Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 15th 2021 (ZIZ News) Residents in Caribbean territories, including St. Kitts and Nevis, are being reminded of the possibility of storms, with a new 30-year “average” being introduced.
Meteorologists at the Colorado State University are predicting an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
Locally, national coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency says to keep your guard up.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), it will now be using a new set of data to compare tropical activity of a season to ‘average.’
Past averages were 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
Starting this year The new average is 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes. The average for major hurricanes – categories 3 to 5 – has remained at 3.
By keeping track of the climatological data and updating records, the NOAA says it is better able to determine if a hurricane season will be above-, near- or below-average. Updating the “average” occurs once every decade.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 14, 2021 (SKNIS): Two shipping containers of supplies from St. Kitts and Nevis left the Federation on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) to support disaster relief efforts in St. Vincent in the Grenadines, as the country grapples with continued eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano.
The volcano first erupted on Friday (April 09, 2021), forcing the evacuation of some 20,000 people from communities in the danger zone.
On Tuesday’s edition of the Leadership Matters programme, National Disaster Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdias Samuel, explained that 264 contributions of food, non-perishable items, personal hygiene kits, and other supplies were donated to assist persons in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The contributions are valued at $150,000.
The information posted on the official NEMA SKN Facebook Page noted that two shipping containers were “packed to capacity” and were shipped on Tuesday. The support is commendable given that the call for donations was made on Saturday (April 10).
Mr. Samuel indicated that the business community responded favourably to the call for donations. Chief among them was the Rams Group of Companies that donated $40,000 worth of food and relief supplies. He also commended O. D. Brisbane and Sons (Trading) Ltd, Tropical Shipping, and Carib Brewery (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd.
“Equally so, I must recognize the ordinary citizens who came to NEMA and made their contribution,” Mr. Samuel stated.
St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society was also praised by the top disaster official for its outstanding volunteer support.
Residents who were unable to contribute to the initial relief drive can still donate. NEMA officials are organizing a second donation drive. Additional information can be obtained by telephone at 466-5100.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 06, 2021 (SKNIS): Kittitian Hill, a hotel resort located at Belle Mont Farm, which is set among 400 acres of organic farmland and the lush forests at the foothills of Mount Liamigua in St. Paul’s, is offering “staycation” for citizens and residents living on St. Kitts and on Nevis.
Director of the National Emergency Operations Centre, Abdias Samuel, informed the Cabinet that Kittitian Hill was approved for “staycation”.
A staycation is defined as a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
Kittitian Hill is not offering vacation in place for international travellers, as was stated by error in the Post-Cabinet briefing of Monday, February 1, 2021.
However, locals and visitors alike who would have travelled to the country and cleared the 14-day quarantine period can also take advantage of the “staycation”.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 28, 2021 (SKNIS): Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis are sounding the alarm about the false sense of security that has seemingly set in with some members of the public letting down their guard with respect to the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Superintendent of Police Cromwell Henry said that the Police have observed a growing sense of complacency in some persons who attend public events without wearing a face covering. This has been witnessed in some businesses, and on public transportation in contravention of the COVID-19 (Prevention and Control) Act.
“We want to remind you that provisions of the COVID-19 Act of 2020 which require persons to wear face masks when in public is still in effect. Penalties are still in effect, and so we beseech persons to comply with this particular provision,” Superintendent Henry said during the National Emergency Operations Centre Weekly COVID-19 Briefing on January 27, 2021.
Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, shared similar concerns during his presentation. He recalled going into a business place and being horrified that most persons were not wearing face masks.
“Those careless acts must not be the order of the day for any of us,” Mr. Samuel stated.
He added that wearing face masks “is one of the key things that will assist us in containing the spread of the virus and protecting you and others around you.”
The chairman referred to the current scenes playing out in some neighbouring islands where some have returned to extended curfews and long shopping lines because of a spike in cases of the COVID-19.
“We remember in our early days in March (2020) when we had to go through that same process, and we have vowed that St. Kitts and Nevis will not go back into those. However, we need the citizens to enhance their surveillance and vigilance of our borders, and communities,” Chairman Samuel indicated, as he called for compliance with the laws of the land.
He reminded that there are several penalties for breaching the COVID-19 (Prevention and Control) Act of 2020 available to law enforcement and the COVID-19 Compliance Task Force. He warned that officials are prepared to act in the interest of public safety.
“Our population is very small, and we have to protect it at all costs,” Mr. Samuel expressed.
Health authorities strongly encourage all citizens and residents to wear face coverings in public spaces; maintain a distance of 3.5 to 6 feet from others; avoid large gatherings; frequently sanitize hands and boost their immune system.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 28, 2021 (SKNIS): Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force in St. Kitts & Nevis, said there is a need to begin the public education campaign on COVID-19 vaccinations in the country while indicating that he will lead by example in taking the jab.
Mr. Samuel welcomed the continued roll-out of vaccines designed to fight COVID-19 during Wednesday’s (January 27, 2021) National Emergency Operations Centre Weekly COVID-19 Briefing.
“We need to begin the campaign to educate persons that the vaccines are safe for us to take,” he said, during the briefing. “… We need to take the vaccine. For now, the vaccines and the non-pharmaceutical measures are the only things that will take us to a state of normalcy,” said Mr. Samuel
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Hazel Laws, speaking also at the briefing, highlighted the three main COVID-19 vaccines that are being administered to populations around the world. These are the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Moderna vaccine, and the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.
Chairman Samuel encouraged persons to pay attention to the science and advice from credible experts and doctors rather than myths circulating online about the vaccines.
“I’m encouraging all to debunk all the negativity surrounding the vaccines, and let us prepare as a nation to take the vaccine when it comes and to support our health professionals in this regard,” he expressed.
It is expected that St. Kitts and Nevis will have access to the vaccines in the second quarter of 2021. The Federation has signed on to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) and will receive enough vaccines to cover 20 percent of the population in the initial stages.
CMO Laws and Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, have stated that they are willing to take the jab publicly to help put resident’s minds at ease about the vaccine.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 30th, 2020 (ZIZ News) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been monitoring the developing situation at the Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent, through contact with the National Emergency Management Organization there.
This according to National Disaster Coordinator at NEMA Abdias Samuel who said contact has also been made to member states of the Caribbean Disaster management Agency (CDEMA).
“I’ve also been in communication with CDEMA and our wider CDEMA member states as the regional response mechanism has been placed on the alert. What that means is all the necessary branches that make the regional response mechanism work, has been placed on the alert to be able to respond if it becomes necessary to do so,” he said.
He further noted, “The Attorney General Hon. Vincent Byron Jr. as the chair of the Ministerial Council for CDEMA, has been in close dialog with the executive director of CDEMA Elizabeth Riley who has notified him of the intent of CDEMA to mobilize if necessary to assist with the evacuation of any citizen that may be under any threat of the eruption.”
Mr. Samuel noted that Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris has reached out to Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and expressed the federation’s intent to give support to the country if the need arises.
He outlined what that support may entail.
On Tuesday, a warning was issued for La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as officials reported tremors, strong gas emissions, formation of a new volcanic dome and changes to its crater lake.
According to Mr. Samuel approximately 16 to 20 thousand residents will need to be evacuated if there is a major eruption.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 24, 2020 (SKNIS): Abdias Samuel, Chair of the National COVID-19 Task Force, appealed to all travelers arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis to upload certified and accurate test results and other pertinent information to knatravelform.kn for smooth processing of their online immigration and customs forms, as well as entry into the Federation.
“Persons are uploading receipts and things that cannot be verified and that will not be accepted. Please ensure that when you upload your test it verifies everything – the lab, the location of the lab, and the information…,” said Mr. Samuel during a special National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing on November 24, 2020.
Mr. Samuel said that persons who are using home kit testing and others will not be accepted.
“The Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction [Laboratory Based Molecular Test] is what will be accepted and not any rapid test or any other type of test. It is very important that you do so and if you do not do so and there is no means of verifying these tests your application will not be processed.”
He noted that persons who are uploading incorrect information are putting others at risk.
“We are seeing a number of irregularities as it regards to the approval process where persons are attempting to circumvent the system with uploading wrong test, wrong information and doing other things in order for them to travel,” he said. “You are jeopardizing the travelers who are travelling with you, you are jeopardizing the country at large and everybody else that you come into contact with. We are appealing to everyone who wants to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis to do so and do so the right way.”
He reiterated that the right way is to visit knatravelform.kn and follow the requirements.
Mr. Samuel thanked the team responsible for the vetting process and noted that they are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that travelers understand the requirements.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 21, 2020 (SKNIS): Package deliveries to persons while they are in quarantine are allowed but are guided by strict protocols to ensure that undesirable and illegal items are not smuggled into designated facilities.
At the November 18, COVID-19 briefing, Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, said that all items must be securely packaged and properly labelled. The label must include the name of the person it is intended for and the room number. The items must also be thoroughly inspected by the security officers on site.
“The officers are asked to check all bags and containers or packages that are brought to the quarantine site,” Mr. Samuel stated, noting that the aim is to prevent the importation of any type of contraband.
The chairman shared that some individuals are very confrontational with the authorities when they request to inspect a package.
“We have seen where persons are actually getting aggressive. They are verbally insulting our quarantine officers when the officer simply asks to open the bag to see what’s inside so that no contraband goes into the quarantine site,” Chairman Samuel said.
He appealed for “all to cooperate” with the officers and comply with the safety protocols.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 19, 2020 (SKNIS): Businesses and enterprises in St. Kitts and Nevis are strongly encouraged to develop robust capacity rotation plans to ensure social distancing and limit congestion during the Discounted Value Added Tax (VAT) Rate Days slated for December 18 and 19, 2020.
“I would encourage the development, a rotation, a plan to ensure social and physical distance, and reducing the crowded spaces. This is going to be very critical going forward,” said Abdias Samuel, Chair of the National COVID-19 Task Force on the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing for November 18, 2020. “We know that some businesses will see some high volume of persons entering their businesses for shopping and as such, we have to limit this in some way.”
Mr. Samuel encouraged businesses to reach out to the National COVID-19 Task Force for assistance if necessary.
Businesses are also asked to follow all other health and safety protocols that were established to keep everyone safe.
“I am appealing to the business places to develop a plan. It will be critically important for you to develop a plan as per sanitization and the process of ingress [enter] and egress [exit] from your enterprise,” he said. “We also have to look at the security component of the business – how would you deal with traceability, who comes in and who goes out, how long persons will remain inside of your enterprise or business and how do we safely carry out physical and social distancing. And equally so, how would you safeguard your staff, and workers during such a time.”
Consumers are also encouraged to play their part, adhere to all protocols, and assist businesses to effectively carry out their rotation plan.
“One of the discussions we had with one of the major business places is persons who like to come in and just socialize rather than shop, and at this point, you have to take that responsibility in ensuring that you don’t go there to socialize but rather you go to do business and leave,” said Mr. Samuel
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 22, 2020 (SKNIS): The COVID-19 Compliance Task Force received strong commendations from local emergency officials for its hard work and unwavering commitment in executing its duties.
The compliance task force is made up of officers from Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. The team visits public and private sector institutions and other organizations, inspects public transportation vehicles, and other public areas and events to assess adherence to the health and safety protocols designed to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, highlighted the work of the compliance team at Wednesday’s (October 21) National Emergency Operations Centre Briefing. He noted that over the weekend, the team visited a social event and found that organisers were in breach of the agreed health and safety stipulations.
“They gave the necessary cautions [and] advised what was needed. However, the host decided to [continue to] violate the terms and conditions given … and hence the necessary actions were taken,” Mr. Samuel said.
The result saw an early closure of the event in the interest of public safety.
“Let this be a warning to all. We are moving forward in opening our borders. We are doing everything to begin to normalize a way of life again in St. Kitts and Nevis, however, cooperation is needed,” Chairman Samuel stated.
Event organisers, business owners and others in society are strongly advised to abide by all of the COVID-19 health and safety protocols. These include having hands sanitized, wearing facemasks and socially distancing up to 3.5 feet among other recommendations.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14, 2020 (RSCNPF): National Disaster Coordinator, Abdias Samuel, educated the Island Constables on how their roles have evolved as a result of the changes to be put in place in preparation for the opening of the borders. He spoke to them during a session he facilitated on Tuesday, October 13 as part of a 2-week refresher course currently taking place at the Police Training School.
Mr. Samuel told the Island Constables about the new processes that will be rolled out at the RLB International Airport for persons arriving in the Federation and the “corridor of containment” which monitors the flow of people from the port of entry to where they will be staying for their vacation. It was designed to aid in contact tracing and controlling the movement of the persons arriving on island. He explained that travellers to the Federation will have to complete an online entry form and wait for permission from the Ministry of National Security. Mr. Samuel disclosed that upon arrival, persons will go through an extensive screening process and possible testing before they are allowed to leave the airport to be transported by COVID-19-certified taxis to approved hotels or quarantine sites on the island.
He also went through the quarantine sites and the four hotels (Marriott, Park Hyatt, Four Seasons and Koi Resort) that will be opening to visitors. He said that persons coming to the island from high risk countries will vacation-in-place at these hotels and will be offered limited excursion packages.
He urged the Island Constables to be on their guard and to safeguard themselves from possible exposure. He said “when they go to these places, we need vigilance [with] these persons so they don’t do anything to compromise or jeopardize our status. This is where the compliance comes in, so you need to be the eyes and ears for us to be able to see these individuals.”
“If we do not do our part and St. Kitts-Nevis starts to see a big outbreak, then we are going back into lock down,” said the National COVID-19 Task Force Chair, who went on to note that space and time are the Federation’s best weapons in the fight against the pandemic.
As the country prepares for the reopening of the borders, the role of these officers will be vital in ensuring that persons act in accordance with the regulations that are in place.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 02, 2020 (SKNIS): The inclement weather generated by the passage of a series of tropical waves over St. Kitts and Nevis over the past few days caught many residents off guard.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Federation experienced severe thunderstorms throughout the morning with sporadic rainfall throughout the day. The following day (Thursday), residents raised concern about high wind gusts that broke tree branches and caused minor damages.
National Disaster Coordinator, Abdias Samuel, said that he received many telephone calls early on Wednesday and Thursday from residents who questioned if work or school was cancelled on those specific days.
He said that the weather activity was forecast in advance and alerts were issued publicly via the media and on social media.
“It’s important for the general public to remain updated. NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) has been providing information on time, real-time as it is provided to us by the Met (meteorological) offices,” Mr. Samuel stated.
He added that the information can be accessed online via NEMA’s Facebook Page as well as the website www.nema.kn.
The information is also shared with private sector entities and other key stakeholders such as the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority.
The forecast is for a wet weekend in St. Kitts and Nevis.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 11, 2020 (SKNIS): Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis will step up enforcement of the legal requirement for facemasks to be worn by individuals when in public.
Superintendent of Police Cromwell Henry noted that some persons have been playing cat and mouse with law enforcement – putting on their masks when police are nearby and then taking it off when the officers leave the area.
Abdias Samuel, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, said the time for action is now as preparations are ongoing for a phased reopening of the border in October.
“We started with education, advising you to wear your mask, and then we moved on to enforcement,” Mr. Samuel stated. “They mean business now and … by next week when the police start to issue the $500 tickets for not wearing the masks, I hope there is not a public outcry.”
The chairman added that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States had designated St. Kitts and Nevis as a destination with a “very low risk” of COVID-19 transmission. He added that officials would continue to work hard to flatten the curve of the novel coronavirus in the coming weeks and months but added that everyone must play their part.
The call is for everyone to practise proper hand hygiene, maintain social distancing and to wear facemasks when in public areas.
These measures are outlined in the Saint Christopher and Nevis Statutory Rules and Orders No. 39 of 2020 Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 14) Regulations. This means that they are not just advice from health officials, but they are the laws of the land.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 3, 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
A policy has been put in place to allow returning nationals wanting to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis to apply for pre-approved home quarantine.
At the September 2 edition of the NEOC daily briefing, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Abdias Samuel, revealed that pre-approved home quarantine site applications will now be accepted.
He explained the process which he says begins when persons contact the COVID-19 Taskforce via email.
“All you have to do now is apply to the Taskforce via the COVID-19 email address which is covid19taskforce@gov.kn. After that, an inspection will be done on the property. After the inspection is done, you will then have to reach out to the office of the Commissioner of Police for the security that will be prescribed to you which you have to contract and that will be at your cost. After that is done, then you will be given the necessary permissions to utilize the particular facility”, he said.
Returning nationals and residents on charter flights are the only persons currently allowed to enter the island.
Every traveller is tested before arriving in the country and again immediately after entry. A 14-day mandatory quarantine in a government-designated facility follows and then another test on the 14th day.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 27, 2020 (SKNIS): The National COVID-19 Task Force and the administration at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) expect to strengthen a successful quarantine, monitoring and testing programme for students returning from abroad to continue their studies.
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Abdias Samuel, said that over 150 RUSVM students and faculty will return to St. Kitts on September 02, 2020. They will undergo a similar programme of quarantine and testing that was implemented in July when 124 RUSVM students returned to the island.
The students were tested and had to have a positive result before entering the island. Upon arrival, they were tested again and were placed in mandatory quarantine for 14-days at facilities on the university compound. The quarantine area was guarded by school security as well as law enforcement to ensure that there were no breaches. All students were tested at the end of the quarantine period. Each returned a negative RT-PCR test, and they were allowed to integrate into society.
“We are going to be working with the Ross University to ensure that the process that was applied before is strengthened and is applied more effectively,” Mr Samuel said at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
Mr Samuel thanked the RUSVM for its ongoing commitment to follow the national guidelines and protocols relating to the coronavirus.
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