St Kitts and Nevis: PM Terrance Drew features hand-signing press conference for deaf community

Dr Terrance Drew – Prime Minister of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, who also serves as the Minister of Health, hosted a press conference on March 30, 2023.

31st of March 2023

St Kitts and Nevis: PM Terrance Drew features hand-signing press conference for deaf community || Picture Courtesy: PM Terrance Drew

Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: Dr Terrance Drew – Prime Minister of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, who also serves as the Minister of Health, hosted a press conference on March 30, 2023 (Thursday). This press conference wasn’t the usual one; as this time, PM Drew did something special for the deaf community.

This time, the press release featured a hand-signing professional for the first time during the live broadcast. As per the update by the government, this special feature was added in the conference to keep the government’s promise to enhance services for the differently-abled population of St Kitts and Nevis. It is also an effort to keep the community aware of the decisions and commitments of the government for its people.

The same was stated by PM Dr Drew during the press conference; he stated that the new feature had been added by the government to make sure that the promise made on March 16, 2023, is fulfilled. Following the conference, PM Terrance Drew met with various members of the differently-abled community.

Prime Minister Drew noted that when he recently met with the members of the community, they pointed out that they feel left out when any government announcement is made publicly. So, the government is informing the people, and they are not given the opportunity to be duly informed.

“And so, I want to say that this is, of course, a pleasant and progressive step in making sure that all of our citizens, irrespective of their varying abilities, that they too can share with us, their government, in the advancement of our nation,” PM Dr Drew was quoted saying.

The press conference featured Michelle Jacobs as the hand gesture artist. Many persons became familiar with Jacobs as she performed a similar service during the national COVID-19 briefings throughout the pandemic for two years (2020-2021).

The government has stated that it is expected that the Federal Parliament sitting for the next week will also be hand-signed.