标签： Saint Kitts and Nevis

Marking the official start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1, Honourable Spencer Brand, the Nevis Island Administration’s Minister responsible for Disaster Management, has delivered a public address urging collective preparedness across the Caribbean island, even amid forecasts for a quieter-than-average storm cycle.

Opening his remarks, Brand emphasized that shared unity and proactive planning have long been Nevis’ most reliable defense against extreme weather, drawing on the island’s past experience navigating hurricane threats. He highlighted two core institutional commitments the government is reinforcing for this season: turning forecast data into prompt, actionable action for all groups, and centering communities in emergency response.

Under the first commitment, meteorological data from leading agencies will be used to issue timely public alerts, translated into clear, practical steps for households, local businesses and public agencies to follow. For the community-centered response framework, Brand noted authorities have expanded local disaster committees, completed additional training for volunteer response teams, and streamlined emergency operation protocols to cut response times when supporting vulnerable residents.

Brand also tied hurricane preparedness to broader climate action, acknowledging that human-caused climate change has amplified storm intensity, shifted regional rainfall patterns, and put increased pressure on Nevis’ coastal ecosystems. He shared the official 2026 season outlook from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which projects an 55% probability of a below-normal season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10% chance of an above-normal season. Between 8 and 14 named storms (packing winds of 39 mph or higher) are forecast for the full season, with 3 to 6 strengthening to hurricanes (winds of at least 74 mph). Of those, 1 to 3 are expected to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds exceeding 111 mph).

Despite the favorable forecast, Brand stressed that complacency poses a major risk to the island. “It only takes one storm to cause irreparable damage to our island home,” he said, urging all residents and visitors to rush final preparations to completion. He framed the island’s hurricane adaptation plans as tightly integrated with long-term sustainable development goals, designed to protect current livelihoods while preserving Nevis’ natural heritage for future generations.

Brand issued targeted preparedness guidance for different sectors of the population: for business leaders and small entrepreneurs, he advised diversifying supply chains, maintaining emergency stockpiles, and setting up cash-flow contingency plans; for local farmers, he recommended securing irrigation infrastructure, sheltering livestock, and implementing erosion control measures for croplands; for all households, he urged families to draft a clear emergency evacuation plan, assemble a well-stocked go-bag, identify a designated safe space in their home, and memorize the location of their nearest public emergency shelter.

Brand listed all approved public emergency shelters across Nevis’ parishes: In St. Thomas’ Parish, shelters are located at Jessup’s Community Center, Cotton Ground Community Center, and Barnes Ghaut Community Center; St. James’ Parish hosts a shelter at Franklyn Browne Community Center; St. George’ Parish shelters are at Ebenezer Church of God and Charles L. Walters Community Center; St. John’s Parish operates a shelter at Pond Hill Community Center; and St. Paul’ Parish hosts emergency capacity at the Girls Guides Headquarters.

He closed by urging all people on the island to review evacuation routes regularly, update emergency contact information with local authorities, and take all preparedness guidance seriously regardless of the season forecast. Brand also extended formal gratitude to Brian Dyer, Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department, Deputy Director Jack Ngumbah, all department staff, volunteer response teams, cross-sector partners, and regional and international organizations for their ongoing work to protect Nevis and its residents.

“Let us face this season with vigilance, compassion, and resolve. By working together, Nevis will emerge stronger, safer, and more resilient,” Brand said, closing his address with a blessing for the island, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the wider Caribbean region, and all residents ahead of the storm season.

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis marked its annual Centenarians Day on May 31, 2026, with a series of official tributes recognizing the lives, legacy, and lasting contributions of residents aged 100 years and older, aligned with the national government’s ongoing commitment to supporting older citizens.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Four days have passed since a Chinese national visitor went missing while hiking the iconic Mount Liamuiga trail, and local law enforcement has confirmed that large-scale search operations are still ongoing.

Wang Ziyuan, the missing hiker, was last spotted on the Mount Liamuiga trail on May 27, 2026, according to official records. As of Sunday, May 31, when the latest police statement was released, search teams had not yet recovered any sign of Wang.

In its official update, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) outlined that coordinated search efforts over the 48 hours leading up to May 31 covered extensive stretches of the mountain terrain. The collaborative operation brings together a wide range of emergency and specialist resources, including uniformed officers from the RSCNPF, personnel from the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, rescue specialists from the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Department, trainers and recruits from the Police Training School, forest management experts from the local Forest Unit, Red Cross disaster response volunteers, and canine search teams from Ross University’s K9 Unit.

Search operations ran from dawn to dusk across both Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30, with teams systematically combing through marked trails and less accessible off-trail areas of the volcanic peak. Despite the exhaustive, systematic sweep, no trace of the missing visitor has been found to date.

The RSCNPF emphasized that all participating agencies remain fully committed to the search mission, and have confirmed that operations will continue indefinitely until new developments emerge. Authorities pledged to promptly release additional public updates as more information on the case becomes available.

In closing the statement, law enforcement extended formal gratitude to all civilian volunteers, partner agencies, and local community members who have contributed resources, time, and support to the ongoing search effort.

As the world observes 2026 Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, local stakeholders in Nevis are stepping up to advance global efforts to destigmatize menstruation and expand equitable access to menstrual health resources. Coordinated globally by non-profit advocacy group WASH United, this year’s campaign carries the unifying theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World”, calling for cross-sector collaboration from governments, community groups, schools, workplaces and individuals to normalize menstruation and eliminate the shame that still surrounds it globally.

A truly period-friendly world is defined as a space where women and girls can manage their menstrual cycles safely, confidently and with full dignity, with menstruation recognized as a critical issue tied to public health, educational equity and broader gender equality. The global campaign has outlined five core priority areas for communities and nations to advance this goal: cultivating an open social environment where menstruation can be discussed freely without shame or stigma; delivering evidence-based period education to all children from an early age, regardless of gender; expanding access to affordable, safe and effective menstrual products; ensuring public and private facilities offer clean, accessible period-friendly restrooms for menstrual management; and strengthening clinical menstrual health services, including access to trained providers, diagnosis, treatment and support for menstrual health conditions.

In Nevis, local partners have been working to turn these global goals into local action since 2023. The Nevis Department of Gender Affairs has partnered with Lake Health and Wellbeing, the Advancement of Children Foundation, UNICEF Eastern Caribbean and the Nevis Ministry of Education to roll out a community-focused Menstrual Health Education Programme, adapted from a training framework developed by WASH United. Trained educators deliver targeted sessions in local schools and community spaces, designed to provide clear, accurate information about menstruation to both girls and boys. The initiative targets three key gaps: widespread stigma, pervasive misinformation and low public awareness, with dual goals: preparing girls for the transition of puberty, and helping boys build empathy and understanding to become supportive allies to women and girls in their communities.

“Menstrual health is not just a women’s issue; it is a public health, education and human dignity issue,” explained Saros Hendrickson, Director of the Nevis Department of Gender Affairs. “Creating a period-friendly world requires all of us to challenge stigma, improve education and ensure that women and girls have the support and resources they need to manage their menstrual health safely and confidently. We are proud to partner on this important initiative and remain committed to supporting women and girls throughout Nevis and St. Kitts.”

Abi Begho, Programme Director at Lake Health and Wellbeing, echoed this commitment, noting that ongoing local programming aims to break down barriers to open conversation among young people. “Through our Menstrual Health Education Programme, we are working to ensure that young people receive accurate information about menstruation and feel comfortable speaking up about menstrual health issues. Menstrual Hygiene Day provides an important opportunity for all sectors of society to come together to create lasting change,” Begho said.

To mark this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Nevis Department of Gender Affairs and Lake Health and Wellbeing have organized a series of public outreach activities. The centerpiece is a public webinar titled “Supporting Women and Girls’ Menstrual Health at Home, at Work, in School and in the Community”, which will bring together cross-sector stakeholders to share practical, actionable steps to improve menstrual health support across all areas of daily life. Throughout the rest of May, the two organizations will also host educational discussions on local radio and run targeted awareness campaigns across social media platforms to reach broader audiences.

Local residents are encouraged to engage with the scheduled activities, join the national conversation, and contribute to collective efforts to build a more inclusive, period-friendly world for all in Nevis.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A large-scale coordinated search operation is ongoing across the rugged Mt. Liamuiga mountain range after a 33-year-old Chinese national went missing during a solo hiking trip, local law enforcement confirmed Friday.

The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) is leading the effort, with joint support from the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to locate the missing hiker, identified as Wang Zyuan, born August 29, 1992.

According to official police records, Wang was last spotted on the mountain’s hiking trail around 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. He had set out on the hike unaccompanied, with no professional guide, and was wearing black outerwear paired with red athletic shoes when he was last seen.

Roughly four hours after he was first noted on the trail, Wang placed an emergency call to 911 to report he had become disoriented and lost in the mountain wilderness. But shortly after that initial distress call, all communication with Wang cut off, leaving search teams with no updated information on his location or condition.

A combined search and rescue deployment was assembled within hours of the lost contact, with crews working through the evening of May 27 to cover accessible sections of the range. Search operations were suspended overnight as a safety precaution for crews, and resumed at dawn on Thursday, May 28. Search teams advanced across steep hillsides all the way to the mountain’s crater area on Thursday, but failed to turn up any trace of the missing hiker.

Operations were again paused for the night of May 28, with plans to restart search efforts on the morning of May 29. Investigators have obtained cell tower location data from local network providers, which authorities say will help narrow search zones and direct rescue teams to high-priority areas to maximize the chances of locating Wang.

In addition to deploying official emergency resources, local authorities have put out a public call for civilian volunteers to join the search effort, to expand the coverage of teams across the large, rugged mountain range.

Mt. Liamuiga has a history of similar incidents: over recent years, multiple hikers have been reported missing after straying into unmarked or difficult sections of the range, though most of those individuals were eventually located and rescued by emergency response teams.