, D.C.
  
  Representing the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is the Honorable Glen Phillips, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information Technology, Communication, Sports and Posts. The Minister is accompanied at the Conference by Ms. Patrice Harris, CARICOM Youth Ambassador in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
• OAS Selects Candidates for Scholarships for 2013/2014 Academic Year
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday December 4, 2012
  
  Development, Education and Culture, has selected 4 candidates, from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, to receive academic scholarships at the Graduate and Undergraduate levels, during the 2013/2014 academic year.
  
  Selected to pursue graduate studies at the University of the West Indies, Barbados Campus were Radel Charles Thompson (Masters in Natural Resources Management and Policy) and Theodore Gareth Phipps (Master’s in Business Administration). At the Undergraduate level, Jennifer Idetha Liburd will pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education at the Grand Canyon University, U.S.A., through distance learning and Verona Dannicia Sutton will work towards completing a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry, at Midwestern State University, U.S.A.
  
  Additionally, the OAS, through its Partnerships Program for Education Training has awarded two nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis partial scholarships to participate in an online Certificate Program, namely the 2012 OAS/eCornell Scholarship Program. Louvina Patricia Williams will pursue a certificate in “Financial Management” and Sandra Patricia Richardson will complete a Certificate Program in “Project Leadership”.
  
  OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, expressed his delight that the OAS Scholarship and Training Program continued to provide citizens of the Federation with the opportunity to pursue higher education in areas of specialization that were supportive of the developmental thrust of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The OAS Diplomat said that he was encouraged by the number and quality of applicants from St. Kitts and Nevis who were seeking financial support from the organization, including accessing the interest free loans offered by the Leo S Rowe Fund. Mr. Greene also emphasized that developing the human resource capacity of the Federation was an essential prerequisite to building and maintaining a strong democracy in an environment of peace, stability and prosperity.
  
  The Organization of American States, which consists of 34 independent countries of the hemisphere, is the world’s oldest regional institution, which focuses on promoting democracy, defending human rights, ensuring a multidimensional approach to security, fostering integral development and supporting inter-American Legal Cooperation.
  
  
  
• Findings and Recommendations of Energy Audits Report made Public: OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Continues its Coordination Role
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday November 19, 2012
  
  On November 12 and 13, 2012, the findings and recommendations of two separate Energy Audit Reports were presented in Nevis and St. Kitts respectively.
  
  Both reports followed the execution of two (2) Energy Audits conducted in July and August of 2012 on both islands as an activity within the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program that is funded by the European Union (EU) and executed by the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD). The audits were designed to get a snap shot of energy consumption and energy efficiency on both islands with specific reference to public and private buildings.
  
  The report addressed issues relating to relatively high levels of energy consumption, with air conditioning systems using the highest percentage of energy. Infiltration, this, vents, cracks and holes through which air passes was also identified as a major cause for high levels of energy consumption. Darkly colored roofs, lack of proper insulation, inefficient lighting systems and appliances, and poorly constructed windows were also among the factors that contributed to significant energy loss in the buildings that were audited in St. Kitts and in Nevis as well.
  
  The audiences were inspired by the presentation and based on their participation in the question and answer sessions, there was a sense that a new consciousness had emerged about the importance of energy conservation and taking the requisite steps to bring about energy efficiency in both residential and commercial structures in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. High Authorities who attended the presentation called for increased public awareness and public education as well.
  
  OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis Starret Greene worked closely with his colleagues in the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) and collaborated with Consultant Wilkinson and the relevant Government agencies at the Federal and Local levels, to ensure the success of this energy related exercise. He told stakeholders in St. Kitts and in Nevis that through the CSEP, the OAS was instrumental in working with the countries in the sub-region to raise public awareness and to make energy conservation and energy efficiency an integral part of the curriculum in Schools.
  
  The Energy Audits were carried out by the Firm MC Wilkinson Ltd and coordinated and managed by Ms. Christine Wilkinson
  
• The Rt. Hon Dr. Denzil Douglas Applauds the Work of the OAS in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday November 6, 2012
  
  On October 31, 2012, the Rt. Honorable Dr. Denzil Douglas and the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, held a wide ranging discussion at the Office of the Prime Minister, on a number of initiatives that are being undertaken by the hemispheric body in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  In their dialogue, PM Douglas reiterated his Government’s support for the Civil Registry and Identity project that is sponsored by the OAS, and he expressed satisfaction that the project was soon to commence the first phase of its implementation. The PM also voiced his appreciation for the OAS’s technical and financial support, and praised the organization for developing the Caribbean Civil Registry Information System (CCRIS), that would, among other things, allow St. Kitts and Nevis to digitize information contained in record books at the Civil Registry, primarily births, deaths and marriages.
  
  The Prime Minister’s conversation with the OAS Diplomat also touched on the role of the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), an affiliate of the OAS, in promoting entrepreneurship among young people in the Federation. The PM was informed of a forthcoming Mini Business Lab Training Course for Young Entrepreneurs, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados, in collaboration with the OECS, YABT, the Federal Ministry of Youth Empowerment and other Stakeholders in the Federation. This event is scheduled for November 2, 2012, at the UWI Open Campus, and is expected to attract some 50 young people. The Dr. Douglas was also told that a similar event would be held in Nevis on November 3, 2012. Representative Greene also briefed the Prime Minister on the OAS’s Youth Conference 2012, that is being organized by the Office of the Assistant Secretary General and the OAS Interdepartmental Working Group on Youth, to be held on December 2, 2012, at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mr. Greene said that the event would bring together young people and decision makers on youth issues from throughout the Americas, to discuss the event’s theme “democracy and entrepreneurship”. In this connection, the PM expressed support for the initiatives undertaken by the OAS on behalf of youth in the region and at the level of the hemisphere as well. Dr. Douglas said that he was pleased that his Government, through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, was collaborating closely with YABT and the OAS General Secretariat, to advance the goals and aspirations of youth in the Americas.
  
  Prime Minister Douglas also learned of the completion of a Feasibility Study, undertaken by the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), for an Electricity Interconnection between St. Kitts and Nevis, in respect of the development of geothermal energy on Nevis. The PM was also informed that the OAS/DSD would consult with the Ministry of Public Utilities, Works, Housing and Energy on convening a Stakeholders meeting in the Federation to discuss the report’s findings. It is believed that the said meeting would be held before the end of 2012.
  
  OAS’s Professional Development Training Program and its range of Training Courses offered through its various Secretariats was given considerable attention in the meeting. In this connection, the OAS Representative informed the Prime Minister of a series of forthcoming training events that would benefit Civil Servants and other Government workers in St. Kitts and Nevis, in the areas of Cargo Security Management, Document Security and Identity Management, and Passenger Interdiction Operations.
  
  At the close of their discussion, Dr. Douglas expressed his Government’s appreciation to the OAS for the range of programs it continued to sponsor in the Federation, and thanked Mr. Greene for his efforts in promoting and directing the affairs of the organization in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  
• OAS Country Office Coordinates Mini Business Lab Training Course
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday November 5, 2012
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was at the centre of coordinating two separate but identical Mini Business Lab Training Courses that were held in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis early November. Specifically, the first event took place at the UWI Open Campus Conference Room on November 2, 2012, in St. Kitts and the second was held at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Charlestown Nevis, on November 3, 2012. Both events attracted approximately 100 young persons from the Federation, ranging between the ages of 16 and 29.
  
  The partners with whom the Country Office collaborated were the Federal Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information Technology, Telecommunication, Sports and Posts, the Ministry of Education and Information, the UWI Open Campus and the Ministry of Social Development, within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).
  
  Among other things, the Course was convened to provide a forum for young aspiring entrepreneurs in St. Kitts and Nevis to brain storm on business ideas or business proposals, with a view to selecting those that could ultimately become serious and viable business ventures. Both events also provided the opportunity for young entrepreneurs to become involved in the Caribbean Innovative Challenge Program (CIC). This program was designed by YABT to stimulate innovation, produce new entrepreneurial initiatives and tap the potential for young people to generate new ideas to benefit society and their community. In this connection, many of the young people attending the mini lab course registered for the CIC competition.
  
  The Mini Business Lab Training Courses were sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados, working in close collaboration with the OECS, YABT, the relevant Ministries on St. Kitts as well as on Nevis, and other critical stakeholders on the ground in the Federation.
  
  OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Starret Greene gave remarks at the opening ceremonies held in Basseterre and Charlestown.
  
  
• OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis helps in Coordinating Regional Activities
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday October 22, 2012
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued its active role in the coordination and promotion of OAS activities in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and in the Caribbean region as a whole.
  
  Working with the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, the OAS Country Office assisted in securing the nomination of five (5) participants, from St. Kitts and Nevis, in a sub regional maritime security workshop on risk assessment and management. This event, held in Trinidad and Tobago during October 16-18, 2012, attracted participants from 14 Caribbean Member States. It provided an opportunity for participants to present and discuss their risk management models in maritime security; allowed for joint discussion between functionaries in the various countries; and facilitated the sharing of best practices, challenges and areas of strength. Participants also were afforded the opportunity to hear presentations on the IMO approach to risk management, Canada’s risk model and the United States Coast Guard risk management model, as well as presentations from a private sector representative responsible for including the vision of the industry in the discussions.
  
  In collaboration with the Department of Sustainable Development, the OAS Country Office was also instrumental in the coordination and planning of the 2012 Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF). Capitalizing on its good working rapport with Stakeholders in the public sector of St. Kitts and Nevis, the OAS Country Office was instrumental in fielding a 3 man delegation to participate in the CREF meeting, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during October 15-17, 2012. The event attracted participants from across the energy sector in the Caribbean, to include utility attendees, energy developers and investors, Government Ministers of Energy, experts in traditional and renewable sources of energy and representatives from sub-regional, regional, hemispheric and international organizations. The CREF discussed a wide range of energy issues that included the procurement of renewable energy, the policy environment for renewable energy, financing of energy projects, utilities and distributed generation, energy efficiency, future of solar in the Caribbean, opportunities for international investment and interconnection.
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis remains vigilant in supporting and promoting the work of the organization in the Federation and in the region as a whole.
  
• St. Kitts & Nevis hosted three workshops on sustainable energy
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday September 28, 2012
  
  BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 25TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts has completed the hosting of three workshops on sustainable energy.
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Sustainable Development and the Energy Department of the Caribbean Community Secretariat collaborated with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to accelerate the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy in Caribbean countries.
  
  Three organizations working under the umbrella of two EU-funded initiatives, namely, the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Capacity Support (CRECS), co-hosted the three regional workshops on sustainable energy from September 10 -14, 2012 at the Marriott St. Kitts Resort.
  
  The workshops were attended by official delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The first workshop from September 10-11, focused on building capacity for the design and implementation of sustainable energy and energy conservation awareness programs
  
  The second workshop on September 12, was attended by government officials from Ministries responsible for Education, and energy and climate change, as well as science school teachers and reviewed the Caribbean Energy Awareness and Education Programme (CEEAP) and its campaign Learn and Save, and explored avenues for its expansion as a follow-up to the CSEP.
  
  The intention is that CEEAP would help to reinforce institutional and pedagogic capacities to integrate in the curriculum, the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
  
  On September 13 and 14, a Teacher’s Sustainable Energy Workshop was held with the session attended by government officials from the Ministries of Education and science school teachers.
  
  This session consisted of lectures and hands-on exercises in renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. In addition, a package of educational materials and toolkits were handed-over to the six independent OECS countries and the Bahamas
  
  The workshops were led by Dr. Alexandra Daval, an expert in Information and Communications and Mr. Jonathan Rand, who has taught thousands of teachers and students about wind energy, and has facilitated teacher workshops on renewable energy science across the United States as well as Canada, Costa Rica, Chile and Ireland. “We are pleased to bring to the region the extraordinary skills and experiences for the workshop leaders together with the deeply committed education and energy sector representatives of the Caribbean to help expand clean energy educational practices,” said Mark Lambrides, Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section Chief at the OAS
  
  The changes taking place in every aspect of today’s world have a powerful and immediate influence on the nature and function of professional educators, whose roles include the ability to mediate between students and the world around them. These challenges have already been recognized by the Education Ministers at the Twenty-second Meeting of OECS Ministers of Education held in St. Kitts in 2012
  
  Given that synergistic efforts are needed to strengthen the capacity building of government officials to implement educational and awareness programs that endorse sustainable energy in the Caribbean, the OAS is working closely with other relevant agencies, such as the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme, CARILEC, the University of the West Indies and the OECS Secretariat, among others.
  
• REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WORKSHOPS FOR ENERGY AND EDUCATOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CARIBBEAN
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday September 24, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Sustainable Development and the Energy Department of the Caribbean Community Secretariat is collaborating with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to accelerate the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy in Caribbean countries.
  
  To this end the three organizations working under the umbrella of two EU-funded initiatives, namely, the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Capacity Support (CRECS), co-hosted three regional workshops on sustainable energy from September 10 -14, 2012 at the Marriott St. Kitts Resort in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The workshops were attended by official delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The first workshop from September 10-11, focused on building capacity for the design and implementation of sustainable energy and energy conservation awareness programs.
  
  The second workshop on September 12, which was attended by government officials from Ministries responsible for Education, and energy and climate change, as well as science school teachers, reviewed the Caribbean Energy Awareness and Education Programme (CEEAP) and its campaign Learn and Save, and explored avenues for its expansion as a follow-up to the CSEP. The intention is that CEEAP would help to reinforce institutional and pedagogic capacities to integrate in the curriculum, the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
  On September 13 and 14, a Teacher’s Sustainable Energy Workshop was held. The session was attended by government officials from the Ministries of Education and science school teachers. This session consisted of lectures and hands-on exercises in renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. In addition, a package of educational materials and toolkits were handed-over to the six independent OECS countries and the Bahamas.
  The workshops were led by Dr. Alexandra Daval, an expert in Information and Communications and Mr. Jonathan Rand, who has taught thousands of teachers and students about wind energy, and has facilitated teacher workshops on renewable energy science across the United States as well as Canada, Costa Rica, Chile and Ireland. “We are pleased to bring to the region the extraordinary skills and experiences for the workshop leaders together with the deeply committed education and energy sector representatives of the Caribbean to help expand clean energy educational practices,” said Mark Lambrides, Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section Chief at the OAS.
  The changes taking place in every aspect of today’s world have a powerful and immediate influence on the nature and function of professional educators, whose roles include the ability to mediate between students and the world around them. These challenges have already been recognized by the Education Ministers at the Twenty-second Meeting of OECS Ministers of Education held in Saint Kitts in 2012.
  Given that synergistic efforts are needed to strengthen the capacity building of government officials to implement educational and awareness programs that endorse sustainable energy in the Caribbean, the OAS is working closely with other relevant agencies, such as the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme, CARILEC, the University of the West Indies and the OECS Secretariat, among others.
  
  For more information contact:
  
  Mark Lambrides Carolina Peña
  Section Chief, OAS Energy and Climate Change Mitigation CSEP-RCU Manager
  [email protected] [email protected]
  
  
• OAS Country Office helps Coordinates a Series of Energy Workshops
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday September 13, 2012
  
  Working with the OAS’ Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), the OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis played a pivotal role in the planning and organizing of two energy and education related workshops, held in Frigate Bay, St. Kitts, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
  
  The Second Sustainable Energy Workshop on the Caribbean Energy Awareness and Education Programme (CEEAP) was held on September 12, 2012 and the Teacher’s Sustainable Energy Workshop was held on September 13 and 14, 2012. Both events were sponsored by the Department of Sustainable Development, through its European Union funded initiative, the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), in conjunction with the Energy Desk of the CARICOM Secretariat, through its initiative, Caribbean Renewable Energy Capacity Support (CRECS).
  
  These workshops were aimed at facilitating the joint design and implementation of national education and awareness strategies on energy in the Caribbean. They were intended to further build the foundation for incorporating and raising the profile of energy in the region. Teachers were specifically invited to be part of these events so that they would have the opportunity to learn how to integrate a set of modules on sustainable energy into their classrooms. In this connection, material created by the Caribbean Energy Awareness and Education Programme (CEEAP), were distributed to teachers with the understanding that they would be utilized by Caribbean Ministries of Education, in coordination with the Ministries responsible for Energy as practical tools during the staging of National Energy Weeks, in Member Countries.
  
  Delegates at both events were drawn from OAS member countries in the Caribbean to include, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
• OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Promotes SNAPSHOTS of DEMOCRACY photo contest
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday September 12, 2012
  
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joined forces with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Telecommunications, Technology and Sports and a local Radio Station WINN FM, in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, to promote SNAPSHOTS of DEMOCRACY photo contest.
  
  The contest is organized through the OAS’ Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) and the Art Museum of the Americas, to celebrate 50 years of OAS electoral observation in the Americas.
  
  The Ministry of Youth Empowerment agreed to place the announcement of the contest on its webpage as well as on its Face book page. For its part, the WINNFM radio station interviewed the OAS Representative about the contest and created and gave it wide coverage by airing the interview on its News Broadcast, during the weekend of September 7-9, 2012.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, remarked that celebrating 50 years of OAS electoral observation in the Americas was an important milestone. Mr. Greene said that, during the past five decades, the OAS had built a credible and admirable reputation in observing elections throughout the hemisphere. The OAS Diplomat concluded that, during the past 50 years, the defense of democracy had been an important OAS objective and that the organization, through the Inter-American Democratic Charter, would continue to work with its 34 member countries to defend the rights of the peoples of the Americas to democracy.
  
• OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Coordinates Energy Audit
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday August 1, 2012
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is intimately involved in the coordination of an Energy Audit exercise in the Federation. The exercise is one of several activities within the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP). The CSEP is a European Union Financed Sub-regional project that is being managed by the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), and involved seven (7) Caribbean countries.
  
  The Energy Audit is being conducted over a period of two weeks, namely July 23 to 26, 2012 in Nevis, and July 30 to August 2, 2012, in St. Kitts. It is an integral component of the CSEP that focuses on promoting energy conservation in St. Kitts and Nevis as well as raising public awareness about the importance and value of energy efficiency.
  
  The exercise is spearheaded by Consultant Ms. Christine Wilkinson who is ably supported by trained technicians from both St. Kitts and Nevis. It involved the auditing of designated buildings in order to determine their efficiency in terms of energy usage. Specifically, the technical team, armed with a variety of instruments and equipment, is engaged in collecting a set of readings and statistics that will be used in analyzing and evaluating the energy efficiency of the structures under examination. A final report will be prepared and the findings will be made public in September 2012.
  
  In preparation for the Energy Audit exercise, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, met with all the Stakeholder Representatives, including the relevant Permanent Secretaries, Messrs Lenrick Lake and Ernie Stapleton, who manage the respective Ministries of Energy on St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Speaking from the OAS Office in Fortlands, Mr. Greene said that energy conservation was critical for the continued preservation of the environment, vital for keeping energy costs at affordable levels and essential for achieving energy independence. The OAS Diplomat also remarked that raising public awareness about the importance of energy conservation required a sustained effort and that the OAS, through the CSEP, would continue to work with all Stakeholders to ensure that conservation of energy becomes a way of life at the national, regional and hemispheric levels
  
• OAS Sponsors Forum on Small Hotels in the Caribbean
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday July 10, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, is organizing a Forum for managers of small tourism enterprises as well as public officials in the tourism sector to discuss a number of issues considered critical to the survival and wellbeing of small hotels in the Caribbean region and important for strengthening their roles in the sustainable growth and development of the tourism industry.
  
  The Forum, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda on July 12 and 13, 2012, will discuss a range of opportunities for small hotels to access important information on the provision of quality service, developing a culture of hospitality, social responsibility, marketing strategies, utilizing technological tools, introducing suitable tourist information systems and the effective use of social media to make their businesses more competitive.
  
  The gathering will bring together representatives of small and medium tourism enterprises from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. Richard Boon of the Timothy Beach Resort will attend from St. Kitts and Mr. Kenneth Skeete of the Mount Nevis Hotel will attend from the island of Nevis.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis said that the initiative was part of the OAS’s Program for Sustainable Tourism and that the event was being conducted under the auspices of the Small Tourism Enterprise Network (STEN) project. The OAS Diplomat also revealed that his organization had a long history of working in partnership with small hotels in the region that dated back to the late 1980’s. Mr. Greene explained that the OAS’s collaboration with these entities had resulted in bringing about improvements in their administrative, management and marketing processes.
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) is a multilateral political body with membership comprising 34 Independent Countries of the Hemisphere.
  
• OAS Country Office Coordinates Instructional Design and Skills Workshop
  Basseterrs, St. Kitts, Monday July 23, 2012
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, through its Department of Maritime Affairs, to organize an Instructional Design and Skills Workshop to be held in St. Kitts and Nevis, during the period July 23-27, 2012.
  
  The event is sponsored by the OAS, through its Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) with significant support from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States and the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The workshop is designed to achieve three major objectives. (1) To build capacity for Civil Aviation security in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. (2) To strengthen the human capital capability of frontline workers in the Department of Maritime Affairs as well as their counterparts in other Ministries and Agencies, who play a significant role in helping to coordinate and implement the Civil Aviation policies, regulations, procedures and practices in the twin-island Federation, and (3) To train participants to become Instructors so that they will in turn emerge as in house Instructors for Civil Aviation and related issues in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis said that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), like St. Kitts and Nevis, remained vulnerable to loosing some of their best experts and specialists to the developed countries, especially in the era of globalization that he said was driven by the free movement of skills and expertise. The OAS Diplomat explained that it had become a major challenge for small countries like St. Kitts and Nevis to keep the best and brightest that make up their human capital base, particularly in a global environment that tended to offer better opportunities for upward mobility and career advancement. Mr. Greene suggested that Governments of Small Island Developing States should find ways of offering incentives that will not only lure specialists and experts to their shores but also keep those qualified persons who form the cream of the crop of their human resources.
  
  The Workshop will attract 20 participants from St. Kitts and Nevis, and it will be facilitated by two experts from the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA Representative from the Eastern Caribbean Ms. Loretta Mc Neir will participate in the opening ceremony and the Honorable Richard Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport, will give the feature address.
  
• Chorus of High Praises for Rural Tourism Business Lab Course
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday June 29, 2012
  
  The OAS Country Office and a group of Stakeholders to include the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) were showered with high praises for playing a leading role in the planning, coordination, organization and implementation of a Rural Tourism Business Lab Course, held in St. Kitts, during the week of June 4-8, 2012.
  
  The event received high praises from all 30 participants, ranging between the ages of 16 to 36, who were asked at the conclusion of the course, to complete an evaluation form.
  
  The participants spoke with great satisfaction of (1) the relevance of the material and the methodology used by the facilitators in presenting the course (2) the use of games to drive home crucial points and concept and (3) the practical exercises that forced them to apply the various skills, tools and approaches learned, during the five day session.
  
  One participant seemed to sum up the sentiments of the others when she said “the course motivated us in an extraordinary way to become the captains of industry in a global competitive arena, and it also provided a set of very useful tools that we can apply as emerging entrepreneurs who are eager to now start our own businesses”.
  
  The Course was sponsored by the Young Americas Business Trust in collaboration with Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, and in cooperation with the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, the Ministry of Education and Information, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, the Ministry of Social Development in Nevis and the Ministry of International Trade.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, who played a pivotal role in attracting Stakeholders to support the course, said that among the next step outlined was to develop a mechanism that would give young entrepreneurs access to available resources so that they can have the opportunity to translate their ideas and skills into starting their own businesses.
  
• OAS Supports Federation’s Adaptation of Puente in the Caribbean
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday June 28, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States, through its Department of Social Development and Employment (DSDE), and within the framework of its technical cooperation on social protection systems in the Caribbean, made available US$5,958.78 or EC$16,088.78 to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in support of the country’s adaption of the Puente in the Caribbean Program.
  
  Working with the Ministry of Community and Social Development on St. Kitts and Nevis, through the OAS Country Office, the DSDE readily gave its support to the efforts of local policy makers and technocrats in formulating a local version of the Puente in the Caribbean Program specifically adapted for St. Kitts and Nevis, dubbed MEND SKN (Mold, Empower, Nurture and Direct Families in St. Kitts and Nevis)
  
  The funds provided by DSDE were used to support a one week immersion study tour to Jamaica, hosted by that Country’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security. In this connection, a five member team of Social Assistance Officers from the Ministry of Community and Social Development in the Federation traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, during the period June 18-22, 2012.
  
  Early accounts from the returning participants in the Jamaica Study Tour suggest that the experience was most impactful. Key highlights of their experience were (1) visits to the Bridge Jamaica Girls Club (2) observing first hand the Management Information System used for Administration and Management of Social Programs in Jamaica and (3) organized Field Visits that allowed for interaction with the clients.
  
  The Social Assistance Officers in their initial report expressed the view that the experience of the Study Tour was invaluable and that a number of things they saw and learned had important applications not only for the piloting of the MEND SKN but also for further strengthening of the Federation’s National Social Protection Strategy.
  
• OAS St. Kitts and Nevis Coordinates Course for Young Entrepreneurs
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday May 21, 2012
  
  
  The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is mobilizing Stakeholders in the Federation to sponsor, plan and organize a forthcoming Rural Tourism Business Lab Course, to be held June 4-8, 2012 in St. Kitts. Stakeholders include the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Ministry of Youth Employment, the Ministry of Education and Information, Ministry of Social Development through its Youth Department on Nevis, and the Ministry of International Trade.
  
  The Course, specifically designed for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 16-35, is partly sponsored by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, through the Golden Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center and in cooperation with local entities in the Twin-island Federation. The Course is part of Youth-IN Entrepreneur, a joint programme of YABT and UNDP. It will be the beginning of a process that will last two years, and to help increase entrepreneurial activity by youth in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis is spearheading the coordination of the 5 day event. He said that one of the objectives of the course is to expand participants’ acquaintance and understanding of rural tourism in practical planning, development, economics, operations, management and marketing. The Representative also indicated that the Course would help young entrepreneurs in the Federation to become acquainted with the YABT tools, created within the four focus areas of leadership and Networking, Training and Experiences, Strategic Alliances and Technological Resources, as well as with Israeli models for supporting entrepreneurs.
  
• OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis Promotes Hemisphere's Summit.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday April 12, 2012
  
  The OAS Representative in the Federation of st. Kitts and Nevis, Mr Starret D. Greene used his access to the local media houses in the twin-island nation to promote the coming together of the Hemisphere's Heads of State and Government in Cartagena, Colombia, for the Sixth Summit of the Americas, on April 14 and 15, 2012.
  Speaking to a local FM Radio Station on Nevis, the OAS Diplomat said that the gathering of the political leaders in the Hemisphere was more than the exchange of pleasantries and photo opportunities. Mr Greene said it was a major political event that allowed for a meaningful dialogue between some of the most influential leaders in the world, on a number of issues that were critical to improving the welfare of the citizens of the Americas and to advancing the political, economic, security and social development of the countries in the Hemisphere. Commenting on the issue of access to technology that has emerged as one of the key topics to be addressed by the Leaders, the OAS Representative said that it was important for the citizens of the Hemisphere to have access to technology as a means to strengthen their connection with each other and with the outside world as well. "Using technologies to achieve greater efficiencies in all aspects of their daily lives as a necessary condition for citizens of our region to realize their fullest ptontial in a globalized economy and in an interconnected and competitive world", Mr Greene concluded.
  The Leaders will be guided in their deliberations by the theme of the Summit "Connecting the Americas: Partners for Prosperity", which focuses on the role of physical intergration and regional cooperation as a means to achieve greater levels of development and to overcome the Hemisphere's challenges in several key areas. These include poverty and inequalities, citizen security, disasters and access to technologies.
  This forum that occurs every three years, offers the opportunity for countries to jointly define a hemispheric agenda at the highest level to address urgent challenges and bring about positive change.
• CICAD/PROCCER Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday March 20, 2012
  
  
  During March 12-16, 2012, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the Caribbean Program of Training and Certification for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug and Violence (PROCCER) held a Regional Programming meeting in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the response of OAS member States in the Caribbean to treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to illegal drugs. This regional exercise attracted participants from all OAS Caribbean Member Countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia.
  
  The meeting was divided into two segments. The first of which was attended by the Evaluation Task Force and the second attended by the Task Force and the PROCCER Focal Points from all OAS Caribbean Member States. During March 12-14, participants focused on Prevention and Treatment of Evaluation Systems Development as well as how to improve coordination with other educational programs in the Caribbean. The final two days, March 15 and 16, 2012, delegates turned their attention to Assessment Methodology and Training for focal points. Those designated will eventually be charged with carrying out the needs assessments in their respective countries.
  
  During an opening ceremony on March 15, 2012, that formally launched the Assessment Workshop, OAS Representative Starret Greene addressed the participants. Mr. Greene said that Caribbean member States of CICAD had remained strong supporters of the Commission’s efforts to coordinate the Hemisphere’s response to all aspects of the drug problem and lauded their work in enhancing their human, institutional and other capacities in order to reduce the production, trafficking and use and abuse of illegal drugs in the region. The OAS Representative called on Caribbean member States to spare no means to provide the requisite treatment to those persons in the region who were addicted to drugs as well as those who have been adversely impacted in one way or the other. The OAS Diplomat assured the meeting of the organization’s commitment, through CICAD, to continue its work with all member countries to meet the current and emerging challenges associated with all aspects of the drug phenomena. “I have faith that this partnership will produce positive outcomes for our countries in the short, medium and long terms”, Mr. Greene concluded.
  
• OAS & EU Colaborate on Alternative Energy Development.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday March 20, 2012
  
  On March 12, 2012, The OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis played host to a Results Oriented Monitoring (ROM) Mission for the EU sponsored regional project entitled “Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP)”. The said project is executed by the Organization of American States, through its Department of Sustainable Development in seven OAS member Countries in the Caribbean.
  
  The Mission, led by Mr. Roberto Canessa, an independent consultant with the European Union, was designed to examine the progress of the CSEP, with a view to make a determination regarding the fulfillment of its stated goals and objectives i.e., to support the efforts of St. Kitts and Nevis to develop clean, affordable and renewable alternative sources of energy and thereby lessened the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. The Mission also sought to identify those activities that were still to be implemented and to establish whether there were any problems associated with the effective execution of the CSEP, with a view to resolving them.
  
  In this regard, the consultant first traveled to the island of Nevis where he met with high level officials within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and independent energy operators involved in the production of alternative sources of energy such as wind, geothermal and solar. He also used his visit to tour the Nevis Wind Farm, the Geothermal Site and the Electricity Power Generating Station.
  
  Accompanied by OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret D Greene, Mr. Canessa met with energy stakeholders on St. Kitts that included officials representing the Federal Government. The discussions were centered on the progress made in developing a National Energy Policy for the Federation and the introduction of energy conservation programs as part of an energy efficiency thrust in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Roberto also used his time on St. Kitts to also hold talks with workers at the Power Station at Needsmust. He discussed a number of projects involving a proposed wind farm, a newly installed solar panel at a designated Government building, a commercial solar facility and a waste to energy plant.
  
• OAS selects two (2) Candidates to Receive its Prestigious Scholarship Award for the 2012-2013 academic Year.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday February 27, 2012
  
  Karmena Ghanla O,flaherty and Cherrilyn Wardee-Crawford were selected to receive OAS Scholarships for the Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Studies 2012/2013. Ms O'Flaherty was selected to pursue a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering and Mrs Warde-Crawford was selected to write a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology. Both were selected from a field of 10 applicants from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  An OAS scholarship provides a maximum limit of US$30,000 per academic year. The benefits include round trip tickect, tuition, mandatory fees, fixed monthly subsistence allowance, fixed annaul book allowance, health insurance and administrative costs.
  According to the OAS representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr Starret Greene, selected candidates will be contacted by a representative of the Department of Human Development, Education and Cuulture (DHDEC) within the next few weeks in order to gather all the necessary information for the preparation of the OAS Scholarship or to discuss placement options. Mr Greene also cautioned that candidates should await a communication from the DHDEC and the official award documents before making any major life changes.
  OAS Scholarships are awarded for a period of no more than 2 academic years. The renewal for the second academic year is subject to the availability of funds, the good academic performance of the student during the first academic year, and the confirmation by the academic institution that the renewal period is necessary to conclude the program of study for which the scholarship was initially awarded.
• OAS conducts Prison Survey Project in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday February 28, 2012
  
  The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is among 4 OECS Countries that are currently participating in a Prison Survey Project, sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), through its Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), and in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Homeland Security.
  The survey will, among other things, focus on the relationship between drugs and crime. The methodology includes the use of a standardized questionnaire in face to face interviews with a representative sample of adult prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, in St. Kitts and Nevis. In this connection, a local survey team, headed by Mrs Elneth A. Toussaint-Harvey, consultant, has been assembled. The Consultant will manage the team of interviewers and data entry persons.
  On February 23, 2012, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission Staff, working in collaboration with Mrs Toussaint-harvey, conducted several training sessions for interviewers, data entry persons and team members, at the premises of the University of the West Indies Open Campus.
  At the conclusion of the survey, a report on the findings will be produced for widespread consultation with all Stakeholders in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, with a view to addressing the issues that will emanate from the report.
  The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) was established in 1986 by the General Assembly of the Organization of American states to forge the Hemisphere,s response to all aspects of the drug problem. Its core mission is to enhance human and institutional capacities and channel the collective energy of the member states to reduce the production, trafficking and use and abuse of drugs in the Americas.
• The Right Honorable Dr. Denzil L Douglas Visited Offices of the OAS General Secretariat in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday January 10, 2012
  
  On Tuesday, January 10, 2012, The Right Honorable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis visited the offices of the General Secretariat of the OAS in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  During the Prime Minister’s sojourn, the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, acting in the name of OAS Secretary General, His Excellency Jose Miguel Insulza and the Assistant Secretary General, His Excellency Albert Ramdin, congratulated Dr. Douglas on his recent appointment by Queen Elizabeth 11, as a member of the Privy Council in England, and the conferral of the title “The Right Honorable Prime Minister”.
  
  In a private dialogue between The Right Honorable Prime Minister and the OAS Representative, both men discussed a number of issues on the Inter-American Agenda as well as developments that were being pursued by the OAS in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The discussion ranged from issues relating to progress being made in St. Kitts and Nevis on developing renewable sources of energy to a proposed FEMCIDI multinational project that would seek to achieve greater integration of ICT in the class room, as a tool for effective learning.
  
  Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Dr. Denzil Douglas also used the occasion to reaffirm his Government’s support for the work of the OAS in the Hemisphere, and expressed satisfaction with the productive nature of the partnership between St. Kitts and Nevis and the Organization of American States – a relationship that was formally established in 1984. For his part, the OAS Representative expressed profuse appreciation to The Right Honorable Prime Minister for his unwavering support for the OAS, particularly with respect to the programs, projects and activities that the organization sponsored in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  At the end of the meeting, the OAS Representative led the Prime Minister on a tour of the OAS Office and the surrounding premises. By agreement, the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has the responsibility for the full maintenance of the property which it provides free of charge as long as the organization maintains a presence in the Federation.
  
  
• Applicants in St. Kitts and Nevis Vie for OAS Scholarships.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday January 6, 2012
  
  Students, professionals and aspiring citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis who are desirous of pursuing their higher education are busy making applications for OAS Scholarships at the graduate and undergraduate levels, for the academic year 2013/2014.
  In response to a December 2011 announcement made by the department of Human development, Education and Culture (DHDEC) that the OAS scholarship application process was opened, Mr Starret D Greene, OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, undertook a media blitz to promote the OAS Scholarship and Training Program. Mr. Greene not only made appearances on local radio and television stations, but also provided information on the program to local newspapers and popular multimedia internet sites, based in St. Kitts and Nevis. Information on the scholarship program was also made available to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College on St. Kitts and the Sixth Form College on Nevis.
  OAS Scholarships have a monetary cap of US$30,000.00 per academic year which includes the following benefits: round trip ticket, tuition and mandatory fees, monthly subsistence allowance, medical insurance, and and yearly book allowance. The benefits are assigned on a case by case basis.
  Between 1985 and 2010, approximately 150 nationals of the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis were awarded academic scholarships from the OAS Program. Each scholarship was valued at US$30,000.00 per annum. Assuming that each awardee received US$60,000.00 for two years of study, the OAS would have provided, during the period in question, US$9,000,000.00, an amount that is equivalent to EC$24,300,000.
  The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its national Liaison Office has set March 15, 2012 as the deadline for the submission of all scholarship applications. The OAS Department of Human Development, Education and Culture (DHDEC) at Headquarters, has set April 20, 2012 as its deadline for receiving all applications.
  
• OAS Launches Inter-Connection Feasibility Study.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday December 14, 2011
  
  Starret D. Greene, OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and Mr Mark Lambrides, Chief of the Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development were among Government officials, technical experts and energy stakeholders for the official launch of a study into the potential for electrical interconnection between the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico.
  The launch took place on Thursday, December 8, 2011, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort located at Frigate Bay, St. Kitts.
  This initiative is a key component of the Energy and Climate partnership of the Americas (ECPA) Caribbean initiative.The study will assess the potential to interconnect the electricity grids of these Caribbean islands. While the demographics of these islands differ considerably - Puerto Rico supports a population of nearly 4 million and has an installed electricity generation capacity of nearly 6,000 MW, while St. Kitts and Nevis has a population of approximately 50,000 and an installed capacity of approximately 50 MW - they share numerous challenges regarding the energy sector. Namely, both depend almost exclusively on imported fuels for their power sectors, and they face electricity insecurity issues due to the isolated nature of their grids. Renewable energy alternatives and inter-island power connections offer the potential to reduce electricity costs while increasing energy security.
  Geothermal development in St. kitts and Nevis is currently being advanced with production well drilling expected in 2012. This development is likely to be the source for electricity generation for the proposed Interconnection. However, the true potential for the natural resource will not be known until local power generation starts. The feasibility interconnection between islands is the target of the current initiative as it seeks to outline the technical, environmental, and economic ramification of such a venture.
  The study is likely to be completed in 6 to 10 months and will be led by KEMA, Inc., of Fairfax, Virginia, USA with support from the National Renewable Energy laboratory (NREL). The effort is directed by the OAS with funding provided by the US Department of State and collaboration with the Government of the Federation of St. kitts and Nevis.
• OAS' Role in Non-Formal Youth Skills Training Highlighted.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday December 14, 2011
  
  The historical role of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the development, funding and implementation of the Federation's Non-Formal Youth Skills Training Project (YSTP) is being highlighted in St. Kitts and Nevis. During the last 25 years more than 3000 young people received training under the programme. Participants received training in a variety of non-formal skills that included plumbing, carpentry. masonry,welding, painting, electrician, motor mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning services.
  The Non-Formal Youth Skills Programme (NSTP), commenced operations in St. Kitts and Nevis in 1986, when the OAS joined with USAID to launch the project in about 9 countries in the Eastern Caribbean. According to the Federation's National Skills Training Centre (NSTC), the year 2011 marks twenty five (25) years of operations in the Federation for non-formal skills training.
  This milestone is being observed with a week of activities during the period 4th -10th December 2011, under the theme "Commemorating 25 years of Contributing to Nation Building through Vocational Skills Training". The week's activities included a professional development day, media presentations on ZIZ Television and selected radio stations, distribution of commemorative T-shirts, a fun walk, and a social activity for current and former members of staff.
  At a Church Service held on Sunday, December 4, 2011, attended by the OAS Representative, Mr. Starret Greene, the Acting Director of the NSTP Ms. June James, praised the OAS for its vision and unwavering support in the area of education and training in the Federation and in the Hemisphere as a whole. She said that the support of both the OAS and USAID were responsible for building a solid foundation for the project, and as a result, it placed the federal Government in a position to ultimately assume responsibility for funding and keeping the project operational.
  Speaking from the OAS' office in Fortlands, Basseterre Mr. Greene said that the Organization of American States remained committed to working with the Federal Government to further strengthen the human resource needs of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis through its scholarship and training programmes and through other training opportunities in the formal and non-formal areas.
• Energy Issues Take Center Stage in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Monday December 5, 2011
  
  On Friday, December 2, 2011, the Energy Department, within the Ministry of Public Utilities, teamed up with the Organization of American States, the European Union, CARICOM and local energy stakeholders, to hold a street fair "Energy EXPO" in the heart of Basseterre, St. Kitts, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Energy EXPO was the final event in a series of other events that started during the St. kitts/Nevis Energy Week that was held from November 6-11, 2011.
  The event brought together providers of renewable energy and energy efficient products and/or services to display their goods and to allow participants to meet all of the important players in the Energy Sector in the Federation.It also provided a golden opportunity for public education regarding a number of issues relating to energy. Members of the public to include school children, office workers and energy enthusiasts interacted with each other and exchanged views on matters relating to conservation and the future development of alternative energy in the Federation.
  Speaking at the opening of the event, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Starret Greene said that because energy was available in so many forms, civilization had made great leaps forward and mankind was able to do extraordinary things.
  Addressing the issue of energy efficiency, Mr. Greene told his audience that conservation was the key to realizing sustainable energy for economic security and that deliberate effort to conserve energy was the right response. The OAS Diplomat said that turning off lights that were not in use, keeping doors and windows closed while the air conditioning unit was operating, purchasing energy efficient appliances to replace old inefficient ones, turning off televisions that were not being watched and unplugging appliance that were not in use, constituted a significant amount of energy savings.
  Mr> Greene expressed the OAS's support for the Federation's efforts to harness its natural and alternative sources of energy that included geothermal, wind, solar and waste to energy. Mr. Greene noted that the wind, earth and sun were the richest sources of unlimited energy which he said was clean, renewable and less expensive to produce. He told his audience that good management of energy resources would make energy sustainable and would also help the twin island country to achieve energy independence and, by extension, economic security.
• OAS Facilitates Funding for Police Station in St. Kitts.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday November 15, 2011
  
  When the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis secured the financial support of the Government of Mexico to build two police stations in the villages of Dieppe Bay and Tabernacle, the Organization of American States (OAS) was the body through which the Government of Mexico channeled the funds for the project. Working with its Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the OAS was able to transfer the funds to the Government's Treasury in St. Kitts.
  In two separate ceremonies (the Official Opening of the Dieppe Bay Police Station and the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Construction of the Tabernacle Police Station) held on Monday, November 14, 2011, the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative for the Dieppe Bay area, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Senior Minister and Parliamentary Representative for the Tabernacle area, Dr. Timothy Harris, expressed their profuse appreciation to the OAS, through its Country Office in the Federation, for readily facilitating the transfer of funds from the Government of Mexico that was used to complete the first Police Station and to start work on the other.
  The OAS Representative, Mr. Starret Greene was present at both functions.
• America's Magazine Features OAS Project in St. Kitts and Nevis in its December 2011 Issue
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday November 15, 2011
  
  In its December 2011 issue, the America's Magazine features an OAS project in St. Kitts and Nevis funded by the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI).
  The project entitled "Anger Management and Conflict Resolution in School" specifically targeted youth in public and private schools who exhibited antisocial behaviors and who were also involved in episodes of violence on school premises. It also sought to improve educational outcomes for the less advantaged and most vulnerable groups of students (at-risk-youth) who engaged in risky behavior (school violence). The beneficiaries included students, teachers, guidance counselors, parents and guardians, and the general public.
  According to the author of the article, Mr. Starret D. Greene, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Anger Management And Conflict Resolution project should prove exceedingly valuable in helping youth to control their anger and to resolve conflicts peacefully and amicably. He said the project offered all of us an opportunity to help build a better world for this generation. The OAS Representative noted that "we can do so by working to ensure that we create an environment in the home, in our neighborhoods, and in our schools that promotes self control, fosters tolerance, supports the building of good relationships, encourages togetherness, emphasizes unity, develops self confidence, minimizes conflict, resists negativism, and accentuates the positive".
  Mr. Greene wrote "the involvement of the OAS in this project not only highlights the organization's comparative advantage in terms of the technical assistance it offers, but also demonstrates the extent to which the OAS reaches directly into the lives of youth across the landscape of the Americas with the overriding purpose of preparing them to be the future leaders of the hemisphere.
• OAS Country Office in St. kitts and Nevis joins forces with the Ministry of Public Utilities, Works and Energy to promote Energy Week.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday November 4, 2011
  
  The OAS Representative is collaborating with the Officials in the Ministry of Public Utilities in St. Kitts as well as in and Nevis to promote Energy Week, during November 7-11, 2011, in St. Kitts and Nevis under the theme "Sustainable Energy for Economic Security".
  The overall aim of this initiative that falls under the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP) is to sensitize nationals and residents in the Federation on issues relating to energy and energy conservation. The CSEP is a joint project, funded by the European Union (EU) and executed in 7 Caribbean States of the OAS, which is the designated execution body, through the Department of Sustainable Development (DOD).
  The week of activities on both St. Kitts and Nevis will include an Energy Awareness fair, a Poster and Logo Competition and the creation of a jingle that will be played on radio and television in the Federation.
  According to Mr. Greene, one of the outcomes of this exercise that is being sought is to have a long term change in residents' consumption and use of energy in St. Kitts and Nevis.
• OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and Nevis Partners with St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Friday November 4, 2011
  
  The OAS Country Office in St. Kitts and nevis teams up with the St. kitts Tourism Authority to celebrate Tourism Awareness Month in November 2011, under the theme "Tourism is the key for all of us".
  The Authority invited the OAS Representative to be part of a series of presentation exercises "Let's talk Tourism", at various primary and secondary schools in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  In this regard, the OAS representative is scheduled to speak at the Cayon High School on November 8, 2011, to hundreds of students. The purpose of his involvement is to try and generate young peoples' interest in Tourism by pointing to its importance to the economy as well as to inform students of the career opportunities that the industry offers for the young people in the Federation.
  The OAS, through its technical arm FEMCIDI, is currently funding a multinational project entitled "capacity Building: Tourism Training and Certification project", in which St. Kitts and Nevis is a participating country.
  The OAS representative continues to work closely with stakeholders in the Industry to implement the organization's stated mandate to build institutional capacity and to further develop the human resource potential of the tourism sector.
• Congratulations to Carol Seaton
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday October 25, 2011
  
  At the OAS Staff Award Ceremony on Monday October 24, 2011, Carol Seaton, a member of staff in the Office of the General Secretariat of the OAS, in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis , was among the employees who received a special award and recognition for 25 years of faithful service.
  Carol joined the OAS in 1986 and has remained a loyal, dedicated and trustworthy employee of the organization.
  At the OAS Country Office in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, she has become the institutional memory of the OAS' operations, worked with three OAS Directors during her 25 years and witnissed a host of changes and developments that have impacted the organization's work in St. Kitts and Nevis in a number of positive ways.
  The OAS Representative and staff together with her family members, stakeholders and partners at the Federal and local levels, the private sector and NGO's, offer their sincere congratulations to Ms. Seaton, for achieving this significant milestone.
  The current OAS Representative Mr. Starret Greene has described Carol as a committed servant, a dependable employee and an experienced Administrative Technician, who is deserving of the high honor and recognition afforded her after 25 years.
• OAS Representative uses local Radio Station to promote the Organization
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday October 25, 2011
  
  On Thursday, October 20, 2011, OAS Representative in the Federation of St. kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, was the special guest on a popular radio program promoting the work of the OAS in the twin island Federation, with specific reference to the current and future technical cooperation activities supported by the organization.
  Mr. Greene elaborated on the new structure that would govern FEMCIDI's delivery of technical cooperation to member states and told his listeners that the move towards multinational projects would prove beneficial to the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. He explained to his audience that multinational or regional projects, by their very size had the potential to positively impact more beneficiaries than would a national project that was smaller and would likely benefit less people. He also spoke to the listeners about the collaboration and cooperation that would be involved in the formulation of multinational projects and emphasized the value that would be added in sharing human resources, exchanging of best practices, methods and and the pooling of ideas by the various functionaries in the participating countries. The OAS Representative also referred to the potential for multinational projects to attract private sector partners, including Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO's) - adding that expanding the pool of partners would widen the scope of the project and make its benefits become more widespread.
  Mr. Greene also used the medium of radio to highlight the OAS' involvement in the Online Education Management Information System project that is currently being funded by the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI). On Choice FM Radio, The Representative promoted the project as an excellent example of how appropriate technology could improve the management of the education system in the Federation. He said that EMIS should be seen as a tool for transforming information into knowledge for students, teachers, administrators and parents. He applauded the EMIS for opening the doors for the education community to function more effectively in the information age.
• OAS Representative meets with Ministry Officials and Technical Cooperation Stakeholders in Nevis.
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday October 20, 2011
  
  On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, met with Senior Education Officials and Technical Cooperation Stakeholders on the island of Nevis to discuss the new structure that would govern the delivery of technical cooperation activities in the twin-island States.
  At the meeting which Mr. Greene chaired, discussions were centered not only on the new structure for FEMCIDI, but also on a range of other matters relating to the design, formulation and development of multinational projects. One of the major issues involved in multinational activities that received considerable attention at the meeting was the substantial coordination and collaboration that would be required by all the various functionaries from the participating countries. In addition, the officials discussed with Mr. Greene the development and submission of project concepts, the amount of monies that would be allocated to a multinational project, the programmatic guidelines governing the formulation of a multinational project and a set of critical matters relating to deadlines and the implementation period.
  The meeting also discussed the emerging thinking of the Federation regarding the development of a multinational project that would address its needs in the area of secondary education. The meeting arrived at a consensus that the "integration of technology in the classroom as a tool for effective learning", may well be an issue that deserves the highest consideration. Stakeholders at the meeting are leaning heavily towards this idea in light of the distribution of laptop computers to fourth and fifth formers in schools throughout the Federation.
  Mr. Greene's visit to Nevis was to ensure that, in the formulation of any multinational project, Stakeholders on the island were given the opportunity to make their valued input. The OAS Representative has also held discussions on this subject with Stakeholders on St. Kitts.
• Launch of Online EMIS Project in St. Kitts and Nevis
  Basseterre, St. Kitts, Thursday October 20, 2011
  
  On October 18, 2011, the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis through its Ministry of Education and Information launched its online education Management Information System at a ceremony held in the conference room of the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU), located in Basseterre, st. Kitts.
  This national project is funded by the OAS through its Speciaal Multilateral Fund of tthe Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI) with additional financial support from the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF)
  Among other things, the project was designed to support efforts aimed at educational reform, particularly with regard to educational methods, curriculum development, educational administration and resource mobilization. In addition, the project will support ongoing regional projeccts for comparable indicators and educational assessment, and will and will help to strngthen school management models that encourage greater community participation.
  Over forty persons participated in the event that included senior education officials, principals from a number of public and private schools, teachers, school children, technical experts and members of media houses in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  Mr. Starret Greene, the OAS Representative in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in his remarks stated that the EMIS project was for the most part focused on managing the human, financial, material, and information resources that were available to the education system in St. kitts and Nevis and that it promoted the use of technology as the primary vehicle for a successful management strategy. The OAS Representative said that good management was about promoting efficiency, transparency and accountability. He also said that good management involved the equitable allocation of resources and always embraced a mechanism that measured and evaluated progress and rewarded those who met agreed performance standards.
  The new FEMCIDI structure for the delivery of technical cooperation to member countries almost ensures that this EMIS project will be among the last national projects that FEMCIDI will fund in the Federation of St. Kitta and Nevis.
• Restaurant Server Workshop
  Nevis , Tuesday September 6, 2011
  
  An activity within the “Capacity Building: Tourism Training and Certification Project “, sponsored by the OAS, through the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, FEMCIDI.
  
  OAS Representative in St. Kiits and Nevis Opens Ceritification Workshop