Author: SKNISEditor

21 December 2020, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has recognised three commercial banks operating within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) for demonstrating outstanding banking service and social responsibility. The second Annual ECCU Bank of the Year Awards were held virtually on 17 December with live streaming on the ECCB Facebook page and YouTube channel. Of the 12 banks that participated, three banks were presented with awards for their commitment and service excellence to the people they serve through their business practices and policies in four categories: ECCU Bank of the Year Award…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The final edition of the hugely popular virtual forum, Leadership Matters, with Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris will be held on Tuesday, December 22 at 8:00pm. Thefinal programme will provide an opportunity for the ordinary citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis to zero in on the 2021 Budget – presented by Prime Minister Harris last Tuesday (December 15) – with its people-centered focus, and measures to take the country out of the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. TheFederation of St.…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 21, 2020 (SKNIS): The Management and Staff of the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) has been commended for its tremendous effort to keep St. Kitts and Nevis clean.Minister responsible for Solid Waste, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, said the agency is a key component to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ waste separation programme based on the three Rs – “Re-use, Reduce, Recycle.”The aim is to transform the twin-island Federation into a zero-waste nation.Plastics are a key part of this strategy as Cabinet has agreed in principle to ban single-use plastics in the near future. Scrap metals…

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISSEMINATION As of yesterday, December 17, 2020 the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has confirmed twoadditional cases of coronavirus disease. These international travelers landed in St Kitts onDecember 12, 2020 from the United States of America (USA) and have been in quarantine at oneof the COVID-19 certified hotels since arrival in the Federation. The patients were duly notifiedand are in isolation.These additional cases bring the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases to 30 with 20cases for St. Kitts and 10 cases for Nevis . Please note that 24 cases have fully recovered withzero deaths. There…

The holiday season is upon us, amidst what has been the most deadly pandemic in a century. Our Caribbean Community (CARICOM), like the rest of the world, has been battered and bruised by the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, once again in the face of adversity, the strength of our unity shone forth. As we relax and reflect during this festive time, we must be thankful that we have been relatively successful in managing the health aspects of the pandemic with 1300 deaths across our Community, a comparatively low figure in the global context. I extend my…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The people-centered Team Unity Government of St. Kitts and Nevis this week continued what has become a longstanding tradition when Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris presented his administration’s sixth consecutive tax-free budget. TheTeam Unity Government was able to accomplish this feat, even during a time when all the world’s economy has been crippled by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the strong fiscal measures adopted over the last five years. Inpresenting his sixth tax-free Budget on Tuesday, December 15, Prime Minister Harris…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): The government is considering draft legislation from the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board that proposes the establishment of an Unemployment Insurance Fund. Minister of Labour, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, commended the Board for its efforts in this regard particularly during this time when the employment status of many persons are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.“Had we had that before COVID it might have eased our burden quite a bit,” Minister Phipps stated, on Thursday (December 17) during the Budget Debate. She noted that the government spent $120 million in stimulus support to…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Minister of Labour, Senator the Honourable Wendy Phipps, revealed in the National Assembly on Thursday, December 17 that to date, the Department of Labour has paid out close to $10 million dollars in severance payments to more than 900 claimants. MinisterPhipps made the revelation while lending her support to The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020. Ina detailed account of the work of the Department of Labour, the honourable minister stated that at the end of day on Monday, December 14, the department had received a total…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): The McKnight Community and other persons attending events at the Garden’s Sporting Complex will soon have an improved experience when renovation work on the facility is completed. Minister of Sports, the Honourable Jonel Powell, noted that work on the complex began this week and will include replacement of the roof, installation of new outdoor sports lights, and a complete paint job.Outdoor sporting facilities around the island will also be upgraded.During the Budget Debate, Minister Powell told the parliament on Friday (December 18, 2020) that more than $71,000 has been spent to date to upgrade the…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, during his maiden Budget Presentation in the Federal Parliament on December 18, 2020, said that all government primary schools in St. Kitts and Nevis now have Junior Savings Cooperatives.A Junior Savings Cooperatives is a saving programme where children can bank monies. Minister Evelyn said that young people are the future and it’s important to teach them about saving and how to grow their money.“We want to encourage thrift, savings and trust and community among the young people and that is why we want to start…