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The Emerging Film Industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Film Industry in Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis became the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union’s (ECCU) first sovereign state to lower its debt-to-GDP ratio to the minimum 60% benchmark in 2018. The dual-island nation also adopted the Poverty Alleviation Program. Through this initiative, the government provided a monthly stipend to 4,000 families making less than EC $3,000 (USD $1,100) each month. However, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are jeopardizing the country’s economic growth. The tourism industry contributes 60% of Saint Kitts and Nevis’s GDP. Because of the pandemic’s disruption to the tourism sector, predictions have determined that the country will experience -2% GDP growth in 2021. Fortunately, an unexpected economic opportunity has arisen that will assist the nation in generating additional revenue: the new film industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The MSR Media Deal

The entertainment industry suffered a significant economic collapse due to the shutdown of movie theaters and film production studios during lockdown regulations. In 2020, estimates determined that the international theatrical and home entertainment industry was worth $80.8 billion. This is a drop of 18% from the previous year. The most substantial decrease was in theater revenue, which fell from $42.3 billion in 2019 to $12 billion in 2020. Moreover, theater companies generated just 15% of the world’s total entertainment revenues compared to 43% in 2019.

COVID-19 safety regulations cost film companies like Universal an extra $8 million due to the overall production costs in the U.K. Due to the strict safety precautions and rising production costs in the U.K., film companies like MSR Media sought after COVID-19 safe havens to continue filming. The company found Nevis Island to be the ideal solution.

Saint Kitts and Nevis had only 44 reported coronavirus cases by March 2021. All but two of the patients had recovered completely, and there had been no fatalities. Since the end of August 2020, there have been no curfew or shelter-in-place restrictions throughout the country. Additionally, the CDC has also given Saint Kitts and Nevis a Level 1: Low Covid Risk rating. In contrast, the State Department has given the nation a Level 2 travel advisory. MSR Media has invested a multi-million dollar film industry investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis as a result of the country’s efficient control of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the film industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis underwent formal establishment.

New Employment Opportunities

According to data from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Saint Kitts and Nevis’ economy had a GDP of $927.4 million (2.5 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) in 2020, down 11.2% due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the tourism industry. In 2019, the tourism industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis employed 4,800 people. However, a World Food Programme survey found 51% of the population reported job losses or lower income as a result of the pandemic in 2020. Winston Crooke, a former actor and native Nevis Islander, detailed the tourist industry’s dire state. “I haven’t seen a tourist in a year and a half,” he told The Borgen Project in an interview.

Film creators will shoot six films on the island of Nevis as part of the MSR Media deal. MSR Media has recruited a total of 32 locals to work full-time with the film crew. Eight locals have landed speaking roles. Additionally, the crew cast 160 locals as extras. Nevis Premier Mark Brantley expressed gratitude to MSR Media for bringing employment and development opportunities to the island.

Boosting the Economy

The debut of the film industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis is also proving to be profitable. As a result of the MSR Media deal, opportunities for economic diversification have developed. It has created new prospects for employment, education and increased the exposure of Nevis across the world. Every four months, $1 million will go to the national economy per terms of the MSR Media deal.

The arrival of the film industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis has also ushered in the possibility of a new tourism category known as film tourism. Several distinct characteristics contribute to Saint Kitts and Nevis’ appeal as a filming location, setting the twin islands apart from others in the Caribbean. The country’s breathtaking scenery includes green hills that meet at Mt. Liamuiga’s volcanic peak, a rainforest, a harbor with several hidden coves and inlets and many beautiful beaches. Several tourist sites, including the Saint Kitts Scenic Railway and the Brimstone Hill Fortress, are located there. The Hamilton Museum is located on Nevis, as the island is the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States

Saint Kitts and Nevis is developing new hotels in anticipation of more tourists. Prime Minister Timothy Harris of Saint Kitts has outlined a varied hotel complex that is nearing construction. The Trinity Sunset Shores, Seaview Hotel and Hillsborough Suites Hotel are among these buildings, all of which will open in 2021.

Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Citizen by Investment Program (CBI), which began in 1984, is the world’s longest-running investment migration program. In exchange for contributing to the Sustainable Growth Fund, the program provides a haven for U.S. families. The income that the fund creates goes toward assisting many aspects of society, such as tourism and healthcare. Winston Crooke feels the film industry will aid in increasing interest in the CBI program. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity, and [filming movies in Nevis] is great publicity. I think what [MSR Media has] done is showcase not only [the island] but also what Saint Kitts and Nevis can offer to small companies,” he said.

The Acting Academy

One of the MSR Media team’s goals is to teach individuals from Saint Kitts and Nevis the skill of creating films. On February 22, 2021, the Acting Academy opened its doors. Phillipe Martinez, MSR Media’s Chief Producer and Director, and Winston Crooke, now an acting coach, lead the academy. The Nevis Performing Arts Center hosts the Acting Academy. Aspiring performers will take evening lessons twice a week, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. “The Acting Academy is about developing whatever skill sets [locals] have, nurturing [those skills] and owning them,” said Winston Crooke. All classes at the academy are free.

Future of the Film Industry

The film industry in Saint Kitts and Nevis has a bright future. MSR Media is currently working on projects including A Week in Paradise, Assailant and One Year Off in Saint Kitts and Nevis. “The most important thing is to help develop these other people [or] youngsters and so on in the film industry so they will carry on and develop the market. And I also want to thank MSR Media, Philippe Martinez and the production company for being bold enough to look at Nevis Island in the way that they have and give us this fabulous opportunity,” expressed Winston Crooke.

– Tiara Tyson
Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Eradication in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis has collectively only had 17 reported cases of COVID-19 and zero deaths. However, the pandemic has severely affected the economy because tourism primarily supports it. As of 2019, about 4,000 people were registered as making less than 3,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars a month, making them eligible for government aid. When the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis implemented extensive COVID-19 safety measures, it negatively impacted the tourism sector causing many to fall below the poverty line indicated above. Poverty in Saint Kitts and Nevis remains a major issue, especially during the challenging time of COVID-19. However, there are some measures for poverty eradication in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In April 2020, the Governor-General of the two islands used his emergency powers to create regulations such as closing all ports and airports, closing non-essential businesses and suspending the liquor license of many businesses. While these extreme measures have kept the island relatively safe from COVID-19, the country and its citizens are in need of economic stimulation.

Massive Economic Stimulation

The country’s government has made the decision to extend its Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) to support poverty eradication in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It instituted the program in 2018 as a monthly, $500 stipend for the country’s poorest citizens. It will give $80 million in aid to those who have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic. It will also allow an additional $40 million to stimulate the economy.

This massive aid program is the largest per capita response to the COVID-19 economic losses so far. Saint Kitts and Nevis is also giving $1,000 in Social Security benefits and increasing the amount of PAP stipends distributed. Lastly, it will suspend water and electricity fees as well as mortgage collections until January 2021 in an effort to support poverty eradication in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Funding COVID-19 Economic Plan

Interestingly, Saint Kitts and Nevis is relying on its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program to fund these COVID-19 relief efforts. This program allows a person to gain a Saint Kitts and Nevis passport by donating or investing in the country’s real estate.

The CBI program makes up 20% to 30% of Saint Kitts’ and Nevis’ income annually. In an effort to entice new donors and investors, the government is offering a COVID-19 discount. Therefore, people wishing to donate have to pay $150,000 and those who wish to make a real estate investment have to pay $200,000.

Additionally, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has become an important contributor to Saint Kitts’ and Nevis’ COVID-19 response efforts. It released an appeal to donors in March 2020 and began accepting financial aid. It has raised $52.7 million of its $94.8 million goals as of June 11, 2020. PAHO has provided equipment, access to health experts and individual safety gear to the two islands.

Re-Opening Borders

The latest Emergency Powers regulations expired on August 9, 2020, but Saint Kitts and Nevis government has yet to announce when its borders will reopen. However, the government worked to ensure that workers in the tourism sector would have the preparation to serve any incoming tourists safely with a training program that ran until August 27, 2020.

The government is also preparing to launch and adopt a contact tracing app. It will be mandatory for all visitors to utilize the app and respect all of the emergency regulations that are in effect. Additionally, it will provide health updates and uses geofencing technology to alert users when they enter certain boundaries.

While reopening Saint Kitts and Nevis’ borders is a daunting task, the Premier of Nevis believes that the country needs to find ways to restart its local economy because one can categorize COVID-19 as both a health and economic crisis. The $120 million economic stimulus package the islands are adopting should protect affected citizens from extreme poverty and allow them to survive until the tourism industry can reopen.

– Olivia Welsh
Photo: Pixabay

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A Look at Human Rights in St. Kitts and Nevis

A Look at Human Rights in St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis is a state comprised of two islands located between the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. Their system of government is a parliamentary democracy. For the most part, human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis are protected and not under threat, but the small island nation has faced several issues.

The national constitution prohibits torture and cruel and unusual punishment, but police in St. Kitts and Nevis can be aggressive. The police do not need a warrant to arrest someone. As a result, citizens will often not report crimes for fear of retribution. The lone prison in the country was built in 1840 and shows wear. It is overcrowded; a facility built for a capacity of 150 inmates currently holds around 270.

Despite this, conditions there are not necessarily inhumane. A U.S. State Departmentt report on human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis states that “prisoners and detainees had reasonable access to visitors, were permitted religious observances and had reasonable access to complaint mechanisms and the ability to request inquiry into conditions. The government investigated and monitored prison conditions, and the prison staff periodically received training in human rights.”

While arrest warrants are not necessary, the constitution does grant accused citizens the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair and public trial. There are no political prisoners in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The United Nations has identified rape and violence against women as an issue regarding human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis. Rape is a criminal offense, but spousal rape is not. Women can file rape claims, but may often be reluctant to do so. St. Kitts and Nevis passed the Domestic Violence Act of 2014 into law to address some of these issues.

Child abuse is a problem in St. Kitts and Nevis. Corporal punishment is legal here. Reports of sexual assault against children are not uncommon, despite such acts carrying a stiff criminal penalty.

The treatment of homosexuality is also a concern regarding human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis. Homosexual acts are still criminalized and carry a certain level of societal stigma. In its review of human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis, the United Nations called for the decriminalization of homosexuality on the islands.

The state of human rights in St. Kitts and Nevis is a mixed bag, but perhaps not an unoptimistic one, nor necessarily uncommon for developing democracies. Many of the human rights issues that do exist stem not from the law but from a failure to effectively implement and enforce it. The country has shown a desire to improve its ways, and time will tell whether or not it successfully follows the U.N.’s recommendations.

– Andrew Revord

Photo: Flickr

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Eradicating Hunger in St. Kitts and Nevis

Hunger in St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis is a dual-island nation in the Caribbean that gained independence from England in 1983. Most of the population of 52,000 descended from West African slaves. Additionally, most of the population lives on St. Kitts, which some politicians in Nevis believe neglects the Nevisians in government affairs.

Due to its size, there is limited information regarding hunger in St. Kitts and Nevis. However, the information that is available shows that the government of St. Kitts and Nevis is taking action to eradicate hunger.

Of note, the percent of undernourished people in St. Kitts and Nevis stood at 10.2 percent for the period 2011-16, a significant decline from a high of 21.9 percent during 2005-2007. Unfortunately, many individuals who still face hunger in St. Kitts and Nevis may not have the resources to confront illness and may have to risk other aspects of survival or may become dependent on others for their own livelihood.

The government has implemented the Poverty Reduction Strategy that will reform the presence of hunger in St. Kitts and Nevis. Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Agriculture and Social Services, highlighted several of these government initiatives on World Food Day 2015. The government plans to accomplish this strategy by redistributing resources more equitably; strengthening public, private and community organizations; investing in social services and empowering vulnerable groups.

St. Kitts and Nevis has also implemented a safety net program that provides financial or food baskets to poor families. Additionally, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis is working on an initiative to provide one meal a day to all primary and secondary school children.

Despite the small size of the two islands, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis is working hard to combat hunger and has many strong initiatives in place to promote a higher standard of living for its citizens.

– Christiana Lano

Photo: Flickr

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Education in St. Kitts and Nevis

Education in St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis is the first Commonwealth Caribbean country to introduce free universal secondary education. This was implemented after replacing the former education structure inherited from the British colonial period.

The country has an Education Act that addresses the fundamental goal of providing access to quality education for all nationals in institutions that foster economic development and other values of the country’s community. The country also has a number of private institutions that offer paid tuition.

The country has a network of free public schools that provide accessibility and are well-resourced to meet the country’s education needs. While education in St. Kitts and Nevis has seen major improvements, the quality of education is greatly impacted by the low percentage of fully skilled teachers.

While teachers may be scarce in St. Kitts and Nevis, education in the country is not developing due to lack of determination. Education in St. Kitts and Nevis has seen the development of a technical and vocational education and training strategy that promotes employable skills development and entrepreneurship.

The country currently is unable to offer or sustain a tertiary education institution but prepares students to attend university in other parts of the Caribbean as well as other regions. Education in St. Kitts and Nevis focuses mainly on the strengthening of a diverse and broad educational system based on societal need. The country has seen great progress as its current literacy rate stands at ninety percent.

This Commonwealth nation continues to take into consideration its economic trends, educational system, administration and management in the College of Further Education, focusing mainly on The St. Kitts Technical College specializing in technical education.

– Rochelle R. Dean

Photo: Flickr