Author: SKNISEditor

Introduction Secretary General (SG) — Louis Almagro LemesAssistant Secretary General (ASG) — Nestor Mendez His Excellency, Ambassador Lynn Raymond Young, Coordinator of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors, Permanent Representative of Belize Her Excellency: Vice Chair — Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Permanent Representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Distinguished Permanent Representatives and Alternate Representatives Good Morning. I thank you all for being here for this ceremony. I would like to say a special thanks to ASG Mendez for his leadership and for the very hard work of his support staff who have played an important role in facilitating my participation in this…

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, January 2, 2022 (MMS-SKN) — As the country celebrates the New Year, 2022, which brings with it new things and new expectations, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is advising that the Covid-19 pandemic is still around and that people have to be smart in dealing with it. “This is a brand-new year with new things and new expectations but most importantly we would want to ensure that our people and our nation continue to feel God’s mercy, God’s protection, and that our country will be even more prosperous in 2022 than it was in 2021,” pledged…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 31, 2021 (SKNIS): The National Gender Equality Policy and Action Plan is currently going through a Federal ministerial review before its presentation to the Cabinet for approval and implementation. The policy document was completed by UNESCO Consultant Dwynette Eversley earlier this month and officially presented to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister responsible for Gender Affairs, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, during a brief ceremony on December 14, 2021. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Janelle Lewis-Tafari, said that the completion of the draft document represented a critical step after years of intense research, documentation, and consultation.…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 31, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Owing to the ongoing disruptions in supply chains globally, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has taken the decision to extend the duty free concession on non-commercial goods until January 31, 2022.This concessionary allowance, which formed part of a comprehensive Christmas/Carnival relief package announced by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris in November where non-commercial importers were granted duty-free allowance of EC$540 or US$200 off the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of goods, was expected to end today, Friday, December 31,…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 31, 2021 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Health is offering increased testing opportunities for persons experiencing COVID-like symptoms following through on plans announced in late December.At an emergency briefing by the National Emergency Operations Centre on Thursday, December 30, 2021, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, said that car park COVID-19 testing will now be offered for free for one hour at three main sites around St. Kitts.The car park testing will be introduced for one hour on a weekly basis in the first instance. The scheduled days are Tuesdays at the Basseterre Health Centre, Wednesdays at…

A Happy New Year to all, as we usher in 2022 with hope and optimism. The past two years have seen all plans affected by the COVID-19 virus which has caused profound social and economic turmoil. The prospects for our recovery hinge on the urgent acceleration of vaccinations, which remains alarmingly low in our Community. Further delay in equitable access to vaccines will stress our health systems and personnel, and delay our economic recovery. Throughout the pandemic regional cooperation, collaboration and solidarity have been at the centre of our national responses – a clear affirmation of the necessity and dividends of…

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has congratulated the Government and People of Haiti on the country’s Two Hundred and Eighteenth Anniversary of Independence which it celebrates on 1 January 2022. “As the Government and People of Haiti enter a new year of independence, CARICOM extends its best wishes for goodwill and unity to prevail in the current multifaceted challenges,” CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett said in her congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of Haiti HE Dr Ariel Henry. “The Community sends a message of hope to all Haitians as they commemorate this auspicious event that has served as an inspirational…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 30, 2021 (SKNIS): Health authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis are implementing best practices from the tremendous success of managing previous waves of the COVID-19 virus and will follow updated guidelines in dealing with the fourth wave.Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws, shared the news of the start of the fourth wave on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at an emergency COVID-19 briefing of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). She also shared that the Omicron variant is present in the Federation.However, there is no evidence at this time to indicate that the rise in cases…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 30, 2021 (SKNIS): As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis begins the fight against the fourth wave of the deadly COVID-19 virus, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Hazel Laws indicated during the December 30, 2021 NEOC press briefing that the Omicron COVID-19 variant is present within the Federation.“The Omicron variant has been labelled a variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO)…On December 22, 2021, the Federation sent off a small package of three (3) samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for genomic sequencing, two of the three samples returned positive…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 30, 2021 (RSCNPF): Officers stationed in Sandy Point are now operating out of their new location in the National Security and Judicial Complex. Divisional Commander for District “B”, Superintendent Lyndon David, noted that much of what was needed to do business was in place by the evening of December 23, and their services went into full swing on Christmas Eve. Since that day, the Police have been serving the Sandy Point and surrounding communities from the Complex. “On December 24th, Christmas Eve, operations at the Sandy Point Police Station commenced in the new building based at the…