标签： Saint Kitts and Nevis

Macmillan Education Caribbean has unveiled the distinguished winners of its Language Tree New Branches: Poetry Competition, recognizing exceptional literary talent across the Caribbean region. The 2026 contest attracted substantial participation with 99 original submissions from 13 countries, demonstrating vibrant poetic expression throughout the educational community.

Participants competed across three distinct categories: Primary School Students, Lower Secondary School Students, and Teachers. The competition received 30 entries from primary students, 21 from lower secondary students, and an impressive 48 submissions from educators. Poetic works explored diverse themes including natural environments, culinary traditions, cultural festivals, marine life, and meteorological phenomena.

Julia Sander, the presiding competition judge, reported exceptionally high standards across all categories. The judging panel noted particular admiration for the creative imagination and linguistic artistry displayed throughout the submissions, which significantly complicated the final selection process.

In the Primary School division, Celine Rolle from St. Andrews Anglican School in Exuma, The Bahamas, claimed first honors with her composition ‘Let’s Make Tropical Conch Salad,’ a culinary-themed poem celebrated for its vibrant sensory language and rhythmic excellence. Bahamian student Bethany Barr secured second position, while third place recognition was jointly awarded to Antoinette Kissoon of Trinidad and Tobago and K’Ronjae Liburd from Nevis.

The Lower Secondary category crowned Shakeir Tafarie Thomas of Antigua Grammar School as champion for his emotionally resonant poem ‘Nature,’ which artfully contrasted natural beauty with environmental concerns while maintaining hopeful undertones. Second place was awarded to Denae Tehya Laelle Bontiff (Antigua and Barbuda), with third position going to Jamaica’s Adryanna Fowler.

Educator Sasha Maynard of Charles E. Mills Secondary School in St. Kitts and Nevis triumphed in the Teachers category with ‘Christmas in Saint Kitts,’ a festival-themed work acclaimed for its harmonious balance of religious significance and cultural celebration. Jamaican teacher Ambrosia Oladele earned second place, while Cheyenne K. V. Maynard from St. Kitts and Nevis received third place recognition.

All winning compositions have been memorialized in a special edition poetry publication produced by Macmillan Education, serving as an anthology of Caribbean creative writing excellence. The organization extended congratulations to all participants, emphasizing the competition’s primary objective of fostering literacy development, creative expression, and enduring appreciation for poetic arts throughout the Caribbean region.

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – March 09, 2026 – The Department of Gender Affairs in Saint Kitts and Nevis hosted a distinguished ceremony on Sunday, March 8th, 2026, at Railway Bar in Old Road to commemorate International Women’s Day and celebrate exceptional female contributors to national development. The event recognized women across diverse sectors who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service.

Among the honorees were Naaemah Hazelle (Women in Public Service and Governance), Seana Cuffy (Women in Healthcare and Social Services), Venetta Zakers (Women in Education, Youth Development and Mentorship), Marcashar Warner (Women in Economic Empowerment, Trades and Entrepreneurship), and Marcia Jeffers (Women in Culture, Advocacy and Community Leadership).

Special awards included the Prime Minister’s Award presented to Cynthia Bart, the Legacy Award to Rita Cable, the Trecia Greaux Ocean Governance Beacon Award to Denise Baptiste, and the Department of Disabilities Empowerment Award to Cheniqua Pemberton.

The ceremony also established a Pioneering Women Gallery, inducting five groundbreaking figures: Bernadette Dolphin (First Female Chief Scout Commissioner in Latin America and Caribbean), Aravinda Hughes (First Female Technician at The Cable), Shandor Wilkinson (First Female FIFA Referee), Dr. Dasima Martin-Burkett (First and Sole Sports Medicine Doctor in the Federation), and Leonie James (Pioneer in Early Childhood Education).

Dignitaries in attendance included Governor-General Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Gender Affairs Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Minister of State for Gender Affairs Honourable Isalean Phillip, and Republic of China (Taiwan) Resident Ambassador H.E. Edward Tao.

Minister Phillip emphasized the importance of recognizing living contributors, stating: ‘These women have dedicated their time, talents and resources to build our communities and nation. We believe in giving people their roses while they are alive to encourage continued excellence.’

The 2026 International Women’s Day was observed under the global theme ‘Give to Gain,’ highlighting the mutual benefits of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS – Premier Mark Brantley has issued a compelling appeal to young Nevisians passionate about healthcare careers to apply for the island’s prestigious government-sponsored scholarship program. The initiative, collaboratively offered by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and Medical University of the Americas (MUA), represents a transformative opportunity for higher education without financial constraints.

During his February monthly press conference, Premier Brantley, who also serves as Minister of Human Resources, emphasized the exceptional value of these awards. “I’m a strong advocate for training and I continue to encourage our young people to take advantage of these opportunities,” he stated. “The NIA/MUA scholarship is one of the best because they pay for almost everything.”

The program will award two full scholarships for undergraduate studies commencing in 2027, with applications accepted until May 15. Unlike many restricted awards, this scholarship provides remarkable flexibility—recipients may pursue their education at any accredited institution worldwide, not limited to MUA campuses.

The administration has identified critical healthcare specializations including environmental health, pharmacy, dental hygiene, medical technology, physical therapy, and biomedical engineering among its priority fields. Additional focus areas encompass waste management, health information systems, occupational safety, and social work.

Premier Brantley simultaneously addressed another healthcare imperative: encouraging Nevisian doctors returning from medical school to pursue specialization training. While acknowledging family commitments that make advanced training challenging, he emphasized the urgent need for local specialists. “We have developed a strong cadre of general practitioners who are Nevisian,” Brantley noted, “but we now face difficulties with specialists, requiring us to recruit internationally.”

The island has already seen promising developments, with four young doctors currently pursuing advanced training in radiology and ophthalmology overseas—a sign Brantley welcomes as progress toward strengthening Nevis’s healthcare autonomy.

In a remarkable demonstration of maritime expertise, St. Kitts successfully welcomed nearly 7,000 cruise passengers on March 7, 2026, overcoming challenging early morning weather conditions that threatened to disrupt tourism operations. Three major vessels—Queen Victoria, Costa Fascinosa, and Norwegian Sky—were expertly guided into Port Zante in Basseterre by highly skilled harbor pilots working under the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA).

The successful docking operation occurred despite strong winds that tested the capabilities of the maritime professionals. SCASPA officially confirmed the achievement through their social media channels, highlighting the precision and skill demonstrated by their harbor pilots in ensuring safe passage for all vessels.

Passenger distribution revealed Costa Fascinosa arrived from Guadeloupe carrying 2,095 visitors, Norwegian Sky journeyed from Saint Lucia with 2,172 passengers, and Queen Victoria transported 1,901 travelers from St. Maarten, culminating in a total of 6,978 visitors disembarking on the island within a single day.

The substantial influx of tourists generated significant economic activity throughout St. Kitts. Local businesses including taxi services, craft stores, tour operators, retail establishments, and restaurants experienced notable increases in customer traffic. Visitors explored Port Zante’s shopping facilities, purchasing locally crafted souvenirs, jewelry, and perfumes while others embarked on organized island tours via the St. Kitts Scenic Railway.

Tourist attractions witnessed substantial visitation, particularly the UNESCO-designated Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, Romney Manor with its batik demonstrations, and the dramatic volcanic formations at Black Rocks. Beach enthusiasts sought relaxation at coastal areas, enjoying swimming and sunbathing activities. Cultural landmarks including the Berkeley Memorial, St. George’s Anglican Church, and Independence Square also attracted significant attention.

Adventure-seeking visitors participated in nature trails, snorkeling expeditions, golfing activities, and casino entertainment. Tourism authorities emphasized the critical importance of cruise ship arrivals in stimulating economic development across the island, noting how such events directly benefit multiple sectors of the local economy through visitor expenditure and employment opportunities.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a renewed commitment to advancing gender equality across the region and globally. Under Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett’s leadership, the organization emphasized this year’s theme “Give to Gain,” highlighting how societal investment in women and girls yields substantial social and economic returns.

CARICOM has demonstrated measurable progress in gender equality initiatives, with women increasingly visible across all sectors including governance, education, entrepreneurship, and public service. Several member states have achieved the significant benchmark of at least 30% female representation in their Lower Houses of Parliament, aligning with commitments outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action.

The implementation of the CARICOM Regional Gender Equality Strategy continues to drive systemic changes, focusing on strengthened legal protections, enhanced economic opportunities, and promoted equal participation in decision-making processes. These efforts directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals regarding gender equality.

Women entrepreneurs are gaining increased access to local and regional markets through targeted programs that provide financial support, specialized training, and business development resources. Strategic investments in skills development, particularly in STEM fields and creative industries, are preparing women and girls to excel in the evolving digital economy.

Despite these advancements, CARICOM acknowledges persistent challenges, including the critical issue of violence against women and girls that requires sustained attention, adequate resources, and collaborative engagement between all genders.

The “Give to Gain” theme serves as a call to action for governments, institutions, communities, and individuals to contribute to women’s advancement through various means: investing in girls’ education, implementing mentorship programs, promoting equal pay, recognizing unpaid care work, supporting women-owned businesses, and challenging restrictive socio-cultural gender norms.

On this International Women’s Day, CARICOM reaffirms its shared responsibility to ensure every woman and girl can live free from discrimination and violence, access quality education and healthcare, and participate fully in shaping the region’s future.