Author: SKNISEditor

Brasilia, 5 April 2021 (IICA). During the pandemic, international cooperation has played a decisive role in guaranteeing food security in Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries, which have been particularly hard hit by the disruption in tourism, the region’s main source of income. “The absence of tourists in the Caribbean has produced losses for farmers because tourists generate consumption and demand for agricultural products. Trinidad and Tobago also experienced a loss in income, due to the drop in the global energy demand and the resulting downturn in international energy prices”, said Clarence Rambharat, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Agriculture, Land…

San Jose, 31 March 2021 (IICA) – Ministers and secretaries of agriculture of fourteen Caribbean countries related some of the dramatic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region, listed new challenges in strengthening food production and emphasized the support that the Inter-America Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) had provided in the fight against food and nutritional insecurity in 2020 – a year that had crippled tourism, the engine, of Caribbean economies. The high-level authorities were participating in IICA’s virtual 2020 Regional Accountability Seminar, which gave an overview of the hemispheric organization’s actions to support the Caribbean productive sector. Announcements…

San Jose, 5 April 2021 (IICA). Supporting the development of science-based public policies to inform decision-making and strengthening the agriculture sector to ensure sustainability, productivity and the economic prosperity of producers in the rural Americas were the main objectives of an agreement between the Institute on Science for Global Policy (ISGP) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The agreement was signed between ISGP founder and Executive Director, George Atkinson, and the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero. Among the priorities of the agreement are the inclusion of young people in processes to design policies and to promote initiatives…

San José, 31 March 2021 (IICA). The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN) will strengthen knowledge exchange between the Americas and Africa to promote rural well-being, agricultural productivity, food security and the rational use of natural resources, by way of an agreement that will also foster dialogue between young Americans and Africans living in rural areas. These actions will be defined within the framework of a technical cooperation agreement signed by IICA, the international organization specialized in agricultural and rural development, and CSAYN, an organization of volunteers from Africa, Asia, the United…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 06, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will be receiving its share of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility later today, Tuesday, April 06, 2021.TheCOVAX Facility, to which St. Kitts and Nevis is a member, is a global effort co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).Officialsfrom the Ministry of Health have confirmed that the country will receive its full total of 21,600 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca…

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Monday, April 5, 2021. The University of the West Indies has secured an international grant of US$25 million, the largest in its history. United States’ Silicon Valley digital technology giant, Eon Reality, announced its partnership with The UWI that will assure the significant investment in Caribbean digital education and professional training. The grant will see Eon Reality, the global technology conglomerate, entering the Caribbean market as a post-COVID education development leader. The project is spearheaded by Dr Luz Longsworth, Principal of The UWI Open Campus and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global Affairs. A thought leader and planner…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 04, 2021 (SKNIS): Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris, has offered condolences to the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), H.E. Dr. Tsai Ing-wen and the Government and people of Taiwan on the recent tragic train accident. In a letter to the Taiwanese President, Prime Minister Harris said: “I have learned with profound sadness of the unfortunate train derailment between Hualien and Taitung with great loss of lives and injury to many others. My heart goes out to the families of those who have perished and…

April 4, 2021 My Fellow citizens and residents, Happy Easter to you. Easter is a very special time here in our Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the global Christian community, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The three days have quickly sped. It is also a time when we come together, with our family and with our friends, to draw strength from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter story teaches us that no matter how bad things may seem, our faith will always lead us to a new beginning. The Gospels…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 02, 2021 (RSCNPF): The Police are investigating the death of a 15-year-old boy from Crab Hill, Sandy Point. The incident occurred on Thursday, April 01, 2021. The Police responded to a report received at about 9 p.m. and visited the Sandy Point Basketball Court. Investigations so far have revealed that the juvenile and his friends were playing a game of basketball when a large tree fell on top of him. His friends managed to escape. He was transported via the Emergency Medical Service to the Pogson Medical Centre where he succumbed to his injuries. He was…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 03, 2021 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, sought to allay concerns about the time frame of the development of the COVID-19 vaccines, which has caused some hesitancy among individuals in getting the jab. At the March 31, 2021, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Briefing, Dr. Laws explained that efforts to develop a vaccine started many years ago. “In 2003, if you recall, we had the SARS Outbreak in Eastern countries and then in 2012, we experienced the MERS Outbreak. Now the SARS and the MERS were all caused by coronaviruses…