Author: SKNISEditor

Haiti continues to hurt. The cycle of depredations and violence of the armed gangs continues, expanding to new areas and adding to the already high number of victims. The political actors, fully aware of this dire reality, continue their zero-sum approach to the efforts to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the protracted political deadlock, opening the way to address the other facets of the crisis. The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of CARICOM carried out their third visit to Haiti on 8-14 November 2023. They were buoyed initially by the prospects raised by information that tentative agreement…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 21, 2023 (SKNIS) – With the passage of the amendments to the Cannabis Act in the National Assembly on Monday, November 20, the responsibility for the buildout of a thriving medicinal cannabis industry now lies with the Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Samal Duggins. Before the amendments were approved during Monday’s sitting, the responsibility for the Medicinal Cannabis Authority was held by the Prime Minister. In his contribution to the debate on the Cannabis (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Minister Duggins welcomed the transfer of responsibility. “Cannabis is a crop Madame Deputy Speaker, and for too long it…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 – The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is delighted to announce that our E-Government Portal as a part of our new Tax Administration System, SMARTS (Smart Modernized Administration for Revenue and Taxation System), is scheduled to go live on January 23rd, 2024. This development represents a significant leap forward in our ongoing commitment to delivering a more efficient and user-friendly tax experience for all stakeholders. SMARTS is purposefully designed to simplify and enhance the entire tax process, ensuring it is more intelligent, accessible, and efficient. We encourage all taxpayers to take note…

The Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas arrived in Dublin, Ireland, to attend the inaugural Ireland-Latin America and the Caribbean Business and Economic Forum. This meeting follows on from Ireland’s new Latin America and Caribbean Strategy 2025, which aims to bring Ireland and the LAC region closer together through a broader partnership in trade and investment, people-to-people contacts and economic relations. “The timing of this forum is most opportune. While it aims to increase Ireland’s diplomatic and economic footprint in our region; it coincides with St. Kitts-Nevis’s decision to enhance its partnership with the Republic of Ireland and aligns well…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 21, 2023 (SKNIS) – In addition to passing four instrumental pieces of legislation on Monday, November 20, 2023, the National Assembly of St. Christopher and Nevis also adopted a resolution giving approval to the Government’s special Value Added Tax (VAT) reduction measures. The Resolution, which was moved by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, signals the government’s commitment to bringing significant financial relief to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Resolution reads: Whereas it is provided by Section 27.2 of the Value Added Tax Act that the Minister…

Tuesday, 21 November 2023 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown): Ministers responsible for gender affairs and equality from CARICOM Member States and Associate Members are currently reviewing the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Strategy, “Stepping It Up: A Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in the Caribbean Community”, during the Forty-Sixth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Gender. The Meeting, which is being convened on 20-21 November 2023 in Barbados, reaffirms Member States’ commitment to gender equality with the overarching goal of providing a strategy that holistically addresses the issue. UN partners under the Regional Spotlight Caribbean Programme, including UN Women…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 – The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is delighted to announce that our E-Government Portal as a part of our new Tax Administration System, SMARTS (Smart Modernized Administration for Revenue and Taxation System), is scheduled to go live on January 23rd, 2024. This development represents a significant leap forward in our ongoing commitment to delivering a more efficient and user-friendly tax experience for all stakeholders. SMARTS is purposefully designed to simplify and enhance the entire tax process, ensuring it is more intelligent, accessible, and efficient. We encourage all taxpayers to take note…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): In a significant move to bolster its transformative good governance agenda, the Federal Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis successfully passed two crucial pieces of legislation: the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, and the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023. According to Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, both Bills, which underwent their first readings on May 25th, 2023, mark the fourth and fifth legislative steps taken by the government in its commitment to enhance transparency and accountability within its operations. “Today, Madame Speaker, I am…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): In a landmark session on Monday, November 20, 2023, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, successfully led the debate on the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023. The Bill, which focuses on preventing leaks of sensitive government information, was passed following extensive discussion in Parliament. The Bill addresses a critical issue in the civil service – the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government information. It establishes clear boundaries for government employees and contractors regarding the handling of confidential data, ensuring that such information is not stored in…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): The Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, aimed at safeguarding individuals who report illicit activities within the public service, was successfully passed into law at the Sitting of Parliament on Monday, November 20, 2023, marking a significant stride in the government’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability. The Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, defines a whistleblower as an individual who exposes any kind of information or activity deemed illegal or corrupt within an organization, particularly in the public sector. The primary objective of this legislation is to provide these individuals with the necessary protection to…