Clifford Browne, a survivor of the tragic Christena disaster, marked his 75th birthday this week surrounded by memories of resilience and reflection. To honour the occasion, he received a special visit from Premier Hon. Mark Brantley, who described Browne’s life and legacy as “a true inspiration”.

During the visit, Mr Browne recounted stories of his youth and his long view of the Federation’s political journey, stretching from the days of Robert Bradshaw to the present. Though his eyesight has weakened with age, his sharp memory and vibrant storytelling made a lasting impression on the Premier.

So today supposed to be the big day. Citizens Empowerment Coalition (CEC) link up with PAM and PLP banners to flood Bay Road for this so-called “March 4 Our Rights.” Word is they gathering from 2:30 p.m., PAM rolling in later to “swell the numbers.” Big slogans, plenty heat, but let’s be honest — the whole thing look more like theatre than solution.

The flyers and loudspeakers pushing the same tired lines: “land giveaway,” “private city,” “state within a state.” Yet anybody who actually read the Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) Bill knows better. The SSZ is not no breakaway state — it stays 100% Nevisian, subject to SKN law and the Constitution. Beaches still public, fishing still open, and locals still free to move in and out.

The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force say Rams Supermarket turning into a crime hotspot lately.

On Tuesday, September 23, police confirmed that Akelia Bassue of West Farm has been charged with Simple Larceny for an offence at Rams Bird Rock the day before.

Big move from the Ministry of Education — Saint Kitts and Nevis just launched the Christopher-Wilkin Institute of Technology (CWIT) on Monday, September 22.

This new national training hub is being called a game-changer. The idea? Transform how vocational education is delivered, open more doors for students, and make sure skills development in the Federation doesn’t just happen in bursts but is sustained for the long haul.

Premier Mark Brantley welcomed Junior Minister of Tourism Khayla Claxton and reigning Caribbean Youth Congress champ Keyana Warner to his office this week, alongside chaperone Ms Morton and tourism lead Ms Webbe.

Claxton will fly the Nevis flag in Barbados on October 2, competing against 16 other countries in the CTO Youth Congress. She’s got some big shoes to fill — Warner grabbed the crown last year, following in the footsteps of Nevisian stars Rol-J Williams and Neelia Jones.

Turns out SKN’s approach to crime prevention isn’t just working at home — it’s now catching the attention of our neighbours too.

In September, Hance Richards, Research and Data Analysis Officer at the Citizen Security Secretariat, linked up virtually with Anguilla’s Governor Julia Crouch and Community Planner Hyacinth Bradley. The talk? How to deal with rising violent crime without just leaning harder on the police.

Health Minister Jahnel Nisbett finally gave some word on the long-stalled Alexandra Hospital expansion, and the big news is this — Taiwan has stepped in with three different proposals to get the diagnostic wing off the ground. Cabinet now has to choose the best option, with hopes for a 2025 restart.

The project has been dragging for years, and people vex, but Nisbett reminded folks that Alexandra Hospital is still up and running with key services already in place. Mammograms, CT scans, radiology and lab work — all available without having to ferry over to St Kitts. She even pointed out that nearly 500 women have already had free mammograms since the machine was installed.

Independence 42 wasn’t just about parades and patriotism — it was also about partnerships. PM Dr Terrance Drew used the moment to sit down with Karin Sullivan, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Mission to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and the message was clear: SKN values its security ties with Washington.

From intel-sharing to joint ops and training, the collaboration has already helped curb narcotics trafficking through the Federation and the wider region. But Dr Drew stressed it’s about balance — SKN’s sovereignty stays intact. “The US stands beside us, not in place of us,” he said, calling the Caribbean a zone that must remain peaceful, stable, and prosperous.

Big stage, big message. St Kitts and Nevis stood tall this week, delivering a powerful statement on behalf of CARICOM at the UN — and the focus was clear: women and girls must be at the centre of sustainable development, not left on the sidelines.

Marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, the speech pulled no punches. The promises of 1995? Too many broken. Inequality still rampant. Data still damning. Women worldwide earn 20% less for equal work, carry 2.5 times more unpaid labour, and hold less than 30% of leadership roles.

The talk done. The Special Sustainability Zones (SSZ) Act is now in black and white and up for grabs. The first 100 copies are free at Government Headquarters, a move straight from PM Terrance Drew to show that nothing hiding here. After that, more copies can be bought at SKNIS, and for the tech crowd, the whole thing is online too.

For weeks the opposition bawling about “secrecy” and “sellout.” Now the government flip the script: if you want to know, go read it yourself.

Run Di Chat family, Destiny just levelled up. Hot on the heels of its website launch, the sustainable resort community planned for South Nevis has now rolled out its official social media channels – X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook – and they’re already busy setting the record straight.

The move comes after weeks of chatter, rumours, and wild claims floating around online. Destiny’s response? Hit back with plain facts, served up in neat, shareable posts.

As the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis celebrated its 42nd Anniversary of Independence under the theme “Perpetual Progress – A Sustainable Future in View: Independence 42”, sixteen outstanding citizens were officially recognised for their service to the nation.

During his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew praised the honourees as proof that heroism is alive in the present, not just confined to the past. He said their contributions in education, health, sports, business, law, and community service embody the sacrifice and vision needed to secure a sustainable future.

The opposition’s latest outburst against the Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) has once again exposed their warped priorities. While the government and the Nevis Island Administration are working to attract sustainable investment that creates jobs, protects the environment, and secures the Federation’s future, the People’s Labour Party (PLP) and its leader, Dr Timothy Harris, are throwing up smokescreens and half-truths.

Their claim of “secret land deals” and “selling out the birthright” is not only baseless but deeply hypocritical. After all, prominent opposition figures such as Janice Daniel-Hodge have sold private land for personal profit. It raises a serious question: why is it acceptable for them to line their own pockets but unacceptable for Nevis to chart a sustainable, carefully legislated development path through the SSZ?

Today, September 19, 2025, Saint Kitts and Nevis proudly celebrates the 42nd anniversary of its independence from Britain, a moment that continues to symbolise the resilience, strength and determination of the Federation’s people.

Independence Day traditions began early with the national flag-raising ceremony at Warner Park in Basseterre, mirrored by a similar ceremony in Charlestown, Nevis. These official events were followed by a military parade featuring the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, police and cadet corps.

SKN has been named one of the world’s most overcrowded tourist destinations, according to a new global list published by WION.

The twin-island Federation ranked fifth overall, joining global hotspots such as Vatican City, Andorra, San Marino, the Bahamas and Monaco. With a population of fewer than 47,000, the country welcomes close to 900,000 visitors annually – almost 20 times its resident population.

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and Incoming Chairman of CARICOM, Hon Dr Terrance Drew, has urged leaders of the Caribbean and Africa to transform the painful legacy of the Atlantic Slave Trade into a new “Atlantic Bridge” of cooperation, opportunity and shared progress.

Speaking at the opening of the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held in the Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union Commission Headquarters, Dr Drew described the renewed engagement between the regions as a pivotal moment. He stressed that this first in-person gathering since the 2021 virtual summit provides a unique platform to deepen historic bonds and expand strategic partnerships.

Eight young people from Taiwan have arrived in St Kitts and Nevis as part of Taiwan’s Global Pathfinders Initiative, a programme designed to foster international cooperation and leadership.

For the next two months, the youth delegation will intern in government agencies, connect with local leaders and communities, and showcase Taiwan’s creativity and innovation. The initiative reflects both countries’ commitment to building strong people-to-people ties while giving young professionals real-world experience in diplomacy, governance and development.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, long regarded as one of the Caribbean’s premier luxury destinations, has appointed Avi Phookan as its new General Manager. With more than two decades of international hospitality experience, Phookan brings both a passion for guest service and a proven track record in environmental stewardship.

Most recently General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii, Phookan led initiatives that won awards for sustainable operations and guest experience. His global career has spanned Dubai, Doha, New Orleans, Charleston and Belize, with Caribbean experience at The Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman and the St Kitts Marriott Beach Resort.

Prime Minister Hon Dr Terrance Drew led the annual National Heroes Day ceremony at Heroes Park on September 16, calling on citizens to honour the Federation’s past by working together to secure its future.

Against the backdrop of the 42nd Anniversary of Independence, Dr Drew reminded the nation that the legacy of its five National Heroes was forged not only in government chambers, but in fields, villages and classrooms where ordinary men and women dared to dream of liberty and justice.

SKN has firmly rejected claims circulating on social media that Tyler Robinson, the US student accused in the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, had ever visited the Federation.

In an official statement released on Monday, the Fed said there is “no evidence that neither the individual nor his family entered St Kitts and Nevis” and stressed its commitment to maintaining accurate information. “We remain open to reviewing any credible information to the contrary, as accuracy and truth are paramount,” the statement added.