Author: SKNISEditor

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (SKNIS): On May 20, 2021, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Agricultural Studies Programme held its handing over ceremony for the donation of a Hydroponic Shade House. During brief remarks at the event, Minister of Education, Hon. Jonel Powell urged those present to continue their support for agriculture education in an effort to strengthen food security and economic diversification.“The events of the past year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic have really forced us to rethink our strategies, and perhaps ironically the first alternative that was present was agriculture…What we have before us…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (SKNIS): The National COVID-19 Task Force and by extension the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis were applauded by St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC) for the swift action to contain the spread of COVID-19 following the positive test result of a hotel worker with no history of travel. The 46th confirmed case of COVID-19 was identified on May 19, 2021, and immediately placed in isolation. A robust contact tracing exercise commenced identifying persons who interacted with the individual employed in the housekeeping department. Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws, noted…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs): A new Social Protection Policy for the Federation is currently being developed.The new policy, which will replace the last Social Protection Strategy (2013-2017), began being developed in August 2020 by Dr. David Cownie of the Social Impact Assessment and Policy Analysis Corporation (SIAPAC) – a Cayman Islands-based Consultant with over thirty-four (34) years experience in the social protection field.While Dr. Cownie has been unable to travel to the Federation due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, he was able to conduct several online interviews with local stakeholders late last year to gain initial…

New people continued to register. In January 119, February 113 & March 93 persons did so for a total of325 new registrants. Two thirds of all registrants were on St Kitts and the remainder was for Nevis.On St Kitts, 25.5% of the new people registered in Constituency # 1, while in Nevis, 50% of registrationswas in Constituency #11. Overall, the largest number of registrants, 55, was seen in Constituency #1followed closely by Constituency 11 with 54. For the last quarter of 2020, these two constituencieswere also the busiest.The lowest registrations took place in Constituency Nos 4 & 10, with 10…

The St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC) commends the swift response andactions taken by the authorities to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the Federation as a resultof the latest case which was identified yesterday by the Health Authorities. The Ministry of Health is engaged in a comprehensive contact tracing exercise to identify possiblecontacts of the latest positive case.In response to the announcement made by the CMO and acting on the advice of the Task Force, theCommissioner of Police has directed that effective immediately, all approved events are canceled untilfurther notice. We wish to implore and…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis through the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) announced on May 19, 2021, that one new case of COVID-19 was present on the island of St. Kitts. In a swift response to ensure the safety and security of residents and citizens of the Federation, the Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Mr. Abdias Samuel, announced that every effort is being made to contain the virus, which was contracted by a hotel worker with no recent travel history outside the Federation, so that the country doesn’t have to…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws says that the 20 persons identified as close contacts with the new COVID-19 case are in quarantine. Dr. Laws stated during the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing on May 20 that “the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis would have reported a total of 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the latest case, case 46 was identified yesterday (19 May).” “This individual is in stable condition and is in isolation,” she said. “The individual works in the housekeeping department at a local…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 21, 2021 (SKNIS): As the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis (DBSKN) commemorates it 40th Anniversary serving the federation, the May 20, 2021 edition of “Working For You” highlighted the Small Business Fund currently being offered by the financial institution as a means of supporting local businesses amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. “We have this ongoing fund in place for small and medium-sized businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each applicant can secure up to 100 thousand dollars at a five percent interest rate. We aim to main a sustained positive difference in the lives of our clients, so we must…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 20, 2021 (SKNIS): The Honourable Eric Evelyn, Minister of Environment and Cooperatives in the Federal Government is currently chairing the 8th Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability (COM: ES) which takes place virtually from May 20-21 under the theme “Unlocking a Green, Resilient and Inclusive Future for Eastern Caribbean SIDS” The Council of Ministers on Environmental Sustainability consists of all the ministers responsible for the environment in each of the OECS Member States, as well as the overseas territories which include Anguilla, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands. The Council…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 20, 2021 (SKNIS): Workers employed through the Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP) who have difficulty accessing loans from commercial financial institutions have received a lifeline from the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis (DBSKN). On the May 19, 2021, edition of Working for You, a caller to the programme cited that workers on the temporary job-attachment programme frequently face challenges when applying for loans at banks. Many are told that they are ineligible for a loan as their employment is not permanent. “Not so at Development Bank,” said Jasmine Irish, Operations Manager at the DBSKN. “That’s where we…