PM Harris announces extension of state of emergency and COVID-19 regulations

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 8, 2020 (Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister): In his important address to the nation yesterday, Tuesday, April 7^th, 2020, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, announced that both the State of Emergency and the COVID-19 Regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act would be extended.

The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis reminded the public that on Friday, March 27^th, His Excellency, the Governor General, Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton proclaimed a State of Emergency in St. Kitts and Nevis, beginning March 28^th and continuing to April 11^th “on the grounds of the threat of a natural calamity of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Prime Minister said in his national address last night that, “At the time [on March 27^th], St. Kitts and Nevis had had two (2) confirmed cases of COVID-19.”

Prime Minister Harris further stated that, “Yesterday, Monday, 6^th April, the Cabinet of Ministers was informed that eleven (11) persons have been tested positive in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Prime Minister Harris added: “On the advice of Cabinet, I have asked His Excellency, the Governor General to extend the State of Emergency currently in place to Saturday, 18^th April and to extend Regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act.”

The Prime Minister continued: “The St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution provides that a declaration of emergency shall lapse at the expiration of twenty-one (21) days, beginning with the date of publication of the declaration.  Saturday, 18^th April will be 21 days since the State of Emergency was proclaimed on the 28^th of March.”

The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis also announced that a total 24-hour curfew or lockdown would be in effect from tomorrow, Thursday, April 9^th at 7:01pm up to Thursday, April 16^th at 6:00am.

Prime Minister Harris said this means, during the lockdown, “No one should be away from their residence unless he or she has a special exemption as an essential worker or has a pass or permission from the Commissioner of Police.”