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Bird Rock, St Kitts, St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com

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Category: Blog

Dr Tamu Browne_Flyer (web)
BlogEmpowHer

Business Idea to Implementation

Empowering women living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a vital aspect of promoting health equity and addressing the growing burden of NCDs. In keeping with this, the EmpowHer project organised a workshop titled “Entrepreneurship 101: Business Idea to Implementation,” aimed at equipping women living with NCDs with the skills and knowledge needed to start their own businesses. The workshop was facilitated by Dr Tamu Browne, the founder of Coaching by Tamu and an expert in women’s entrepreneurship. In this blog post, we will explore why women with NCDs need to have good entrepreneurial skills and the key takeaways from the workshop.

Women living with NCDs face many challenges, including the need for regular medical care, managing symptoms, and balancing work and family responsibilities. However, entrepreneurship can be an empowering way for women with NCDs to take control of their lives and achieve financial independence. Developing NCD-friendly businesses that fit their personal circumstances is an excellent way for these women to create sustainable income streams that can help them manage their health conditions more effectively. This approach is important because it recognises that women with NCDs have unique needs and challenges that must be taken into consideration when developing a business plan. For example, a woman with mobility issues may need a business that allows her to work from home, while a woman with dietary restrictions may want to focus on creating healthy meal delivery services to address the challenges that she has identified through her own experience.

During the workshop, Dr Tamu Browne emphasised the importance of identifying a business idea that aligns with one’s passion, skills, and experience. She highlighted the need for entrepreneurs to have a clear understanding of their target market and the competitive landscape in which they will operate. Participants were also encouraged to identify potential challenges and develop strategies to overcome them.

One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the importance of leveraging technology to ensure their businesses stand out and also to improve their business processes. As such, participants also learned about the various tools available to entrepreneurs to improve payment processes and streamline their contact with their customers.

The feedback report from the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with participants being very satisfied with the workshop and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn from Dr Browne’s expertise. One participant wrote, “Awesome job, Dr Tamu. You are inspiring” Another participant praised the workshop’s  intimate setting and the full explanations given on each of the topics whilst another said the workshop was “Excellent!”

Participants were enthusiastic about the skills they had learnt and expressed their intention to use them. They felt confident in using the information they had acquired to develop their own businesses. They said they found all the information provided to be useful and that they will be using it to formulate their ideas and put their plans into action. Participants also appreciated the guidance on identifying their target audience and they felt that they now had the tools necessary to properly evaluate their ideas and determine the feasibility of their businesses. Overall, the participants left the workshop feeling inspired and equipped to take on the challenge of entrepreneurship with confidence.

In conclusion, the “Entrepreneurship 101: Business Idea to Implementation” workshop was a resounding success. The workshop’s focus on developing NCD-friendly businesses that fit participants’ personal circumstances was particularly impactful, as it highlighted the importance of empowering women living with NCDs to take control of their lives and achieve financial independence.

Dr Tamu Browne’s expertise in women’s entrepreneurship was invaluable, and the feedback from participants indicates that they left the workshop feeling more confident and motivated to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Our next workshop on Thriving in the Workshop Through NCD Self-Management, led by Ms Vera Edwards-France, is coming up on 1st March at 5:30 pm and we encourage all interested women to register and join us

WorldObesityDay(Web)
BlogObesity

The Role of Healthy Food Policies in Addressing Obesity: A World Obesity Day Reflection

World Obesity Day is an annual event, held on 4th March, that aims to raise awareness of the growing epidemic of obesity worldwide. This year’s theme is “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity.” It’s an opportunity to shift the conversation about obesity from one of blame and shame to one of understanding and action.

Obesity is a complex issue with multiple causes, including genetics, environment, and behaviour. It’s a major risk factor for developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. These diseases are a significant public health challenge in St Kitts and Nevis where over 80% of deaths and illnesses are due to these conditions.

By talking about obesity, we can inspire the change needed across society to tackle obesity and NCDs. It’s time to move beyond stigmatising individuals for their weight and instead focus on creating environments that support healthy choices. One essential way to do this is for policymakers to introduce national action plans for addressing obesity that include evidence-based healthy food policies.

One such policy is the introduction of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax. Sugary drinks are a major contributor to obesity and NCDs, and a tax on these drinks has been shown to reduce consumption. The revenue from the tax can also be used to fund health initiatives or to subsidize healthy foods, making them more accessible to everyone.

Another policy is front-of-package warning labels. These labels provide clear and easy-to-understand information about the nutritional value of a food or drink product. They are effective in helping consumers make healthier choices and avoiding products that are high in sugar, salt, and fat.

A national school nutrition policy is also crucial. Schools are an essential setting for promoting healthy eating habits, and a national policy can ensure that all schools provide healthy food options for students. This policy can include guidelines for the nutritional content of meals, as well as standards for the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods and drinks in and around schools.

By changing our perspectives and focusing on creating environments that support healthy choices, we can tackle obesity and NCDs. It’s time for policymakers to take action and introduce evidence-based healthy food policies like those listed above.

In conclusion, World Obesity Day creates the perfect opportunity to shift the conversation about obesity from one of blame and shame to one of understanding and action. It’s time to move beyond stigmatising individuals for their weight and instead focus on creating environments that support healthy choices. By introducing evidence-based healthy food policies like a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, front-of-package warning labels, a national school nutrition policy and restricting the sale and marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks in and around schools, we can create a healthier, happier society for ourselves and future generations.

MakingSmartMoneyMovesFlyer
BlogEmpowHer

Making SMART Money Moves

The EmpowHer workshop series kicked off on the 25th of February with the first workshop titled “Making Smart Money Moves”. The event, which aimed to improve the financial literacy and wellbeing of women living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), was a great success. Participants gained valuable insight into personal finance and money management.

It is essential to recognise the importance of financial wellbeing and literacy, especially for women living with NCDs. Women are often disproportionately affected by NCDs and may face additional financial challenges related to their health conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to provide them with the necessary tools and knowledge to manage their finances effectively. Without adequate financial literacy, women living with NCDs may find it difficult to access appropriate health care or afford the necessary medications and treatments. By improving financial literacy, we can empower women living with NCDs to take control of their health and their financial future.

The Making Smart Money Moves workshop was led by financial expert Sharifa Browne, the Finance Director at the St Kitts Marriott Vacation Club. Through our evaluation of the workshop, participants stated that Ms Browne was very knowledgeable and interactive. They appreciated the format of the workshop which provided ample time for discussion and found all aspects of the workshop to be very useful. Participants stated that the discussions during the session were especially valuable, as participants could ask questions and share their own experiences.

The feedback received from participants demonstrated the success of the workshop. All attendees said they were very satisfied with the event and felt more confident about managing their finances. They found the information presented to be enlightening and educational, and they appreciated the workbook that was provided at the end of the session to assist them with generating their own budget and managing their finances. Additionally, participants said they were ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to use the skills they learned from the workshop, indicating that the workshop will have a lasting impact.

The specific skills participants were most likely to use included budgeting and personal budget planning, managing debt and consolidation, and revising their budget. Participants also found the information on insurance and paying down debt to be particularly helpful.

Overall, the Making Smart Money Moves workshop was an excellent start to the EmpowHer workshop series. The feedback received from participants indicates that the event was successful in achieving its objectives of improving financial literacy and wellbeing among women living with NCDs. 

The next workshop in the series, “Entrepreneurship 101: Business Idea to Implementation,” will be held on March 1st and be led by Dr Tamu Browne. We look forward to another engaging and informative event that will empower women living with NCDs to take control of their financial futures.

Banner1 (web)
BlogEmpowHerWomen's Health

The Launch of EmpowHer

We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of our EmpowHer project, which aims to empower women living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The launch event, which took place on Monday 13th February, was a great success and featured a number of inspiring speakers who shared their insights and expertise on gender and NCDs.

The event started with a beautiful opening prayer by Novelia Rawlins-Nwosu, Coordinator of the Chronic Metabolic Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health. This was followed by an introduction by Abi Begho, Programme Director at Lake Health and Wellbeing, who gave an overview of the project and its goals.

His Excellency Michael Chau-Hong Lin, Resident Ambassador for the Republic of China Taiwan, also delivered a speech, expressing his country’s support for the project and its commitment to improving the lives of women living with NCDs.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs, Ms Azilla Clarke, also spoke at the event. Her remarks highlighted the important role that women play in society and the need to address the specific challenges that women living with NCDs face.

Dr Marissa Carty, NCD Programme Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, delivered an informative and inspiring talk on NCDs and women in St. Kitts and Nevis. Terysia Herbert-Browne, Project Officer at Lake Health and Wellbeing, also gave a detailed presentation on the EmpowHer project, its objectives, and its expected outcomes.

The event was brought to a close by Andrew Tseng Kuo, Project Manager for the Women’s Employment, Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion Project  (WEEFIP) project, who emphasized the important role that the project will play in empowering women and supporting them in their efforts to overcome the challenges they face.

We are excited about this project and its potential to make a real difference in the lives of women living with NCDs in St. Kitts and Nevis. We believe that by focusing on women who are living with these conditions, we can help to improve their quality of life and promote positive health outcomes.

If you missed the launch event, you can access the full recording on YouTube below.

There is also a short 4-minute summary video of the launch that you can view below.

If you would like to register for the EmpowHer workshops or find out more about the project, please email us at events@lakehealthandwellbeing.com. We would be delighted to hear from you and to share more about this important initiative.

NCDConferenceOpeningCeremony
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

SKN’s First National NCD Conference

The Ministry of Health in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Pan-American Health Organisation recently hosted the inaugural National Non-Communicable Diseases Conference, which was held from February 7th to 9th at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

The conference aimed to bring together government officials, health experts,  civil society and private sector representatives to discuss non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their impact on the country.  

NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory disease, are some of the biggest challenges facing global public health. They are responsible for a staggering 70% of all deaths worldwide and pose a major threat to human development and economic progress. With this in mind, the conference  assessed the current NCD situation, established commitment from all sectors to contribute to efforts to reduce the impact of NCDs on St. Kitts and Nevis and provided stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Multi-sectoral Plan of Action for NCDs.

Opening cermony of the conferenc (Image credit: Nevis HPU)

This event featured a range of presentations on various aspects of NCDs, including the impact of the pandemic on NCDs, innovative approaches to NCD prevention and management, and the role of civil society in advocacy and policy development.

Speakers included:

  • Taraleen Malcolm, Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO
  • Dr Heather Armstrong, Acting Head of Chronic Disease and Injury, CARPHA
  • Dr Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, St Kitts and Nevis
  • Dr Marissa Carty, NCD Programme Coordinator, Ministry of Health, St Kitts and Nevis
  • Roger McLean, Research Fellow & Lecturer, University of the West Indies
  • Sheneil Isles, Director of Community-based Health Services

We were honoured to have been a speaker at this conference too. Our Programme Director, Abi Begho, delivered a presentation on Health Policy Advocacy and the Role of Civil Society. Begho discussed the importance of civil society organizations in advocating for NCD prevention and management policies that are equitable, evidence-based, and inclusive. 

Abi Begho speaking at the conference (Image credit: Nevis HPU)

She also highlighted the role of civil society in raising awareness about NCDs, monitoring government performance, and engaging communities in NCD prevention and management efforts.

Additionally, during the opening ceremony special guests, Hon. Jahnel Nisbett, Minister of Health, Gender Affairs, Social Services & Community Development  in Nevis and Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Health, St Kitts and Nevis provided remarks.

 Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, highlighted the significance of the NCDs in the country as the leading cause of morbidity, accounting for 62% of all deaths and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach and funding for sustainable interventions to address NCDs. Additionally, the Prime Minister discussed the importance of promoting healthy living and implementing innovative interventions to address the NCD situation in the country. Whilst Hon Nisbett provided an important reminder that there is still much work left to be done to tackle NCDs and emphasized the significance of starting interventions early in the public’s lives to shape their future behaviour.

Conference working session (Image Credit: Nevis HPU)

The conference was a valuable opportunity for participants to exchange ideas, share best practices, and work towards a shared goal of reducing the burden of NCDs. The discussions and insights generated at the conference will help inform future policy and action on NCDs, nationally.

In conclusion, the inaugural National Non-Communicable Diseases Conference was a successful and important event that brought together experts and stakeholders from across  sectors to discuss the latest developments and strategies for preventing and managing NCDs. With the growing global burden of NCDs, it is crucial that we continue to work together to find effective solutions and build a healthier future for all.

SelfManagementGraduation1
BlogCDSM Course

Helping Hands Programme a Success

From August to December 2022, we partnered with Sagicor through their new Helping Hands Programme to deliver a series of Chronic Disease Self-Management workshops in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and ICDF.

This initiative was of particular importance because non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major public health challenge in St Kitts and Nevis, and the region. Data shows that 54% of people in St Kitts and Nevis are living with a chronic health condition and 63% of deaths in the federation are due to NCDs. We need to do something to support those living with these conditions so they have the best outcome possible.

We know that when people are diagnosed with an NCD, they can feel hopeless, worried, scared and disempowered and it can seem like a significant burden because of the impact the condition can have on a person’s personal and professional life because of the ups and downs and unpredictability that can come from living with an NCD.

The six-week evidence-based chronic disease self-management programme aimed to address all these challenges by providing the tools to successfully manage an NCD by teaching effective self-management techniques such as communication skills, action planning, problem-solving, medication management, mindfulness and others. These techniques not only aim to ensure that patients live well whilst navigating their NCD, but to thrive.

The approach that was utilised for this project is the Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP). This is an evidence-based program that addresses common issues faced by people with chronic conditions. The program has been implemented in 19 countries around the globe showing the following benefits:

  • Improved health behaviours
  • Improved health of patients
  • Fewer hospitalisations
"Words cannot adequately convey my deep appreciation for what we, the participants, have achieved over a six-week period. The material presented each week was as informative as it was timely, and serves to sensitize us to the reality of self- managing our various situations. The facilitators were awesome! We saw patience, understanding and a labour of love on display each week. Thank you. And to Sagicor, thanks for sponsoring such a worthwhile venture. That is deeply appreciated. The certificates are beautiful, and the books are a treasure."
Workshop Participant

It was a pleasure to host these sessions which empowered and equipped participants to improve their health and wellbeing. Through this initiative, we hosted four six-week chronic disease self-management workshops reaching 60 people living with NCDs.

This partnership between Sagicor, the Ministry of Health, the Taiwan ICDs and ourselves, Lake Health and Wellbeing demonstrates the power of collaboration and utilising a whole-of-society approach to tackling important public health issues. Through this collaboration, the private sector, government, an international agency and a local NGO have come together to improve the health and wellbeing of the public, and we’re delighted to have been a part of this project. We would like to thank our project partners, it was a pleasure working with you all, and we look forward to future partnerships like these as they are much-needed.

CoverImage(Web)JEMF
BlogChildhood ObesityMy Healthy Heroes

Just Eat Me Fresh Launch

On 31st January 2023, Lake health and Wellbeing in partnership with the ICDF and the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Development Unit launched a short animation, ‘Just Eat Me Fresh. 

The animation was developed as part of our efforts to tackle the high rate of childhood obesity which is a major public health issue in the Caribbean with 1 in 3 children being overweight or obese.  The rate of childhood obesity in the Caribbean is higher than the global average and is reported to be on the rise.

Childhood obesity is a significant challenge here in St Kitts and Nevis. A PAHO report revealed that 33% of secondary school children in the twin-island state were overweight and 14% were obese. More recently, in 2017, a UNICEF report published that 26% of children in St Kitts and Nevis are obese. 

Data has demonstrated that NCDs are becoming an epidemic in the Federation with over 80% of illnesses and deaths in St Kitts and Nevis being due to these conditions. We must do something about this to prevent our citizens from dying prematurely and one approach is to tackle childhood obesity.

To combat childhood obesity, we have to ensure that children adopt a healthy lifestyle, and we also have to create a healthy environment at schools, in homes and within society so that children can make healthy choices.

Our animation, Just Eat Me Fresh, aims to promote a culture of healthy snacking by encouraging children and their parents to opt for fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks rather than ultra-processed, unhealthy snacks that are high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. This animation can be used in the school environment, at home and in the community to educate young people on the importance of adopting healthy behaviours.

Just Eat Me Fresh forms part of a set of resources that we have started to create which falls under our My Healthy Heroes programme, through this work we’re aiming to create engaging resources to support teaching children about healthy eating.

To find out more about this work and how you can use this animation in your school, you can email us

Launch Event

We had a great time at the launch event which featured a special performance of the animation’s song and dance by grade 3 students of the Seventh Day Adventist Church as well as speeches and presentations by:

  • Dr Hon Geoffrey Hanley, the Deputy Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and the Minister of Education, Youth, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Aging and Disabilities
  • Ambassador, His Excellency Michael Chau-Hong Lin, Resident Ambassador, Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Mrs Maisha Hutton, the Executive Director, of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition
  • Ms Michelle Sutton, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Ministry of Education
  • Mr Will Chen, Project Manager, Chronic Metabolic Disease Programme, the Taiwan Technical Mission

You can watch a recording of the launch event below. 

CarnivalEventFlyer (Small)
Blog

Addressing Our Drinking Culture

Check out the five-minute summary of our recent panel discussion on healthy drinking above.

The overconsumption of alcohol and sweet and sugary beverages and foods has become normalized around the happiest time of the year – the Christmas holidays and Sugar Mas carnival celebrations.

From bands offering alcoholic beverages within troupes to patrons purchasing at a younger age at signature carnival shows, the pervasive drinking culture is slowly killing us. This drinking culture is currently contributing to the increase of non-communicable diseases within our community – a crisis on the island and throughout the Caribbean region.

A Conversation Toward Change

To address this drinking culture entrenched in every level of the Federation, Lake Health and Wellbeing led a panel discussion on “Reimagining Carnival: Creating a Healthy Drinking Culture‘ with experts within key community sectors at the St. Kitts Marriott on December 3, 2022. This event was the first to be featured on the Sugar Mas event lineup and led by an NGO.

“When we think about the Carnival season, it’s an important historical, cultural, educational, and social activity that facilitates community cohesion, promotes the local economy and boosts tourism. Many aspects of Carnival are good for our society. Still, we must recognize that there are excesses of Carnival, particularly around unhealthy behaviours that are not so positive for our health. The overconsumption of alcohol and other unhealthy beverages harms our community and environmental health and safety; therefore, during [our panel discussion and health expo], we aimed to stimulate discussion on reimagining Carnival to create a healthy drinking culture,” Abi Begho, Director of Program Management, Lake Health, and Wellbeing.

The two-hour multi-sector conversation included insights from Dr. Merisa Grant-Tate, Medical Oncologist; Mrs. Karimu Byron-Caines, Director of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat; Dr. Al Pierre, St. Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association and Superintendent Cromwell Henry, Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Force. 

A Cost Too High for Our Communities

The tradition of drinking comes at a cost. People who drink excessively are at a higher risk of assaults, injuries, and non-communicable diseases like cancer, depression, stroke, and heart disease. And while persons are living longer with non-communicable diseases, the quality of their lives has decreased significantly.

Key Takeaways

  • Conversations around the drinking culture on the island can be uncomfortable. Still, they are necessary as alcohol use leads to preventable deaths and is one of the four major risk factors for NCDs.
  • More and more young persons are engaged in excessive drinking around community and school events.
  • Parents play a role in shaping children’s attitudes and behaviours toward alcohol. 
  • There is room for greater regulation and enforcement of alcohol taxes and laws prohibiting sales to young persons.
  • All alcoholic drinks are linked to cancer; the more a person drinks, the higher their cancer risk. 
  • A range of school and community-based interventions are critical to delay the onset of alcohol use and to target alcohol abuse.
  • It takes a multi-sector approach to address the NCD crisis on the island. This includes involvement by the Government, NGOs, businesses and community members and groups.

Showcasing Healthy Vendors

Following the panel discussion was an intimate showcase of local vendors who produce and supply healthy lifestyle products and services. Local vendors, including Gifted Roots, In Ya Kitchen, Plantistique and Sugartown Organics, were highlighted at the expo, each covering healthy food and beverage options,  and health-focused services. 

Recording

If you missed this event, you can watch the full recording below and a five-minute summary at the top of this page. 

GMSKN
Blog

Come Inna Dis Interview

In October, we partnered with the Heart Foundation of Jamaica to bring their radio drama series Come Inna Dis to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Come Inna Dis is a 13-episode radio drama geared towards helping the public make better health decisions individually and at the community level. Each episode is 3 minutes long, during which listeners follow the story of friends Angie and Jen as they embark on a journey through the curves and turns that come with having to make health and lifestyle choices.

The series tells a fun, engaging and relatable story that addresses a number of important public health issues. Specifically, the series explores non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are the major public health challenge facing St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean.

As we were nearing the end of the first season of the series, our Advocacy Consultant, Dentrecia Blanchette was delighted to join K. Morrish Cooke, the Communications Officer, and Rosanna Pike, the Health Education Officer,  from the Global Health Advocacy Project at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica to discuss Come Inna Dis on Good Morning St. Kitts and Nevis. This was an informative and interesting conversation which you can watch above.

You can listen to Come Inna Dis on our campaign website here and we’d love to hear from you, let us know what you think of the series.

Law and NCD Webinar (October 2022) (web)
BlogHealth Policy

Our Law and NCD Webinar

On Wednesday 26th October, we were delighted to host a webinar in collaboration with the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association to answer the question “Can the Law Really Tackle Non-Communicable Diseases?” This webinar aimed to educate those in the legal field on how the law can be used to reduce the public’s exposure to NCD risk factors and create a healthy food environment.

This event started with a presentation by Javier Zuniga, Lawyer, El Poder del Consumido on his experience as a Mexican lawyer working on the prevention and control of NCDs. Specifically, Mr Zuniga focused on regulations on front-of-package warning labels which aim to give the public a very quick and easy way to identify foods and beverages that are high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans fat and thereby enable the public to make more informed choices about their food purchases.  

Following Mr Zuniga’s presentation, we transitioned to a panel discussion which featured:

During this panel discussion, we had an interesting and informative conversation on the work that is being conducted across the region to tackle NCDs through laws and regulations. We touched on sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, school nutrition policies, tobacco control, banning the sale and marketing of unhealthy foods in and around schools and front-of-package warning labels. We also explored the challenges that lawyers and public health advocates face in trying to encourage the introduction of laws and policies related to these areas; a significant challenge being the food and beverage industry’s interference in the policymaking process. Furthermore, we discussed ways to motivate Governments to take action on NCDs by adopting robust, evidence-based policies and laws, and how lawyers can get involved in the ongoing work across the region to prevent and control NCDs.

This was a very interesting and thought-provoking event and we would like to thank all our speakers and panellists for participating in this event and for so generously sharing their expertise and knowledge with attendees. We would also like to thank the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association for partnering with us to organise this event and we would like to thank all the attendees who joined the event. We appreciated all their comments and questions which made for a rich discussion and finally, we would like to thank our new Advocacy Consultation, Dentrecia Blanchette for her excellent moderation of this event.