Black Immigrant Daily News

Pôle emploi, la Confédération de l’Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment (CAPEB), la Fédération Française du Bâtiment (FFB) et la Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics (FNTP) lancent sur tout le territoire, du 10 au 14 octobre 2022, la 2ème semaine nationale des métiers du bâtiment et des travaux publics. 

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 07, 2022 (SKNIS) – Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew said that his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party-led Administration remains committed to the pledge made during the 2022 election campaign of improving the strained relationship between the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

Prime Minister Dr. Drew reiterated this stance when he appeared on Freedom FM’s Issues programme on Wednesday, October 05.

“I’ve said on the campaign trail…that we would do what we have to do to improve the relationship between St. Kitts and Nevis. Those were not mere words. Since I’ve gotten to the Office of the Prime Minister, I have made it my business to pursue that positive pathway,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew.

Since assuming office, the honourable prime minister has met with the Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley on at least two separate occasions, with the initial meeting taking place on August 19.

“He would have brought a number of issues that he would have liked to be addressed or at least hoped to be worked on and we have done that, for example on the issue of geothermal. We have worked with him [Premier Brantley] on geothermal and we would see some positive movement there. That has been a big issue for years and we were able to solve that in a meeting and do what we had to do,” Dr. Drew said.

The prime minister explained that the free tuition for students attending Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), starting with the 2022-23 Academic Year, also applies to students from Nevis.

On the matter of constitutional reform, the prime minister said, “I met with the premier today [October 05] and we discussed forming a committee and that committee would have the opportunity to discuss the Constitution because he and I are committed  to resolving the issues in the Constitution.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew stated that it is his firm belief that Nevisians should have access to the same opportunities as their brothers and sisters on St. Kitts. He noted that while the Nevis Island Administration has its own mandate and responsibilities, “as far as the Federal Government is concerned Nevisians should be treated equally as Kittitians and we are pursuing that very vigorously.”

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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 07, 2022 (SKNIS): Over 100 seniors from across St. Kitts participated in an empowerment session on Thursday, October 06, 2022, that featured important information on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, healthy eating habits, as well as exercise and physical activity.

The event was organized by the Department of Social Services and Community Development with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It was held at the CUNA Conference Room at Fortlands. The discussion on vaccine boosters was facilitated by Dr. Dwayne Archibald, while Delwayne Delaney conducted the discussion on exercise.

Dr. Archibald said that although local cases of COVID-19 have significantly fallen off, there is still a need for vulnerable persons, such as the nation’s elderly, to protect themselves.

“As expected, there was some hesitancy from the crowd of the elderly. However, we still [are] on the COVID fight. It is not as rampant as it was before, but nevertheless, it’s still there and we are still trying, as much as possible, to decrease the numbers and to make it non-existent in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Archibald.

Exercise remains a key recommendation for overcoming COVID-19 infection as well as reducing the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes. Mr. Delaney led the group in an exercise session and expressed his desire for seniors to carry on in the days and weeks to come.

“I know that to get out into a gym may be difficult or even to join an exercise group but understanding that even [with] a little bit [of activity] something is better than nothing and what we will be doing today is a clear indication as to what can be done and fit into their routine,” he stated.

Mr. Delaney said that exercising up to 10 to 15 minutes per day can be extremely beneficial as it keeps the heart rate up.

Azilla Clarke, Director of Policy Planning and Projects within the Ministry of Social Development and Ageing et al said that the message shared at the empowerment session would be used in an awareness campaign.

“We will have informational billboards both in St. Kitts and in Nevis and the production of shirts to distribute to our senior citizens both for branding as well as to promote awareness to the general public about the way we treat and care for our seniors,” Ms. Clarke indicated.

St. Kitts and Nevis is celebrating October as the Month of Older Persons.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

By: Alva Solomon

At age 21, Mabel Hackett was attending bible school at Hauraruni on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway when she fell through a bunk bed, hitting her right breast in the process. She was painting a wall at the time.

It was a fall that would leave a significant impact on her daily life, since, some 14 years later, she observed swelling in her right breast and a searing pain started to become a regular occurrence.

Within a few months, the pain became unbearable and Hackett decided to seek medical attention since she observed several lumps within the breast. “I went to see a doctor at Eureka Lab and she advised me to do an ultrasound and after I take out my report she advised me it is very dangerous and I cannot waste no time with my life,” Hackett said.

It was August that year and following the doctor’s advice, she decided to undergo an X-ray in the form of a mammogram. Hackett was then referred to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital and medical staff there gave her some advice which came as a rude awakening. She said the doctors advised her that she would have to either remove the breast or undergo chemotherapy. They were options which she could not pursue at the time since the cost, which was in the vicinity of $1 million, was beyond her pockets.

Alternatively, the doctors decided to remove the lumps through a surgical procedure that September. Samples were taken from the breast and sent to Trinidad and Tobago for further analysis. The samples indicated that cancerous cells were within the breast. Hackett was shocked but she knew she had to follow the doctor’s advice.

In December that year, another surgical procedure was undertaken to remove any other infectious cell from the breast.

The following year, Hackett was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for the ailment and this saw her journeying from her home in the Moruca sub-region to the city for the check-ups.

“Every time I go I would take an ultrasound and an X-ray and the doctor would look at it and he wasn’t seeing anything,” she said. This saw her breathing a sigh of relief as she not only feared losing the breast but her life, to cancer.Hackett said after the surgery she noticed that her right hand was not the same as before. “My right hand, from the time I take the surgery, do not have the strength to do work as before, it became very weak,” she said. However, she said she could hoist any load, and being the larger-than-life character that she is, she still plays cricket and volleyball with her friends at Moruca. “After I finish playing it would affect me,” she said.

At her village, Hackett is known for her involvement in sports. She is also a youth leader at her church and many children as well as other villagers look up to her as a role model. On a lighter note, Hackett possess a unique trait; her voice is so powerful that whenever she speaks at one end of the playfield, she can be heard at its boundaries.

Within her family she is also seen as a pivotal figure and although she is the 9th of 11 children, she is seen as the most senior of the siblings. According to Hackett, it is now 11 years after surgery was performed on her breast and occasionally, she would feel minor pains around the area where the surgical procedures were done. “Maybe because of the fatigue of the hand I would feel the pain,” she said.

She said she would advise women who might be experiencing pains in their breast as well as noticeable lumps, not to waste any time in seeking treatment. “Go and see your doctor before it is too late,” she said.

“If there is any women out there who is suffering and having any symptoms, whether you are not feeling too good with, may be experiencing what I went through, I would like to encourage you to keep the faith and pray to God Almighty and don’t give up,” Hackett said.

In addition, she said persons in such positions should eat healthy meals and “live a healthy life and believe in God”.

According to Hackett, “I am cured 100 per cent because I trust in Jesus, my faith is in him, I pray and I speak to him every day, I’m cured and I am healed”.

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