Charlestown,Nevis(Sunday, November 24th, 2013)-St. Kitts–Nevis Minister of Information and Technology, the Hon. Glen Phillip says his cabinet colleague, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett continues to lobby hard in Cabinet on behalf of his fellow Nevisians.
Nisbett, who represents Nevis 11, comprising St. Thomas’ and St. James, in the Federal Parliament is the Federation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hon. Phillip made the statement recently on Freedom FM’s Good Morning St. Kitts -Nevis, hosted by veteran radio announcer, Mr. Colin Sampson.
In direct reference to the one-to-one laptop program, Phillip said: “Hon Patrice Nisbett lobbied extensively on behalf of the students of Nevis in order for them to get laptops and an internet network system on the island of Nevis.”
Phillip stated that it is important for the people of Nevis to understand that Hon. Nisbett worked diligently to get the laptops and the network system running for Nevis. He also noted that the Hon. Nisbett has lobbied for items, projects and programs from the Federal government for Nevis in the past, which include Corporations taxes being paid to Nevis, the People Empowerment Program(PEP) which has expanded all phases of the program to Nevis, and piloted the Long Service legislation which assists persons to receive a financial stipend when their work service has been completed.
“Under the education system in the Federation of St. Kitts- Nevis, St. Kitts education is under the auspices of the Federal government, while in Nevis, education programs are held under the Nevis Island Administration umbrella,” commented Phillip.
Midway through the radio program, Minister of Education, the Hon. Nigel Carty called in and stated that the Nevis Island Administration was informed early on that they would be financially responsible for the one-on-one laptop program going forward. “The NIA was told in discussions and in a letter about the future of the laptop programs in Nevis,” said Minister Carty.
A caller to the program asked, “When will the laptops be distributed to the children of Nevis?” Mr. Phillip answered the caller by stating, “as soon as Hon. Nisbett returns to the Federation, he will distribute the laptops to the students as it is only fitting seeing that he worked so hard to get the laptops designated to Nevis students.“
Several callers phoned in and congratulated Hon. Phillip and Hon. Nisbett for their caring and visionary way forward on behalf of the children of the Federation of St. Kitts- Nevis.
The Hon. Nisbett, who accompanied Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas to the recent Heads of Commonwealth Meeting in Sri Lanka is due to return to the Federation on Monday, November 25th, 2013.
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