Author: SKNISEditor

The people of Antigua & Barbuda and the Caribbean have lost one of its most dedicated and committedsons, Sir Lester Bryant Bird, National Hero and former Prime Minister.His passing has created a void in Caribbean politics that will not be easily filled. There is no doubt that a special page in Caribbean history will be reserved for the sterling contributionsdelivered over decades, by this champion of regionalism.Sir Lester was indeed a strong advocate and practitioner of Caribbean cooperation and integration andthis was evident when he joined me and other leaders, in 1981, as signatories to the Treaty ofBasseterre. During my…

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, August 12, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — It is back to the domino tables as the 26thannual edition of Federation’s longest running domino league, Constituency Number Seven Dr the Hon Timothy Harris Domino League, opens on Tuesday September 28 at three venues. The Executive Committee, on Wednesday August 11, met and briefed captains of teams taking part in the league at the old Lodge Community Centre in Lodge Project as to how the 26th edition will be executed under strict Covid-19 protocols. Present at the meeting were President of the Executive Committee Mr Calvin Farrell, who is also the league’s coordinator, and Vice…

Washington, 11 August 2021 (IICA) – Ministers of Agriculture from Latin America and the Caribbean and senior executives from global companies participating in a high-level panel discussion convened by the Council of the Americas and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) all agreed that achieving sustainable agri-food systems will require the development of a framework to ensure the well-being of farmers and rural communities. The discussion began with a presentation by award-winning scientist, Rattan Lal, who is considered the world’s leading authority on soil sciences, and also featured the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of…

(Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 11, 2021): A small but significant Vehicle Blessing ceremony was held at the Department of Agriculture Grounds in LaGuerite, Basseterre, St. Kitts on Wednesday August 11 2021 to bless a brand new Toyota, Hilux. Reverend Ericson Cumberbatch led the blessing of the vehicle with a special prayer that asked for the overall protection of the truck and its occupants. During the ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin-Collins, officially handed over the vehicle keys to Acting Director in the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Tracey Challenger. While accepting the keys, Dr. Challenger expressed gratitude. She…

The US Government has generously gifted the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with 5.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccines. This is the culmination of efforts initiated by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, who as Chair of CARICOM, wrote to President Joseph Biden of the United States earlier this year requesting a supply of vaccines for the Community. President Biden subsequently announced that the US was donating a supply of vaccines to the Region as part of its world-wide distribution of 80 million doses. US Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke with Prime Minister Rowley in June…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 11, 2021 (SKNIS): Jermine Mike, Head of Standards at St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards, said that the organization continues to collaborate effectively with public and private stakeholders before the adoption of any standard. “We believe in collaboration especially because we are trying to do good practices. So, when it comes to standards, we always take a national approach, that means we take entities from St. Kitts and from Nevis as well,” said Mr. Mike, during his August 11 appearance on Working for You. “Every time we are trying to adopt standards we always put out…

Your stay and condition of stay at Quarantine Sites, approved by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) are guided by the provisions of the Public Health Act, Quarantine Act and the Public Health (Quarantine) Regulations. These legislations give the CMO, as the Public Health Authority, wide powers to protect Public Health. A person can be quarantined at home, on any vessel or at a site designated by the Chief Medical Officer. Any person who refuses or wilfully omits to do any act which he or she is required to do by this Act, or refuses or wilfully omits to carry out…

Bridgetown, Barbados – August 9, 2021 (PAHO) -The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Office for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Countries is advising the public and health authorities to continue to take appropriate and urgent public health and social measures (PHSM) to safeguard lives due to an increase in cases and hospitalization related to circulation of SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC) Delta in the Eastern Caribbean.It is observed and reported from several countries the emergence of VOC Delta including from Member States in the Americas with high vaccination coverage. With the VOC Delta exhorts the importance of the preparatory…

The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS) would like to inform the general public that it will be working on a Packaged Water Regulation.This national regulation will establish standards for the purity, treatment, bacteriological acceptability, packaging, and labelling of all pre-packaged water intended for use as beverages or in foods. The CARICOM Regional Code of Practice: Code of Hygienic Practice for Packaged Water will be utilized in accordance with this regulation. The regulation will not apply to water distributed by the public water supply system, to the carbonated beverage, soda water or to packaged water sold for purposes…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 11, 2021 (SKNBS): The Bureau of Standards Bill, 2021, which was read for the first time in the National Assembly on August 05, 2021, is significant as it sets the foundation for a National Quality Infrastructure (NQI).An NQI is a national framework that guides the production of local goods and services based on agreed standards that follow international benchmarks. As the bill addresses the NQI, it speaks on matters such as standardization, accreditation, metrology, and conformity assessment (testing, inspection, and certification).The Bill allows for inspection of goods and commodities at the border. It also permits the…