BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 25, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has moved to strengthen the Federation’s gaming industry and in doing so, protect the nation’s international reputation as a responsible member of the global community with the passing of the Gaming (Control) Bill, 2021.
The Gaming (Control) Bill, 2021 provides for the effective and comprehensive regulation of the Gaming Industry within Saint Christopher and Nevis and for other incidental matters. It calls for the establishment of a Gaming Commission which will replace the existing Gaming Board.
The second reading of the Bill was moved in today’s (Thursday, March 25) Sitting of the National Assembly by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
“Beyond compliance with our international obligations, the Bill seeks to regularize the gaming sector to capture and enhance operating principles for persons involved in the sector and to streamline existing provisions. The Bill, for example, seeks to provide greater certainty as it relates to the scope of the clientele. In that regard, the Bill aims to clarify those residents who can legally participate in gaming activities,” Prime Minister Harris said, while noting that the revamping of the legislation must be balanced against the promotion of responsible gaming.
According to the honourable prime minister, the moving of Gaming (Control) Bill, 2021 forms part of his Team Unity administration’s mandate of promoting good governance.
“The present legislative framework for the gaming sector Mr. Speaker provides for the establishment and operation of a Gaming Board and a Racing Commission. However, for several years both bodies have met with limited success in fulfilling their mandate of providing adequate regulation, licencing and supervision of the gaming sector. As a result Mr. Speaker, the sector needs reform to enable St. Kitts and Nevis to ensure compliance with international standards set by the FATF [Financial Action Task Force] and to safeguard the Federation from any possible financial crime which may emanate from the gaming sector,” the prime minister said.
The Gaming (Control) Bill, 2021 had its first reading on March 18, 2021.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 13, 2020 (SKNIS): The Miscellaneous Amendments (Financial Action Task Force) Bill, 2020, was successfully passed in the Honourable House on Thursday, August 13, 2020.
The Bill provides for the various amendments to facilitate the comprehensive implementation of measures to boost national security, strengthen investigative techniques and to foster greater coherence within the financial services sector on keeping with the requirement of the Financial Action Task Force and for related matters.
Mover of the Bill, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, said that the Bill is of significant importance, not just to St. Kitts and Nevis, but the wider region.
“We can consider this an ominous Bill and it provides for a number of amendments deemed necessary to conform with the FATF principles, thereby protecting our jurisdiction from exploitation by characters and maintaining our standard as a responsible member of the international community,” said Prime Minister Harris…
Mr. Speaker, we come before this Honourable House with a renewed commitment to monitor and ensure the soundness of the financial integrity of our jurisdiction, not just within the scope of our borders, but indeed we do so with a clear understanding of our role within the international community.”
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Vincent Byron Jr., outlined the intents of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
“The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combatting money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system,” said Minister Byron, adding that “all of the amendments form part of a coherent approach that we are dutifully bound to pursue.”
Also passed in the Honourable House was the Anti-Proliferation (Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction) Bill, 2020, a Bill to prevent, disrupt and criminalize the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
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