SEABOURN ODYSSEY AND CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM SCHEDULED TO DOCK AT PORT ZANTE IN JULY
Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 13, 2021 (SKNIS): Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, said that the Seabourn Odyssey and the Celebrity Millennium are scheduled to arrive in July 2021 during the Prime Minister’s Press Conference on July 8.
Photos: Passenger buses that ply their trade along the St. Peter’s route
PASSENGER BUS OPERATORS HIGHLY APPRECIATIVE OF GOVERNMENT’S RELIEF MEASURES
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 13, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – It has been less than a week since Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris announced the introduction of several measures that were designed to bring much needed assistance to passenger bus operations in St. Kitts and Nevis.
As part of its comprehensive and far-reaching relief measures announced on Thursday, July 08, the Team Unity-led Government reinstated the annual Import Duty exemption for 16 tyres (4 tyres per quarter), four pairs of brake pads and three pairs of brake shoes for ‘H’ passenger buses. Additionally, the Government will provide fuel subsidy of $400 per month to passenger bus operators for three months.
These measures have been welcomed by passenger bus operators with the Public Relations Officer for the St. Peter’s Bus Association, Mr. Tyrone “Granny” Browne, describing them as important benefits for all bus drivers.
“This Government is giving us duty free on 16 tyres. Under the last government we got 12 tyres and then the duty free stopped under the last government. So, this Government has brought it back to accommodate the bus drivers and for me that’s very good,” Mr. Browne said in an interview today, Tuesday, July 13.
The relief measures were put in place after passenger bus owners and operators were asked to limit the seating capacity to 50 percent of the established capacity to facilitate physical distancing. This resulted in passenger buses having to make additional trips, which led to higher gas usage and increased wear and tear on tyres and brakes.
Speaking specifically of the fuel subsidy, Mr. Browne said that alone “will be of great, great help” for all of them as passenger bus drivers.
He added, “Most of the guys are excited about this and want to know when it’s going to start. The Government knows that gas is one of the main things that we spend money on every day and to be getting one hundred dollars every week for the next three months is a really, really big help for us. For instance, I’ve had my second bus for six years now and over the last two weekends that was the first time I’ve ever seen my gas lights on, so definitely I’m grateful for the fuel subsidy.”
the government has since extended the maximum capacity on buses to 10 passengers.
Mr. Browne, who is also a member of the Traffic Safety and Public Service Drivers Board, used the opportunity to urge his colleagues to continue adhering to the established COVID-19 regulations and protocols as they relate specifically to public transportation.
“I’ve been observing the St. Peter’s bus drivers for a while now and I can say that they are really complying with the rules and regulations. There is one particular bus driver who stands outside his bus in the afternoons and sprays the hands of everyone who enters his bus and makes sure that they’re wearing their masks. And so, I would always encourage each and every bus driver out there to do the same thing,” said Mr. Browne
Published 8 July, 2021 Basseterre Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, Interview on NBC Boston and NBC Atlanta
Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 8th, 2021) – In the past week the Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, Transport and Ports appeared in two interviews, one on NBC Boston’s The Hub and one NBC Atlanta’s Atl & Co.
Published 8 July, 2021 Basseterre Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
St. Kitts Featured on Hamptons Magazine, Jezebel Magazine and Palm Beach Magazine
Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 8th, 2021) – St. Kitts partnered with Modern Luxury on the development of a dedicated feature that has been published on three online magazines: Hamptons Magazine, Jezebel Magazine and Palm Beach Magazine, reaching affluent audiences in the Hamptons, Atlanta, and Palm Beach, supporting three of our largest gateway markets NYC, ATL and MIA.
OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION REMINDED TO ADHERE TO SEATING CAPACITY GUIDELINES
Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 07, 2021 (SKNIS): Carleen Henry-Morton, Chairperson of the Traffic Safety and Public Service Drivers Board, reminded owners and operators of public transportation in the Federation to adhere to the seating capacity guidelines that were implemented to protect all stakeholders and slow the spread of COVID-19.