Author: SKNISEditor

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Pesticides Awareness Week is celebrated annually during the last week of September to highlight, improve and control the use of pesticides in the English-speaking Caribbean countries. This year, the focus is placed on advocating for a better life and environment as is evident in the theme: “Choose, Use Alternative to Toxic Household Agricultural and Public Health Pesticides for A Better Life and Environment: Our Actions are our Future.” In keeping with the theme, Melvin James, Former Chair of the Pesticides Control Board, highlighted several alternatives to household and agricultural pesticides. These, he said, can aid in achieving…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, Medical Chief of Staff of the Joseph N. France General Hospital, apologized for the delay in COVID-19 test results that has contributed to some persons staying a bit longer in quarantine. “We feel your pain but I want to reassure you that we have been working around the clock to make sure that we correct this,” Dr. Wilkinson stated at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on September 28, 2021. “The truth of the matter is [that] we were in the peak of our third wave [and] we were doing a…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Preliminary figures on the economic impact of the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament (CPLT20) provided a glimpse of the value of hosting the 2021 international cricket exclusively in St. Kitts and Nevis. At a Sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, September 30, 2021, Minister of Sports, the Honourable Jonel Powell, highlighted two areas where the positive impact of the August 26 to September 15, CPLT20 tournament is already confirmed. “Mr Speaker, within the first two weeks of hosting of that cohort, in excess of 500 locals would have directly been remunerated in excess of EC$2…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Ministry of Health has adopted a ‘Life First’ strategy in managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of Health, the Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett, during her presentation to the Federal Parliament on September 30, 2021, spoke to the broad 4-pronged public health approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation. “In our fight against COVID-19, we have implemented a broad 4-pronged public health approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation. We believe, however, that continued monitoring and evaluation of our response is vital to provide critical data/information…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Persons desirous of being vaccinated can now do so without any appointment, said the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Minister of Health, during her presentation at the September 30 Sitting of National Assembly at Parliamentary Chambers. “The Ministry of Health aims to remove all barriers to the access to vaccination. There is now no appointment needed for vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine. Persons can simply walk into the various clinics during the scheduled hours for vaccination and be vaccinated,” said Minister Byron-Nisbett. The Federation received an additional 1000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. And we…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Figures from the 13thActuarial Review of the Social Security Fund as of December 31, 2020, indicate that the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security system remains strong but must continue to diversify to ensure greater sustainability. Honourable Eugene Hamilton, Minister with responsibility for Social Security, laid copies of the latest actuarial report on the table of the National Assembly during a sitting on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The minister quoted three positive takeaways from the report. The report is done every three years. The first point notes that the net total assets of Social…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continues the fight against the deadly COVID-19 virus, vaccination has been a key tool in protecting both citizens and residents alike. Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital (JNF) Dr. Cameron Wilkinson recently spoke to the effects of Myocarditis, learning to live with COVID-19 in the Federation, and the importance of teachers and students to be vaccinated for in-person classes to take place with minimum risks.   “Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart and Pericarditis is an inflammation of the surrounding of…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Health has invested heavily to ensure that the Federation’s healthcare system is resilient against the impact of the deadly COVID-19 disease. Minister of Health, the Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett, during her presentation to the Federal Parliament on September 30, 2021, stated that although there has been a slight backlog in the processing of results, regional assistance has been secured to assist with the processing, so that results can be delivered in a more timely and efficient manner.   “Our laboratories have been stretched over the past two weeks. That meant that our turnaround…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Minister of Public Infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Shawn Richards, said phase two of the traffic lights project in Basseterre will be further delayed.During the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on September 28, Deputy Prime Minister Richards said that there was a decision taken to further delay the commissioning of the traffic lights. “The reason why that decision was taken was that in the first instance we were doing some work on the Bird Rock and Bay Road junction and that work to some extent is still incomplete and the reason why that work is…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Diplomatic relations between the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have over the years helped many persons to achieve tertiary education. Officials from the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) addressed the September 29, 2021, scholarship ceremony and encouraged the 17 students who received scholarships to make the most of the opportunity presented to them. “Education and human resources are the cornerstones for national development. Over the years, it has been our great pleasure to provide scholarship opportunities to support the bright minds…