Youth and their use of tobacco is the focus of a tobacco survey to be conducted in all high schools in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The survey takes place April 15-26 and will gather information on cigarette use behaviours of students 13-15 years of age.

Questions will centre around cigarette use, knowledge and attitudes toward smoking, quitting smoking as well as second hand smoke and its environmental implications. They will also include matters relating to media and advertising representation of the habit and the scope for inclusion of tobacco issues in the school curriculum.

The investigation forms part of a global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) that will be conducting by the Health Promotions Unit of the Ministry of Health and Environment. According to a Ministry press release, conducting the survey is a proactive approach. It is also a measure taken by the Ministry toward the prevention and reversal of an unhealthy habit that is fast becoming a global public health problem.

The GYTS was developed as part of a World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tobacco free initiative.

The results of the local survey will assist the Ministry of Health and Environment in programme planning and policy development. For further information, contact the Health Promotion Unit at 465-2521, ext. 1234.

Youth from around the region will converge on St. Kitts next week for the UNESCO sponsored Caribbean Youth Gathering for Peace.

One of the event's main attractions is a Youth Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 20, at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Auditorium. The Conference will be held under the theme "HIV/AIDS and Cultural Identity: Education, Awareness, Responsibility."

Co-chairperson of the conference Alicia Daniel explained that the objective of the forum is to allow youths to air their views on HIV/AIDS and our Cultural Identity. These will include areas such as abstinence as well as how society looks at and deals with persons living among us with the virus, she said. Poverty and its impact on the spread of the virus will also be debated.

Miss Daniel said that the overall theme of the Youth Gathering, which is peace, has a direct connection to the objectives she outlined above. She feels that if the resources spent on developing instruments of war were diverted to medical research or HIV awareness campaigns, then hundreds or even thousands of lives can be saved.

"We want youths to realise that their views matter," Miss Daniel said. "We expect them to give us suggestions as to how we can slow down the spread of the HIV/AIDS, or even in some of the ways we can change attitudes toward the virus."

Miss Daniel further revealed that the conference will be documented and the proceedings recorded for posterity. The written and video copies will then be shared with various regional and international governments and youth organisations.

The Youth Conference will be attended by a number of local and regional dignitaries and can be heard live on ZIZ Radio on April 20 at 8:30am.

Mr Clarance Warner, who operates a mechanic shop at Pond's Extension, Basseterre appeared before Her Worship, Senior Magistrate, Mrs Josephine Mallalieu-Webbe, on Tuesday, April 9th at the Basseterre Magistrate Court to respond to a "Notice to Remove Derelict Vehicle" - Section 11 of The Litter (Abatement) Act No.8 of 1989. This notice was brought against Mr Warner by a full-time Litter Warden employed by the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC).

The defendant pleaded guilty. He was ordered by the Court to pay Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) within one (1) week, in default of which he would have to serve one (1) week in prison. Additionally, the Court ordered Mr Warner to remove the identified derelict vehicles in fourteen (14) days. To verify the status, Mr Warner is to return to Court on April 30, 2002.

Should the derelict vehicles not be removed by then, Mr Warner shall be charged an additional Two Hundred and fifty Dollars ($250.00) per day for each day "during which the offence is continued after conviction."

The public should note that the Litter (Abatement) Act defines a derelict vehicle" (Section 2) accordingly:

" . . . any motor vehicle whether or not it still contains its motor and whether or not it is licensed, that is in such an advanced state of disrepair that it cannot be reasonably be expected to be economically repaid to working condition."

Section 11(2) and 11(3) refers more specifically to the issue at hand:

11(1): "Where a derelict vehicle is left in a garage or a mechanic shop in circumstances in which it defaces the place, a Litter Warden may issue the order prescribed as Form B in the Scheduled, to the person in charge of the garage or mechanic shop, requiring him or her to remove the derelict vehicle from the garage or mechanic shop within three days of receipt of the notice."

11(3): "A person who fails to comply with a notice under Section (1) or(2) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding One thousand Dollars and to a further fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction."

Mc.Knight residents will be empowered, according to Gloria Williams, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, by the opening Yesterday, April 12, of a new supermarket.

"Smart Shopper Grocery" is owned and will be operated by McKnight's own Dwight Huggins, who paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan in his capacity as Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

"I always encourage people to follow their dreams," the Minister said, "and I am hoping that he (Huggins) will be able to do well and to provide a much needed service of good food at an affordable price, for the residents of Central Basseterre. Our office will give any assistance that we can to Huggins, or anyone contemplating taking on a responsibility such as this. That's what we are here for," he said.

The new service will cater to the needs of area residents, according to the property owners, which will be reflected not only in the quality of the goods, but in the cost of them as well. Huggins confirmed that it is also his intention to empower the people of McKnight through the process. "We are starting on Friday with a staff of five, all from the area," he said, "It's a supermarket of, for and from the McKnight area and people."

The business will also seek to strengthen the supply base of farmers in St. Kitts, according to Minister Astaphan, as it is the intention of the proprietor to purchase all produce, locally.

What gives this business the potential to stand out is a policy incorporated into its business plan, to address the needs of the elderly in that area. Huggins said that complimentary deliveries will be made to lucky older folk in McKnight, and those will include care packages on special holidays.

"I see this as more of a project," Huggins said, "than a business."

The Smart Shopper Grocery is located at the corner of Central Street and Shaw Avenue.

The Executive Committee of the Boys' Brigade, East & Southern Caribbean Regional Fellowship will be meeting in St. Kitts this weekend (Friday12th and Saturday 13th April) at the Foundation for National Development Conference Room, Wellington Road, Basseterre.

Mr Theodore Brown, Regional Co-ordinator of the Boys' Brigade in the East & Southern Caribbean, said that the meeting will be looking into the possibility of extending the work of the boys' Brigade throughout the Caribbean, especially in the Pentecostal Churches.

The meeting will also be looking at the present structure and programmes of the Brigade to bring them in line with International standards and to make sure it is fulfilling the needs of the boys. Training for Officers and young leaders will also be discussed. Mr Brown further stated that he would recommend a training unit be set up in the region.

Delegates in attendance at the two-day meeting come from Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago.

Yesterday, the Regional Co-ordinator and his Secretary, Walter Stewart of Trinidad, paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports.

The St. Kitts & Nevis economy expanded during the first nine months of last year, just before the terrorist attacks on the United States which plunged the global economy into a deep recession.

According to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the expansion of the St. Kitts & Nevis economy in the first nine months of 2000 was driven by performance of the construction and agricultural sectors and the tourism industry.

"The number of cruise ship passengers rose substantially, while there was a marginal decline in stayover arrivals. Construction activity continued to expand, although at a somewhat slower pace. There was growth in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, due to higher production in the sugar industry," said the ECCB in the just released September 2001 Economic and Financial Review.

The Central Bank in reviewing the third quarter of last year said that based on the performance of the main sectors, economic activity for that period was below the level in the corresponding quarter of 2000. "Value added in the hotel and restaurant sector declined, reflecting a reduction in stayover visitors. Activity in the construction sector contracted compared with the performance in the third quarter of 2000, as a result of the completion of a number of public projects and rehabilitation works on two hotels. Output in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors decreased," said the ECCB, adding that Central Government's fiscal performance remained weak, realising an overall deficit of EC$43 million.

The ECCB said liquidity in the banking system increased, while rates remained stable. Consumer prices were up by one percent.

Since the expansion of the New Castle Airport runway was completed, Caribbean Star Dash 8, a thirty-seven seat aircraft, has been the first with this capacity to start a scheduled flight to the island. Through the vigorous effort of the Nevis Island Administration and the Nevis Tourism Authority, headed by Ms Helen Kidd, Caribbean Star made its inaugural scheduled flight to Nevis on Saturday April 6 at 4.30 pm.

On board the aircraft were President and CEO of Caribbean Star Airline, Mr Paul Moreira and other members of the airline, Mss Helen Kidd, CEO of Nevis Tourism Authority, officials from the Antigua Tourism Authority as well as Media Personnel from Antigua.

Among the welcoming party at the New Castle Airport were the Hon Premier, Vance Amory, and also Minister responsible for Tourism, the Hon Malcolm Guishard.

The Hon Vance Amory addressed the gathering, noting that it was a great honour for him to make brief remarks during this important occasion. "It is just the beginning of what we believe is going to be a long lasting and profitable arrangement."

"Today, we have started with just one scheduled flight per week and I do believe that very shortly we are going to see that increased to three," said Amory, "because, although we have been all along in attracting a larger air carrier, we believe that the business in Nevis is good quality business and I expect that Caribbean Star would want to take advantage of having the first jump as it were on the competition."

Amory said that the time has come to increase the length of the runway and to improve the infrastructure generally so that benefits can be derived from more airlift, larger aircraft, and greater frequency, as he believed that that will happen in the near future.

The Minister with responsibility for Tourism, the Hon Malcolm Guishard joined the others in welcoming the President and his company to the island of Nevis. In his remarks, Guishard said that he would go a little further than what the Premier said with three days per week to seven days per week. "Today we welcome Caribbean Star on this inaugural visit with open arms. Continue the good works and we look forward for great things to come," commented Mr Guishard.

President and CEO of Caribbean Star, Mr Paul Moreira made brief remarks. He observed that it was an honour for Caribbean Star to serve Nevis. He noted that Nevis is the 13th destination for Caribbean Star while St Martin will be the 14th by the end of the month. "In the good and strong partnerships you have to build a foundation and you have to build, just like you build a house. So we start with one flight, we are totally committed to continue to expand that, so we all grow together and I look forward to the day when I come back and to fly here seven days a week not only from Antigua but we have a sister company that would open up in the 4th quarter of this year, a US based company," said Moreira.

Ms Jeanette Grell-Hull, member of the Nevis Tourism Authority Board of Directors and also the agent of Caribbean Star on the island, presented the President and CEO of Caribbean Star with a gift, while welcome and opening remarks were made by CEO of Nevis Tourism Authority Ms Helen Kidd.

The brief ceremony was chaired by Mr Devon Liburd while Chairman of the Nevis Air & Sea Ports Authority, Mr Colin Dore gave the vote of thanks. Other members of Cabinet, Tourism Officials, Hoteliers and other invited guests attended the ceremony.

The proposed Police Bill 2002, which seeks to modernise the existing 42-year-old legislation, will make new provisions for the command, appointments, enlistment, and retirement of members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.

The legislation, which was introduced and read a first time in the St. Kitts & Nevis National Assembly last month, invests the command of the Police Force in the Chief of Police, who shall be responsible to the Minister of National Security, for the efficient management, administration and good governance of the Police Force. In the absence of the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief of Police shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Chief of Police.

The Bill provides for the appointment of the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police, and Assistant Commissioner of Police by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the recommendations of the Police Service Commission, except that the Commission shall not make any recommendation relating to the appointment of the Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police, before it has consulted the Prime Minister.

If the Prime Minister signifies his objection to the appointment of any person to hold the office of Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police, the Commission shall not recommend to the Governor-General to appoint that person. This clause is on all fours with the provisions of section 85 of the Constitution.

It also provides for the appointment of police officers from the rank of inspector to that of Superintendent. The appointment is to be made by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the recommendations of the Police Service Commission. This Clause is also in conformity with the provisions of section 85 of the Constitution.

Clause 13 of the proposed Bill, vests the power to appoint a police officer to the rank of sergeant and below in the Chief of Police, which power he has to exercise acting in accordance with the recommendations of the Police Service Commission. This Clause is also in conformity with the provisions of section 85 of the Constitution. However, the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission, may delegate that power.

Other clauses provide for appointments on contract, acting and temporary appointments, promotions for subordinate police officers, qualifications and requires applicants to submit their applications to the Police Force Personnel Officer who will forward the applications to the Commission.

The withdrawal or resignation of police officers from the Police Force, reduction in rank due to inefficiency, retirement from the Force on attaining 50 years, termination of appointment of police officer, and retirement from the Force on medical grounds are also legislated.

The Police Bill also addresses financial provisions that relate to the Police Force. It provides for matters like pay and allowances to police officers, establishment of a Reward Fund, and pensions and gratuities payable to police officers of certain ranks; deals with matters that relate to disciplinary control and offences that may be committed by police officers as well as other matters of a miscellaneous nature like Police Welfare Association, Prohibited Associations, medical treatment of police officers, improper use and return of articles supplied to members of the Police Force and the like.