Author: SKNISEditor

Castries – Saint Lucia – 7th August 2023 – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) will be staging its 95th Board of Directors Meeting virtually, via Microsoft Teams platform, on Wednesday, 9th August 2023 from 9:00 a.m. Interested persons may choose to observe the proceedings of the meeting virtually by registering at https://www.ectel.int/notice-95th-meeting-of-the-ectel-board-of-directors/. On the Agenda are the matters arising out of the minutes from the last meeting held in Saint Lucia in March; as well as opening remarks by the Chairperson of the Board, Ms. Shaniqua Carey-Brown of St. Kitts and Nevis; ECTEL’s workplan for October 2022 to March…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis, August 7, 2023 [Ministry of Health] – As a fundamental part of its commitment to infant health and nutrition, the Ministry of Health in St. Kitts and Nevis proudly acknowledged 17 mothers each from every health center across the federation for its ‘Thank a Nursing Mom’ presentations. These individuals received tokens of appreciation for their outstanding support and involvement in promoting and practicing breastfeeding. These presentations are just one element of the Ministry’s comprehensive, ongoing initiative to encourage breastfeeding and education about its importance, directly addressing the knowledge deficiency identified as a major barrier. Breastfeeding has…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 7, 2023 [Ministry of Health] – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has generously donated a vehicle to the Ministry of Health of St. Kitts and Nevis. The official handover took place on Friday, August 4th, 2023, at the Newtown Health Center marking a collaborative effort to improve healthcare accessibility and delivery across the island. The generously donated vehicle, a bus, is earmarked to play an instrumental role in advancing the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing vaccine outreach activities. This programme will allow for the more efficient transportation of vaccines…

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. On 05 August 2023, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) hosted a sensitisation session for members of the Barbadian Judiciary at the Crane Resort, St Phillip, Barbados. This is the fourth installation of the regional sensitisation series which is being conducted by the Court to facilitate a deeper understanding of the CCJ’s role in protecting the rights under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the referral process. The programme, funded by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund, aims to raise awareness of the Court’s exclusive and compulsory jurisdiction to…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, August 6, 2023 (Press Secretary, PMO) – The Government of Canada announced a significant development in bilateral relations with the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in July; the granting of a partial visa-free waiver to Kittitians and Nevisians, allowing them to travel to Canada by air for short stays without the need for a visa. This landmark decision is a testament to the strengthening of ties between our two nations and acknowledges the mutual benefits of enhanced people-to-people exchanges, tourism, and business opportunities. Easing travel restrictions for Kittitians and Nevisians fosters greater cultural understanding…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 04, 2023 (SKNIS): Avonelle Butler, a single mother and beneficiary of the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), is strongly encouraging persons who are benefiting from the cash transfer programme to use the funds wisely in care of their household. On the Wednesday (August 02, 2023) edition of the radio and television programme InFocus, Ms. Butler applauded the restructuring and streamlining of the PAP by the government in January 2023, which helped to identify and eliminate many unusual practices. “People were out there getting three and five [payments] who are in the same house and they don’t need…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 04, 2023 (SKNIS) – The Federal Cabinet of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has designated two days this month, Friday, August 25, and Saturday, August 26, as the ‘Back-to-School’ Discounted VAT Rate Days in the Federation.On these two days, all Value Added Tax (VAT) registered businesses will charge VAT at the rate of 5% on the sale of goods only. All tangible items that are currently subject to 17% VAT will qualify for the discount on the VAT Rate Days. Items eligible must also be available for sale and immediate issuance or delivery to the…

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, August 4, 2023 (Press Secretary, PMO) – In a momentous development, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has achieved significant headway in addressing the pressing water issue in Cayon and surrounding communities, including St. Peters, Ottley’s, and Keys Village. The Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, and Utilities et al, made the exciting announcement during the National Townhall Meeting on Tuesday, August 1st, 2023. The Government contracted Bedrock Exploration Development Technologies (BEAD) St. Kitts Ltd through the Water Services Department (WSD) to conduct well drilling in Cayon within their first year in office.…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 4, 2023 (SKNIS) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is one step closer to commencing construction on the first set of affordable smart homes to be built under its housing revolution. The Government and the National Housing Corporation (NHC) signed a contract with East Coast Housing Development, a Trinidadian-based developer, to finance and deliver 2,400 affordable smart homes over a period of 4 years. On Friday, August 4, 2023, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Human Settlement, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, as well as officials from…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 04, 2023 (SKNIS): A monthly report, published by the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab, said that more than 24 million tonnes of sargassum blanketed the Atlantic Ocean in June 2022, up from 18.8 million tonnes in May of the same year, calling it “a new historical record”. A record amount of sargassum seaweed is blanketing Caribbean coasts from St. Kitts and Nevis to Barbados, from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and beyond. The tonnes of brown algae are killing wildlife, choking the region’s tourism industry, and threatening its blue economy where so many make a…