Author: SKNISEditor

Tuesday, 21 November 2023 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown): Ministers responsible for gender affairs and equality from CARICOM Member States and Associate Members are currently reviewing the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Strategy, “Stepping It Up: A Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality in the Caribbean Community”, during the Forty-Sixth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Gender. The Meeting, which is being convened on 20-21 November 2023 in Barbados, reaffirms Member States’ commitment to gender equality with the overarching goal of providing a strategy that holistically addresses the issue. UN partners under the Regional Spotlight Caribbean Programme, including UN Women…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 – The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is delighted to announce that our E-Government Portal as a part of our new Tax Administration System, SMARTS (Smart Modernized Administration for Revenue and Taxation System), is scheduled to go live on January 23rd, 2024. This development represents a significant leap forward in our ongoing commitment to delivering a more efficient and user-friendly tax experience for all stakeholders. SMARTS is purposefully designed to simplify and enhance the entire tax process, ensuring it is more intelligent, accessible, and efficient. We encourage all taxpayers to take note…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): In a significant move to bolster its transformative good governance agenda, the Federal Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis successfully passed two crucial pieces of legislation: the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, and the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023. According to Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, both Bills, which underwent their first readings on May 25th, 2023, mark the fourth and fifth legislative steps taken by the government in its commitment to enhance transparency and accountability within its operations. “Today, Madame Speaker, I am…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): In a landmark session on Monday, November 20, 2023, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, successfully led the debate on the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023. The Bill, which focuses on preventing leaks of sensitive government information, was passed following extensive discussion in Parliament. The Bill addresses a critical issue in the civil service – the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government information. It establishes clear boundaries for government employees and contractors regarding the handling of confidential data, ensuring that such information is not stored in…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): The Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, aimed at safeguarding individuals who report illicit activities within the public service, was successfully passed into law at the Sitting of Parliament on Monday, November 20, 2023, marking a significant stride in the government’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability. The Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023, defines a whistleblower as an individual who exposes any kind of information or activity deemed illegal or corrupt within an organization, particularly in the public sector. The primary objective of this legislation is to provide these individuals with the necessary protection to…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of State responsible for Gender Affairs, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, used the national platform offered by the Federal Parliament to reiterate a strong condemnation against all forms of violence, particularly against society’s most vulnerable. The statement on Monday, November 20, 2023, was made in light of a recent act of violence perpetrated against senior citizen Jason “King Pharaoh” McClean. Mr. McClean was returning home from the inaugural Seniors’ Prom organized by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Ageing and Disabilities on November 10, 2023, when he was attacked. Minister of State Phillip, who is also a Senator in the Parliament, said Mr. McClean is…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 17, 2023 (SKNIS): A mural advocating for an end to domestic violence in St. Kitts and Nevis will be unveiled on November 27, 2023, as the Department of Gender Affairs prepares to observe 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. The mural will be painted on the wall along Pond Road in Newtown. It will depict the aftermath of physical abuse on a female. Senior Gender Officer Shinnel Charles said that having a visual representation of the effects of domestic violence will be impactful. “I don’t think that we have any murals in our country that depict…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS) – Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew moved two key legislative amendments in the National Assembly today, (November 20, 2023), that are critical to the buildout of a robust medicinal cannabis industry in the Federation. The Cannabis (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Medical (Amendment) Bill, 2023, both had their second reading in the National Assembly and successfully passed. The Cannabis Act was amended to transfer the responsibility of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority from the Prime Minister to the Minister responsible for Agriculture and also to increase the…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): In an announcement during the November 20, 2023, Sitting of Parliament, Honourable Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, unveiled plans for the second annual Community Cleanse. This initiative is a significant step in promoting environmental health and sustainability throughout St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Clarke touched briefly on the expanded scope and participation of this initiative. She noted that building on the success of the first cleanse, this year’s event is set to be bigger and better. The Ministry, along with the Ministry of Health, Parks…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 20, 2023 (SKNIS): The Honourable Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, during the November 20 Sitting of Parliament, provided a comprehensive update on her Ministries’ recent activities and achievements in promoting sustainable development across St. Kitts and Nevis. This November, the Ministry of Sustainable Development is celebrating Sustainability Month, a significant initiative recognizing the joint efforts of multiple ministries including Tourism, Youth, and Energy. This collaboration underscores the government’s holistic approach to sustainability, demonstrating the interconnectedness of various sectors in achieving sustainable development goals. Additionally, the launch of the…