Author: SKNISEditor

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia KanemOn the International Day of Persons with Disabilities3 December 2020 More than a billion people: that’s how many live with a disability today. Some disabilities are apparent, but not all. Learning disabilities and mental disorders, for example, may hinder one’s full and effective participation in society. Often unrecognized, they can profoundly complicate navigating a world with little in the way of accommodation or accessibility. Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we commit to building a world that is accessible to everyone. Making that a reality requires removing the persistent barriers…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will be able to access vaccines through the COVAX Facility, says Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, during the Prime Minister’s monthly press conference on December 01, 2020. Dr. Laws stated that the COVAX Facility is a global initiative. It is led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO). She noted that the facility is a global risk-sharing mechanism that was established to facilitate the pool procurement and equitable distribution of successful COVID-19 vaccine candidates. “It aims to accelerate the…

Basseterre, St.Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, announced that the government continues to move forward with its plans to regularize and transition the Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP) Workers to Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs). “The government is moving forward with plans for the regularization and transition of the Skills STEP workers to Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs),” said Prime Minister Harris during his December 01, 2020, monthly press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Headquarters on December 01, 2020. “Following the June 05 General Elections, a STEP Regularization and Pensions…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Christmas/Carnival Season in St. Kitts and Nevis is usually a festive time for thousands of Kittitians and Nevisians, many of whom gather for numerous social and private events. Butthis season, as the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris is urging citizens and residents to continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical measures established to safeguard against the spread of deadly virus. “As we get into Christmas and the traditional Carnival persons tend to lose sight, not…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has called for discipline on VAT Days and has urged shoppers and suppliers of goods and services to practice physical distancing, to wear masks, and to exercise good hand hygiene.Prime Minister Harris was at the time speaking at his monthly press conference on December 01, 2020. He said that as usual, the security forces will be on full alert to maintain law and order.“We really want to have the best behaviour on VAT Day,” he said. “The overcrowding, the rushing, and all those ill-advised behaviour will not…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 02, 2020 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to advise that Mrs. Rodina M. Reid has been appointed Honorary Consul for Saint Kitts and Nevis in Jamaica. Rodina Reid was born in Saint Kitts, and while pursuing undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in the early 1970s, she met Jamaican Gregory Reid, and married him in 1975. Since relocating to Jamaica, Mrs. Reid has been involved in a plethora of voluntary work, from mentoring of students at UWI to serving in the Organization for the Upliftment…

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Civil Service College are launching a new professional development programme aimed at new Government Ministers. The ‘From Backbencher to Minister’ programme is designed to equip new Ministers with the skills and tools to perform their roles more effectively. The new five-day programme, to be hosted in London, UK from 12-16 July 2021, combines classroom engagements with experiential learning and will walk new Ministers through their responsibilities, identifying the skills necessary for effective leadership of government departments. Topics covered by the programme will include ‘Communicating a Minister’s Priorities’, ‘Managing a Minister’s Private Office’ and…

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, December 2, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — Mathematics continues to be a problem subject for many of the secondary school students in the Federation, but Minister of Education the Hon Jonel Powell has given a commitment that his ministry will continue to work hard to secure students’ success in the vital discipline. “From the results returned, Mathematics continues to pose a problem for too many of our students in all of our secondary schools,” said the Hon Powell. “I therefore give a commitment that the Ministry of Education will continue to do everything in its power to secure the success…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 01, 2020 (SKNIS): Officials from the Ministry of Environment and Cooperatives will be featured on the popular government radio and television programme “Working for You” on Wednesday, December 02, 2020. The special guests will be Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Cooperatives, Ms. Sharon Rattan, and Conservation Officer in the Department of Environment, Cheryl Jeffers. The panel will discuss the work of the Ministry including the goals and expectations for 2021 and expound on how we can be better stewards of the environment. Additionally, the work of cooperatives and their importance will be underscored. …

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 01, 2020 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has made a decision to cancel the $11 million debt owed to the Federation by LIAT, the Caribbean Airline.Prime Minister, Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, said that the debt relief was made following a request by the liquidator. According to its Facebook Page, LIAT is currently under administration and is being restructured following a decision by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to reorganize the airline.  Prime Minister Harris said that the decision considered the “ill health” of the regional carrier. He added that it also reaffirms St.…