Through an initiative launched by the Caribbean Star Airlines, headquartered in Antigua, a number of Caribbean artistes recorded a song and will began videotaping a music video to aid relief efforts for the people of Grenada.

The song titled "Give Some Spice - Share The Love" was recorded at the Star Sounds Studios in Trinidad by producer Carl "Beaver" Henderson with the vocal input of artistes such as Machel Montano, Destra, Kees Dieffenthaller, Ghetto Flex and Michelle Xavier of Imij & Co., Terry Seales, Michelle Sylvester, 2Ntrigue featuring Charlene and Kelly, Patrick Gordon, 3 Canal and gospel singer Sean Daniel. Other Trinidadian artistes who are currently on engagements in North America are also expected to lay down tracks for a second version of the song with additional input coming from major Caribbean artistes representing Barbados, Antigua and the affected island Grenada.

The first version of the song is intended to be released on Monday on 98.9 Yes FM – the official station of the relief project - with an extended version being released later in the week with accompanying music video. Following the local launch which would embrace all media, the song and music video will be released throughout the Caribbean with a publicity roll-out involving the artistes travelling throughout the region promoting the effort.

Caribbean Star Airlines has committed US$2.00 of each ticket sold to any of its destinations over the next two months towards this major relief effort titled "The Grenada Relief Project". This is expected to realise a significant sum.

Other major sponsors contributing towards the recording of the song and music video are Advance Dynamics Limited, Caribbean Money Market Brokers, Carib Brewery Limited, Pepsi-Cola Trinidad Limited, Frito Lay snacks, Creative Directions Caribbean Limited and Precision Signs Limited. A team of creative writers, graphic artistes, videographers, video and audio technicians, the Association of Caribbean Mediaworkers and others in the communications industry has also extended their services and support.

Students from St Kitts and Nevis are the winners of the top three prizes in the ECCB’s 2004 Essay Competition. Shanique Richards of the Washington Archibald High School in St Kitts secured the EC$5000.00 first prize, while her schoolmate Samantha Brisbane secured the EC$2000.00 third prize in the competition. The second prize of EC$2500.00 was won by Erdré Jeffers of the Gingerland Secondary School in Nevis.

As part of the awards, the schools attended by the three winners will receive development grants. The Washington Archibald High School will receive EC$2000.00 and EC$1000.00 for producing the first and third place winners. The Gingerland Secondary School, the school attended by the second place winner, will be awarded EC$1500.00. Additionally, the Washington Archibald High School will be awarded the EC$1000.00 prize for submitting the most entries.

This year, students aged 15 –18 years from the ECCB member countries were invited to write on the topic: As a citizen of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), what in your view are the prerequisites for viable nation building, regional integration and economic development?

The prizes will be presented at the 9th Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture and Awards Ceremony scheduled for 3 November 2004 at the ECCB Headquarters. The Management and Staff of the ECCB congratulate the winning students and their schools.

Nevis’ Premier, the Hon Vance Amory and Minister of Health, the Hon Jean Harris on Tuesday, broke ground to signal the official commencement of a state of the art nursing home for the senior citizens on the island, at the Alexandra Hospital compound in Charlestown.

A brief official ceremony was held at the grounds of the Alexandra Hospital, and Permanent Secretary of Health, Mr. St. Clair Wallace, during his opening remarks observed that the structure would be one of the greatest humanitarian project ever undertaken in this century of the life of the people of Nevis.

He also noted that the commencement of the model multi purpose home for the senior citizens has served to demonstrate the love and respect that the government and the people of Nevis hold for our deserving seniors.

Premier Amory told the gathering, which included members of the Nevis Island Cabinet, staff and patients at the infirmary, that the government acknowledged that in looking after the people in the country, it would require the support and cooperation of persons in the communities.

He said, “We require the support and cooperation of family members, of children and grandchildren, of community workers, medical and nursing personnel because we are in fact investing to look after the link between our past and our future. So to care for them and to provide the facilities in which they would be care for is in fact your government’s act in showing appreciation for the contribution, which your senior citizens have made to the development of our country.”

In attributing the need to look after the senior citizens of the island to be of paramount importance to the government, the Nevisian Leader pointed out some of the collaborative work being done.

He said, “We can also point to the support which has been given to the St. George and St. Johns Senior Citizens Home, the support which we have given and will continue to give to the Prospect Citizen Home and the provision of concession on medical services and medical supplies for our senior citizens.”

Minister of Health, the Hon Jean Harris in giving brief remarks thanked several persons and organisations that have contributed to the care and well being of the residents at the infirmary. She also expressed appreciation to the Mojarni Group of companies who would be constructing the institute and hope that all would go smoothly.

Hospital Administrator, Mrs. Joslyn Liburd gave an overview of the project. She noted that the facility would cost some EC$4 million and is expected to be completed within ten months. She also noted that it would accommodate some thirty-six persons. Twenty free beds, eight private rooms, eight semi-private beds, with air condition, telephone, cable television and all rooms will have ceiling fans.

According to Mrs. Liburd, all private and semi-private rooms will attract a cost to them, adding, “There will always be room for those destitute, and the facility will be for the elderly and would be operated by a board.”