标签： Saint Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – July 1, 2026 – On Wednesday afternoon, Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew led an on-site inspection of the long-awaited new Basseterre High School construction project, pushing back against public rumors of stalled work and showcasing the tangible, rapid progress that has transformed the site over the government’s term in office.

Accompanied by the project’s lead manager Vivake Khan, Drew walked the entire active construction zone, where dozens of local construction workers and specialized technical teams are currently advancing work on what stands as one of the federation’s largest and most consequential public education infrastructure investments in recent decades.

The prime minister’s visit was explicitly scheduled to address growing speculation among members of the public that little to no work had been carried out on the site. In remarks to reporters and stakeholders during the tour, Drew emphasized that he wanted citizens to see the scale of progress firsthand, rather than relying on secondhand claims.

“We have heard repeated claims that nothing is happening at the Basseterre High School site,” Drew noted during the tour. “That is why I came here today: I want every person in our country to see just how much work is actually underway. I believe most people will be genuinely surprised by how far we have come in such a short period.”

Drew drew particular attention to the large local workforce currently employed at the site, framing the project as a win for both education and national employment. “We have dozens of local workers here on site, working alongside international technical experts, and we are incredibly proud that this major public investment is putting paychecks in the pockets of our own citizens,” he said.

For the current Labour Government, the new Basseterre High School is the fulfillment of a decades-old unmet national promise. Drew highlighted that prior administrations allocated $21 million to the project without laying a single foundation block, but in just three and a half years, his government has moved the project to active, large-scale construction. “Walk this site with me, and you will not just see laid blocks – you will see poured concrete, erected structural steel, and locally sourced quarry materials. This is tangible, real progress that cannot be denied,” Drew said.

The prime minister confirmed that his administration will maintain close, regular oversight of the project to ensure it stays on its scheduled completion timeline. Once finished, the new facility will be a fully turnkey, climate-resilient campus designed to withstand the growing threats of extreme weather in the Caribbean. It will come fully equipped with modern learning spaces, state-of-the-art science laboratories, updated digital education technology, and new furniture and equipment, giving students and teaching staff a unified, safe, and innovative environment for learning.

Beyond its core educational benefits, the multi-million-dollar project is delivering sustained economic benefits across Saint Kitts and Nevis. It has created ongoing full-time and part-time employment for local construction workers, and spurred new opportunities for local suppliers and related service sectors, boosting near-term economic activity while building a stronger foundation for the country’s long-term human development.

Just one day after a commercial tour vessel sank in Caribbean waters off the coast of St. Kitts, local coast guard officials have pinpointed the structural failure that caused the incident, confirming all passengers and crew escaped unharmed thanks to a rapid joint rescue response.

The maritime emergency unfolded shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Monday, when the captain of the M/V Apple Syder Experience issued an urgent distress call to St. Kitts and Nevis authorities. According to an official statement released Tuesday by the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF), which oversees the coast guard, the vessel had developed a critical crack in one of its supporting pontoons, allowing seawater to flood into the hull at an uncontrollable rate.

At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 47 passengers and 4 crew members, putting 51 lives at risk as the boat began to settle lower in the water. Minutes after the distress call went out, a nearby commercial vessel, the M/V Makana, changed course to reach the scene and began launching evacuation efforts before coast guard assets arrived. The SKNDF Coast Guard deployed all available rescue personnel and specialized equipment immediately after receiving the alert, arriving on-site rapidly to support the ongoing evacuation.

By the time the vessel slipped fully beneath the surface of the Caribbean, every person on board had already been safely evacuated with no critical injuries reported. Footage of the rescue operation and the sinking quickly spread across local and regional social media platforms within hours of the incident, drawing widespread public attention to the maritime emergency.

Shortly after the evacuation was completed, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew traveled to Joseph N. France General Hospital, where all rescued passengers had been brought for mandatory routine medical checks, to meet with those affected. During his visit, the prime minister confirmed that a full headcount had been completed, and every individual who had been aboard the M/V Apple Syder Experience was accounted for and unharmed. Following the incident, the sunken vessel was recovered from the seabed and towed back to the safety of Port Zante for further inspection.

The official statement from the coast Guard confirms that investigations into the cause of the pontoon crack are ongoing, with authorities set to review the vessel’s recent maintenance history and inspection records to determine if any safety violations or unaddressed maintenance issues contributed to the incident.

Against the backdrop of the 2026 Investment Gateway Summit (IGS), a purpose-driven charity auction hosted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) has delivered meaningful support to one of the federation’s most impactful educational institutions. The initiative, which centered on a one-of-a-kind live-painted artwork, closed with a total of $5,500 in donations for Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School, a local institution dedicated to serving students with diverse learning needs.

The auction’s centerpiece was an original canvas created live throughout the opening two days of the summit by beloved local artist Lizca Bass. Attendees watched in real time as the work took shape, turning the creative process itself into a highlight of the summit’s cultural programming. The evolving artwork became a fitting metaphor for the event’s core mission: building collective value and community progress step by step, alongside global investors and partners.

Bidding opened officially on June 24 during the summit’s Welcome Cocktail Reception, drawing competitive interest from hundreds of attending delegates, international investors, and industry partners. Bidding remained open across the three-day summit, before the gavel fell at the official closing Gala on the evening of June 26. Prime Developments was named the winning bidder for the painting, contributing $4,500 to the school fund. During the Gala ceremony, the full proceeds from the winning bid were formally handed over to Marcia Vanlow-Beaton, a representative of Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School.

In a spontaneous act of goodwill, a benefactor who narrowly missed out on securing the artwork stepped forward to donate an extra $1,000 to the cause, pushing the total fundraising haul to $5,500.

Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School was specifically selected as the beneficiary for its longstanding work designing inclusive, tailored learning experiences for differently abled students across St. Kitts and Nevis. The timing of the donation carries additional symbolic weight: June is recognized nationally as Child Month, a dedicated period to celebrate young people, protect their rights, and invest in the future of the federation’s next generation.

For the CIU, directing summit fundraising to a local educational institution aligns with its broader commitment to ensuring the economic activity generated by the citizenship program delivers tangible, long-lasting benefits to local communities. The annual charity silent auction has become one of the most anticipated traditions of the IGS, offering international delegates a unique opportunity to connect with the nation they are investing in, rather than only engaging in economic transactions.

By centering the work of a local homegrown artist, the initiative also highlights the rich cultural heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis, demonstrating that the federation’s global appeal extends far beyond its strong economic and investment credentials.

Beyond the immediate fundraising impact, the project reflects the CIU’s core vision for citizenship investment: positioning the program as a driver of inclusive national development, with benefits channeled directly back into local institutions and community priorities. This event reinforces that the CIU’s model of citizenship by investment is far more than a financial transaction—it is a collaborative partnership built on shared prosperity, dedicated to improving outcomes for current and future generations of Kittians and Nevisians.

Residents of the Lime Kiln area with children age 3 and older have an upcoming community event to mark on their summer calendars: Antioch Baptist Church, located within the Lime Kiln Commercial Development, will host its annual Vacation Bible School 2026 from Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17. The event will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, offering children a structured, engaging half-day program focused on this year’s central theme: “Celebration and Protection of God’s Creation.”

In a convenient update for interested families, the church confirmed that no advance registration is required to attend. This open-door policy is designed to remove barriers for last-minute participants, allowing children from across the local community to join the program spontaneously without prior sign-up. The Vacation Bible School initiative is a longstanding summertime community and faith-based outreach for children, combining educational activities, group engagement, and values-focused learning centered on the year’s chosen theme. For the 2026 iteration, the theme will guide participants through activities highlighting appreciation for the natural world and discussions around stewardship, aligned with the faith-based mission of the host church.