Author: SKNISEditor

(Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 20, 2023): The Department of Agriculture would like to inform the public of the re-emerging threat to our pigs and swine industry in the form of African Swine Fever. African swine fever is a viral disease which affects all pigs. It was confined to Sub-Saharan Africa until 1957 when an outbreak happened in Portugal as a result of airline waste being fed to pigs. It would have continued to spread across the UK and to the Caribbean and Brazil in the 1980s where outbreaks were stamped out after devastating industries. In the 2000s, it appeared again…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 20, 2023 (SKNIS) – Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas has issued a call for local producers to utilize the services of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS), as the government continues to strengthen the National Quality Infrastructure of the country. “As we try our very best to give alternative enterprises and opportunities for our young people, we want to emphasize in this government that the Bureau of Standards and its multipurpose lab must continue to play a critical part. We…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS): A new Procurement Act is expected in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2024, to protect the Government Treasury from mismanagement that Attorney-General (AG) the Honourable Garth Wilkin said occurred between 2015 and 2022. One such case of past mismanagement mentioned by the attorney-general during the 2024 Budget Debate on December 18, 2023, saw the payment of US $2 million or EC $5.4 million to one man over an 18-month period by the St. Kitts Electricity Corporation (SKELEC) Ltd. “It won’t happen again. Persons will have to bid for that,” said Honourable Wilkin. “We…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS): After a period spanning five (5) days, from the presentation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ 2024 Budget Address by the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on December 13, to the rebuttal by Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Mark Brantley, and debates by parliamentarians, The Appropriation (2024) Bill, 2023, with total estimates for 2024 of EC$ 1.09 Billion for recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure and net lending, was passed into law on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. With a total recurrent capital and net lending charges on the consolidated fund…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS): The High Court in St. Kitts and Nevis is functioning efficiently following its relocation to the Charles Amory Building in Fortlands on September 20, 2023, overcoming what was described as “initial hiccups.” Attorney-General (AG), the Honourable Garth Wilkin, noted that the judges, lawyers, support staff, clients and others involved in matters that go before the court “are now pleased” since those initial hiccups have been resolved. As a consequence, the wheels of justice in St. Kitts and Nevis are anticipated to turn even faster with the rollout of criminal justice reforms and the…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS) – In an enlightening and informative wrap-up to the debate on the 2024 Budget, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew took the opportunity to update the nation on the progress being made with the ELEVATE Programme. In July 2023, the ELEVATE programme effectively replaced the troubled Alternative Lifestyle Pathways Programme (ALPP), commonly referred to as the “Peace Programme”. In his remarks, Prime Minister Dr. Drew highlighted a key distinction between the ELEVATE Programme and the Peace Programme, which had several shortcomings. He emphasized…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS) – During his intervention on the 2024 Budget in the National Assembly on December 19, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas said through strategic and timely interventions over the past 15 months, the Dr. Terrance Drew Administration has reconnected St. Kitts and Nevis with the rest of the world, and will, in turn, leverage these renewed relationships to help the Federation realize its development agenda. Senior Minister Douglas said the positive relationships that have blossomed with top diplomatic officials around the world have so far resulted…

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis through The Ministry of Sustainable Development in partnership with the Independence 40 Committee recognized eight individuals on Tuesday 19 December 2023. They were recognized and gifted Lots of land for their contribution towards forming a legacy in the identity of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. The recipients are designer of the National Flag Edrice Lewis-Viechweg; Creator of the National Dish, Jacqueline Ryan; The designers of the National Wear, Dwayne Weekes, Dr Joylette, Grace and Vaughn Woodley; and the composer of the National Anthem Kenrick Georges, deceased. In his stead, his daughter…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2023 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, in its efforts to further bolster the tourism industry, will make a shift in its approach towards the sector. Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, while speaking on day three (3) of the 2024 Budget Debate in the National Assembly on December 18, said that, “For too long, our primary focus has been on the sheer number of visitors which can be at the expense of the overall quality of the experiences and the economic benefits to our people. We must recognise the true measure…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2023 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis paid tribute to eight distinguished individuals for their crucial role in fostering the nation’s identity and pride. This significant event, held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at Bladen’s Commercial Development, not only commemorated a key chapter in the nation’s history but also specifically celebrated the invaluable contributions made towards its independence. In recognition of their selfless and defining efforts for St. Kitts and Nevis post-independence, these individuals were honoured with a meaningful token of appreciation. They were each presented with parcels of land, symbolizing the deep…