Author: SKNISEditor

Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan), (July 25, 2025) — His Excellency Donya L. Francis, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to Taiwan, met with Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi to discuss areas for cooperation and collaboration. Magistrate Chou Chun-mi, head of the Pingtung County government, warmly welcomed Ambassador Francis on his first official visit on Wednesday July 23, 2025, to discuss matters of education, tourism and sustainable agriculture. Pingtung County, located in southern Taiwan, is described as Taiwan’s most diverse city in the aspects of geology, ecology, and ethnicity. The main industries are agriculture and tourism. Ambassador Francis pinpointed the striking…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, July 25, 2025 (SKNIS): Notice has been given for a sitting of the National Assembly to be held at the National Assembly Chambers, Government Headquarters, Basseterre, on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 10 a.m. The Order Paper and other Papers will be issued at a later date. The National Assembly will be broadcast live on ZIZ Radio (96 FM) and participating radio stations. It can also be viewed live on TV Channel 5 in St. Kitts and Channel 98 in Nevis. It will also be streamed live at www.zizonline.com. Copies of the Bills will be made available…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS): The maximum penalties for the offence of armed robbery in Saint Kitts and Nevis were strengthened following the passage of the Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Bill, debated and passed during the July 24 Sitting of the National Assembly, provides additional options to the trial judge in sentencing convicted individuals.The tiered system is as follows: robbery involving a firearm carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment with hard labour. Offences committed with other offensive weapons may result in up to 40 years in prison. When carried out with accomplices, robbery can attract a sentence…

Basseterre, St. Kitts The Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice & Legal Affairs, in collaboration with the CARICOM Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), hosted a pivotal two-day training workshop titled “International Standards and Best Practices on Human Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty”, from July 22–23, 2025. Prison officers from across St. Kitts and Nevis gathered to enhance their understanding and implementation of international human rights standards, specifically the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules). Key training areas included: The event featured dynamic discussions…

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS) – Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, delivered a powerful statement in the National Assembly today, July 24, 2025, as lawmakers debated and passed the Gang (Prohibition and Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further tackle the threat of gang violence in Saint Kitts and Nevis. “For far too long, gangs have inflicted pain on our communities, stolen the futures of our youth, and shaken the sense of safety that every citizen deserves,” Prime Minister Drew stated, referencing findings from the USAID Criminal Dynamics Study which reveal that…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS): The National Assembly in Saint Kitts and Nevis, on Thursday, July 24, 2025, successfully passed the Judge Alone Trials (Amendment) Bill, 2025, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to modernising and strengthening the justice system in the Federation. Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, who led the debate on the Bill, described the amendments as a critical evolution of the Judge Alone Trials Act, No. 20 of 2024. “This Amendment, Madame Speaker, is the precise and purposeful refinement and evolution of the Judge Alone Trials Act,…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS): Saint Kitts and Nevis is among several Caribbean nations looking to expand trade ties with its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbour, Guyana, as part of efforts to reduce exposure to high tariffs and potential disruptions in global trade. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, said that the need for member states to produce more goods was discussed at the recently held 49th Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Jamaica, earlier this month. As member states work to build on the momentum to cut food import bills by 25 percent, there is growing interest in sourcing regional alternatives for products that have traditionally been imported…

Basseterre, St. Kitts- Tuesday, 22nd July 2025 -The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment invites community groups to take the lead in building resilience against climate change by applying for funding under the newly launched Communities Climate Adaptation Facility (C-CAF). C-CAF, a global initiative of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM), is being introduced in Saint Kitts and Nevis for the first time. It offers funding of up to USD $100,000 to support community-led, locally driven projects that boost resilience, improve livelihoods, and safeguard ecosystems from climate change. The facility is designed to make funding more accessible…

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS) – During the July 24, 2025, Sitting of the National Assembly, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, Member of Parliament for St. Christopher Two, voiced strong support for the Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to modernise and strengthen the sentencing structure for robbery-related offences in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Bill, which revises Section 31 of the Larceny Act, introduces a tiered sentencing framework for robbery offences based on the level of violence, threat, and use of weapons. In her contribution to the debate, Minister Henderson, drawing on her experience as a former defense…

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS) – The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, led by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, today (July 24, 2025), debated and passed the Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the National Assembly, marking a critical step aimed at closing sentencing loopholes and reinforcing the nation’s commitment to public safety. In leading the debate, Prime Minister Drew highlighted the contradiction in the current legal framework that the amendment seeks to correct. Under the previous legislation, possession of an unlicensed automatic firearm carried a potential sentence of up to…