Author: SKNISEditor

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 02, 2020 (SKNIS): Fourteen individuals have been awarded scholarships to study abroad in the Republic of China (Taiwan). At the award ceremony held on September 30, 2020, Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, congratulated the awardees. “I think this is an amazing opportunity for you and it is certainly something that you should be commended on,” he said to the awardees. Minister Powell thanked the Government of Taiwan for its continued assistance and commitment to the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis. “In particular, I am happy for the commitment to increase the number…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 1, 2020 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in preparation for the reopening of its borders, has provided three thousand four hundred and fifty-eight workers in the hotel, hospitality and transport sectors with training on the new norms for living and working safely in a COVID-19 environment. At his monthly press conference on October 1, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris said that the health experts “have been working with SCASPA on plans to retrofit our airport for passenger movement in a manner that minimizes risk of COVID-19 infection by our frontline workers at…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – In an effort to protect the interests of employees and further safeguard the stronger and safer future for all, the Team Unity administration has committed to revisiting the Protection of Employment Act to address several matters, particularly as they relate to the Severance Payments Fund. The Protection of Employment Act was originally passed in 1986. It was revised in 2002 and is now known as the Protection of Employment Act Chapter 18.27. The Act “makes certain provisions in respect of termination of employment; the establishment of…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 1, 2020 (SKNIS): The Team Unity Cabinet of Ministers met on Monday, September 28, 2020, at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris. Several issues affecting the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis were deliberated on. The Cabinet entertained discussions on the preparations for the reopening of the borders. The reconfiguring of the airport and the necessary infrastructural adjustments are being made to facilitate a safe and smooth reopening. The Cabinet was informed of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) search for a Director General and efforts…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (SKNIS): The Development, Planning and Building Board in St. Kitts is moving to establish a Code Review Committee that will focus on enforcing issues relating to a new and modernized building code. An important aspect that the new code will consider is increasing access to buildings for the differently-abled. Calvin Pemberton, the Chairman of the Development, Planning and Building Board, said that the issue of access and the ease of mobility in public have been a perplexing challenge. “We are trying our best to ensure that new construction and planning permission meet the requirements that…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (SKNIS): Banning the use of single-use plastics reduces pollution and the demand for plastic production. Against this backdrop, the Department of Environment is focusing on banning the use of single-use plastics in St. Kitts and Nevis. “The conversation has started with regards to the banning of single-use plastics and it is a conversation that must continue,” said the Minister of Environment, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, during the September 29 edition of ‘Leadership Matters’, a virtual forum on ZIZ TV. He commented on the Caribbean islands that have since banned the use of single-use plastics, noting that…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris shared a few tips with the general public to encourage them to preserve St. Kitts and Nevis’ environment and reduce our vulnerability to climate change. “We asked that persons use water efficiently daily, employ water conservation measures such as using low flush toilets, low flow taps and showers, implement water conservation measures such as water harvesting, plant more trees as trees absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen,” said Prime Minister Harris during the September 29 edition of ‘Leadership Matters’, a virtual forum on ZIZ TV. Dr. Harris also…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will fully reopen its borders to international commercial flights and travelers from October 31, 2020. That announcement was made by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris today, October 01 during his monthly press conference held at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Prime Minister Harris told the nation that the opening of the borders will not only facilitate the return of tourists to our shores but will also “allow our own nationals and residents abroad the opportunity to return …

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 01, 2020 (SKNIS): Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws has stated that St. Kitts and Nevis must reopen its borders with minimum risks. She said that there must be a careful balance between the public health measures and the facilitation of economic activity. The CMO was at the time speaking at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on September 30. She reminded that that borders were closed on March 25. It has now been six months and there has been no tourist arrivals over that period resulting in a decrease in income and a…

Fellow citizens and residents: Tonight, we focus on a big issue of global concern – Our Stewardship of the Environment. It is said in some quarters that the existence of Climate Change, NCDs and COVID-19 is a reflection of the poor state of planetary health.  The crisis, we are told, is symptomatic of man’s poor stewardship of the natural systems, which support human civilization.  Environmental degradation is a major concern here in St. Kitts and Nevis. The degradation of our shorelines, the careless removal of our beach sand without concern for its replenishment, and the untidy nature of some parks…