Right Steps, Right Direction

On Aug. 29, the Methodist Church in St. Kitts and Nevis organized a demonstration under the banner “March for hope, peace and unity.” Participants made their way through the streets of Basseterre and ended at the Cemaco Parking Lot in Newtown. About 75 people attended this event.

The Methodist Church deserves thanks for organizing this event. In essence, the church leadership said that it was time to stand up for decency and law and order.

The next step is clear: Organizing a march that brings together more churches and more people from St. Kitts and Nevis. Bringing 75 people together is a start. Bringing out 20,000 people would show that the country is serious about unifying in the fight against crime.

It is more than just opposing lawlessness; it is about fighting for a society that is free from fear, where people can walk the streets without the sound of gunfire being heard or the dread of assault or robbery in the air. It’s about building a place to live that is really, fundamentally safe and good, a place where families can be raised, where the elderly can reside in peace and young people can find meaningful economic opportunities.

We hope the clergy in the Federation will take up this issue and do their best to save the soul of this nation.

Ready To Celebrate Independence

Every day events are being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. This is a time for citizens to think about the freedom of their country and the responsibilities that go with that freedom.

These events will certainly draw large crowds, people filled with enthusiasm and patriotism. For those attending the celebrations, here are three suggestions that can help make this anniversary a better time for everyone:

-Drive more slowly and carefully. Nothing breaks up a party faster than news of a bad vehicle accident.

-Go out of your way to be courteous. If we are all a little kinder to one another, we’ll all feel better.

-Don’t litter. If you see litter, pick it up and dispose of it properly. A clean Federation is an even nicer place.

NIA- Be Open About Energy

West Indies Power recently opened a third site to explore for geothermal energy. The company has already successfully drilled two other sites and the entire project, which has great potential for the future of Nevis, appears to be moving forward.

What we are not hearing about is any details of the deal being negotiated between WIP and the Nevis Island Administration for the sale of electricity generated by using geothermal energy.

The public should not be left in the dark about the details of this contract until it is set before the assembly. Instead, there should be public consultations to solicit feedback from the people who will be paying the bills and who are supposed to benefit from this effort. The NIA would do well to build support for this endeavor instead operating behind closed doors and inviting its critics to pounce on any perceived shortcomings in the bill.