BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 23, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis moves towards realising Sustainable Development Goal Number Two, by ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture, a veteran farmer and educator is saying young farmers hold the key.
“Farmers are a special breed of people, and our job is a mandate that we have and that is to produce and provide available good quality food for the Nation,” said Mansion-based farmer Mr Winston Morris when he appeared as a panellist on the latest edition of Leadership Matters – A Virtual Forum Series on Tuesday April 20.
“We have been doing that for over a number of years and I know a number of young farmers who are trying to get into the business, and I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to (Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture) Mr Ron Collins and the Department of Agriculture to give them the chance,” noted Mr Morris.
Other panellists, with Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris on the hugely popular Leadership Matters programme on Tuesday, were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture et al, Mr Ron Collins; Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Tracy Challenger-Clarke; and Technical Specialist, St. Kitts and Nevis IICA Delegation, Ms Sharon Jones. The programme, on ZIZ Television and simultaneously broadcast over various platforms, was chaired by Ms Jacqueline Bryan.
“Sometimes we say ‘you are too young, you do not have any experience’, but how are they going to get experience if you do not give them the chance?” posed Mr Morris. “Speed up the action so that we can get the young farmers on the ground so that old folks like me can take a rest.”
Mr Morris, 70, who worked at the Ministry of Agriculture from 1971 to 1992 as a Propagation Technician and Extension Officer for both crops and livestock, was at one time the Livestock Officer responsible for Bayfords Dairy Farm, and subsequently Bayfords Dairies. He established the radio programme aired on ZIZ Radio ‘Agriscope’ in the late 1980s, which is still running today.
His passion for transferring agriculture information to young people dates back from the days he taught Agricultural Science and Biology at the Cayon High School from 1996 to 2010, a school where he also served as Deputy Principal for a number of years. He also taught at the Immaculate Conception Catholic School for three years covering Agricultural Science, Human and Social Biology and Integrated Science from 1st form to 5th form, where his efforts returned exceptional results at CXC CSEC level in all subjects.
Mr Winston Morris obtained honours degree in Agricultural Science from the University of the West Indies in 1983, and prior to that a diploma in Agriculture from the Jamaica School of Agriculture in 1975.
“As a teacher I taught young people farming – the farming business, the production side, the business side, and I would like to take some credit that most of the young farmers between Cayon and Saddlers they were my products, and I feel very good when I see them producing and doing really well,” said Mr Morris.
The veteran farmer and educator added: “I would always encourage them to do the right thing, and that is where leadership comes in. Some people are afraid to speak up and are afraid to give the young people a chance, and give them a leg-up and I am not one of those. I like to see young people strive – that is how the country strives.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2021 (SKNIS): Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ron Dublin-Collins, showed his appreciation to farmers, fisherfolk, and agro-processors on April 21 during the virtual forum series ‘Leadership Matters’ hosted by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
Mr. Dublin-Collins said, “I want to commend our farmers, our fishers, our agro-processors, for the tremendous work that they are doing to ensure that we can produce even at the level that we are at right now.”
“For those who are partnering with the Ministry and Department to improve production, we understand that the challenges are many; we have begun the process of addressing them,” he said. “We assure you that we will continue to work with you to address these challenges.”
“We see the realities of what is happening on the farm as we visit farm to farm and we realize the challenges with pests and every other area,” said Mr. Dublin-Collins.
“The Ministry assures you we will continue to raise our standard in terms of our service to you and for you with our extension services and the other inputs where the government can cushion the cost to make it easier for you,” he said.
“The work that you do is tremendous and there is no doubt about it. Officials who go out on the sea so often and risk their lives to ensure that we get fresh fish,” he said.
“From the reports that we received from our own lab here in terms of testing our foods, our food is safe, and it is of a high quality and we want to encourage people to support local,” said the permanent secretary.
“I want to commend all of you and to advise that we continue in this process of reform,” he said. “We believe together we can reform the agricultural sector and change the realities with our import bill and strengthen the financial position of our farmers, our fishers, and our agro-processors.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2021 (SKNIS): The global tourism industry is beginning to pick back up as more and more persons take a jab against the COVID-19.
Tourism officials in St. Kitts and Nevis are working tirelessly to boost stay-over visitors with emphasis placed on offering an authentic Kittitian experience. One suggestion that has been embraced by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris is having local food featured on the menu of hotels in the Federation.
The idea was proposed during the April 21 edition of Leadership Matters.
“There is no reason why you can’t have a local dish at least once per week as part of the menu. I think this is where we need to go. You must always find something local on every menu in every hotel in St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Harris stated.
The prime minister singled out Park Hyatt St. Kitts for being “tremendously helpful” to local producers, particularly fisher folk. The hotel features fresh local fish at Fisherman’s Village.
“I know a number of our local fisherfolk that bring produce to the Park Hyatt and I know that at the … ownership level of the hotel, they have a passion for supporting locals. I think we need to get every hotel into that mode,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin-Collins, also commended Rams Supermarket for supporting local fishers. He noted that an arrangement exists between crop farmers and several hotels that facilitates the purchasing of local produce.
The demand for local produce by hotels has decreased significantly as tourist arrivals have dropped drastically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The permanent secretary said he expects the arrangement to blossom again as global tourism rebounds.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 21, 2021 (SKNIS): Ron Dublin-Collins, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, said that the time has come for the agriculture sector in St. Kitts and Nevis to be enhanced and transformed into a more competitive and efficient industry.
“For us, this is a time of enhancement, a dispensation of transformation and an era of reform. We have embarked on a policy response that will comprise of increasing local production while concurrently reducing the importation of crop and livestock products,” said Mr. Dublin-Collins on the April 20 edition of Leadership Matters. “The COVID-19 crisis for us has stimulated a high degree of urgency and greatly fueled our focus to the need to enhance and transform our food agricultural system so as to achieve a greater degree of food self-reliance and reduce the food import bill…”
PS Dublin-Collins said that technology in farming can play a great role in adding value to the sector, as well as improving the Federation’s food security.
“Our vision speaks to the fact and to the view that our agriculture sector can be technologically driven, competitive, and market-oriented, and can contribute meaningfully to national development,” said the permanent secretary. “In light of our many realities, we have embraced a new vision for the agricultural sector and this vision sets out to enhance the agricultural sector so as to increase the production of food and to improve food security.”
Mr. Dublin-Collins noted that the ministry continues to work closely with stakeholders to generate growth within the industry.
“Over the last nine months, we have partnered with our stakeholders and we have strengthened our efforts to ensure that we stimulate greater economic growth in the agricultural sector through the development of a well-coordinated planning, and the implementation framework that is interactive and effective and involves the full participation of all stakeholders,” he said.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 21, 2021 (SKNIS): The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will be working closely with the Ministry and the Department of Agriculture in St. Kitts and Nevis to increase water efficiency in farming.
Sharon Jones, Technical Specialist with IICA, spoke about a new development project on Tuesday’s (April 20) edition of Leadership Matters – A Virtual Forum Series. It is designed to help the seasonal planting of crops. The seasonal planting of crops is becoming more challenging given the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions with less rainfall as a result of climate change.
“Some farmers at the beginning of March, April, had a very difficult time to get started because they did not have access to water,” Ms. Jones stated while referring to efforts to boost food production during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“The rainy season as you will remember started quite late last year so, July, August, were very dry, and then the rains really came towards the end of October to December. So, the predictiveness of rainfall is not as it was,” the IICA official indicated. What this does to farmers is that they are not able now to foresee and can’t go into production the way they would like to.”
When implemented, the project will boost farmers’ resiliency in water management by facilitating greater water storage and utilizing it more efficiently.
“You get more from the drop,” Ms. Jones added. “This is very important so that you are now able to plan which crops you will use at what period of time.”
Work is continuing on the project design and will be released later this year.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 21, 2021 (Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries & Marine Resources):
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources has been lauded for the success of Iits most recently held Agri Night in the Market initiative.
While appearing on the April 20 edition of Leadership Matters, Educator and well known farmer, Winston Morris congratulated the Ministry for successfully organizing the event and explained why he is pleased about the Night Market.
“I would like to congratulate the Department for hosting that because I have been a beneficiary of that process because a lot of my products were asked for and sold for that occasion so I feel glad. Continue to do it and do it more regularly, I believe it is better for all farmers because our stuff goes off like that so it really, really, really has been good. It really has been good”, Mr. Morris exclaimed.
In sharing the same sentiments, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris expressed his delight in hearing how the Agri Night Market has been widely advantageous to all agriculture stakeholders.
He said, “I too would want to commend the Department of Agriculture for this effort. I am very happy by what Winston has said that it has provided an additional avenue for farmers to earn a livelihood and therefore add to their take home pay if you will as a result of participation in agriculture. Not just those involved in the production of produce but those who go on to do some form of Agro processing; use the input whether fruits etcetera to bottle drinks or create the hot sauce etcetera, etcetera. It is a good cross section of persons who in fact benefits, so I also am encouraged by the reports and happy to hear one of our leading farmers speak well about it”.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin Collins said that the feedback from the Agri Night Market has been extremely positive and has influenced the decision to host the event on a regular basis.
“The attendance has been great, the vendors have participated [from] all different sectors. We had different stakeholders, we have had livestock, crop, we have had poultry. It has been a work in progress. The last one held last month, the numbers were tremendous. So what we are proposing to do is to have it the last Wednesday in every month”, he revealed.
Collins went on to explain that the initiative aims to increase the buying and selling of goods while also reviving use of the Basseterre Public Market. He announced that the Department of Agriculture will be meeting with vegetable and fruit vendors on Thursday April 22 to discuss what is being offered at the market and how they can be accommodated.
The 3rd edition of the Agri Night in the Market is scheduled for Wednesday May 26. Local produce, fresh fish and meat products will be available for purchase from 5pm-9pm.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 15, 2021 (SKNIS): As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to protect the health of citizens and residents and resuscitate the tourism-based economy, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, continues to advise the general public to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.
Prime Minister Harris made another pitch to the general public to get vaccinated during the virtual forum series ‘Leadership Matters’ on April 13.
“Our economy is driven, in a significant part, by tourism. Last year, we saw the serious impact that arises from having no tourists—our hotels closed, persons lost their jobs, our Severance Fund has unprecedented claims and the Federal Government has to supplement the Fund,” he said.“As part of our plan to protect your jobs and to protect our economy, we must ensure that our country is as ready as we can to welcome tourists.”
He added: “The more people who are vaccinated, the safer persons feel about travelling, studying, and investing in our country. It was our safety which brought MSR Productions here and with it, we will benefit from six movies. It is our safety that brought back 650 Ross University students.”
He said that it was imperative that adults 18 years and older get vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity so that the Federation’s economy can fully open up.
“It means more jobs can be created and more opportunities will arise, especially for our young people,” said Prime Minister Harris.
He said that nothing can be more concerning than having no jobs and putting oneself at risk for contracting COVID-19, saying that some persons are “playing political games, putting their own needs ahead of your health.”
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 14, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Processing of severance payments continues apace and according to Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, the number of staff at the Department of Labour has been increased and another shift has been added to allow for more claims to be paid in a more efficient timeframe.
Prime Minister Harris, who was responding to a caller on the popular Leadership Matters Programme on ZIZ Television on Tuesday April 13, pointed out that it has taken quite a bit of time on account of the sheer volume of displaced persons, and also on account of the fact that several of the employers had not paid up, which made it problematic for the Department of Labour to do justice to the claims.
“We have so far spent over $25 million on severance payments and the Fund basically, we have said repeatedly, has been depleted,” said Dr Harris. “It means that the majority of those recourses are coming from the Federal Government coffers.”
The Government is concerned and he observed that he would have raised the issue on the Leadership Matters Programme before where he would have indicated that at the Cabinet level, a decision had been undertaken to increase the number of staff members working at the Department of Labour and to add another shift so that more claims can processed in a more efficient timeframe.
“So all those things are happening and should be happening and in due course persons will get their due,” said Dr Harris.
While apologising to the affected workers for the delay, Prime Minister Harris advised that the delay has not been only at the level of the Department of Labour but has also been due to the negligence in some part of a number of employers who had not done right for their employees.
He urged every employee to be going to the Social Security at regular intervals and get printout of the contributions and payments made as that would allow them to know well in advance whether or not their employer is paying their contributions, and the portion deducted from their (employees’) wages.
“When then the difficulties are only discovered at the point when you are severed, of course some time will be lost,” noted Dr Harris. “But you can be proactive about it.”
He informed that at the Cabinet level they have asked that at regular intervals the Social Security should make the printouts available to every employee, to not wait until there is the ultimate event such as the severance being triggered for persons to then find out that their employers had not been paying to Social Security.
The Honourable Prime Minister stated that the Government is on a policy of expediting of claims, which also includes some persons who had not been appropriately documented, meaning they were working while not holders of work permits stamp, or they have had difficulties in getting regularised because they do not have the requisite police records.
“There have been other cases where persons, although they had been working and although they had some payments made, they were in fact not properly documented and those issues had to be addressed at the level of National Security,” said the Honourable Prime Minister.
According to Prime Minister Harris, Commissioner of Police Mr Hilroy Brandy “has introduced a policy of leniency when that information comes to him so that the person can get their status rectified and that also helps with the processing. All these things are happening simultaneously.”
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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, April 14, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – On a special edition of the popular programme, Leadership Matters, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris applauded the substantial and comprehensive efforts of ordinary citizens and residents to mobilise much needed support for the thousands of people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines affected by volcanic eruptions on the Caribbean island.
The La Soufrière volcano erupted on Friday, April 09, displacing more than 20,000 persons residing in the ‘danger zones’ who were forced to evacuate their homes.
“I am so pleased as the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis to acknowledge that in less than a week St. Kitts and Nevis has mobilized a substantial and comprehensive response to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Apart from my Government, the rest of the society has responded well,” Prime Minister Harris said on the virtual forum series on Tuesday, April 13.
Authorities here, through the coordination of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), are preparing to ship two containers filled with needed supplies to the neighbouring Caribbean territory.
Prime Minister Harris said, “Imagine, notwithstanding our small size, we could so quickly put a large quantity of food and non-food items identified by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on their list of needs including, baby food, water, feminine napkins, pampers etc.”
These items are in addition to the comprehensive humanitarian package announced by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis over the weekend to assist St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Government’s package includes financial assistance in the sum of EC $1 million to assist with the evacuation and resettling of citizens and residents from the danger zone; welcoming up to 300 evacuees to the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis; providing human resources through the Regional Security System (RSS) recruited from St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to support humanitarian, technical and peace-keeping efforts on the ground in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and contributing US $20,000 towards the Special Emergency Assistance Fund of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in order to bring immediate relief to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and support its logistical operations.
“I want to thank all persons on St. Kitts and Nevis who have supported this major humanitarian response. We collectively are being a blessing to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We offer hope to them that they are not alone,” Prime Minister Harris said.
The Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, has since reached out to Prime Minister Harris to express gratitude to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as the citizens and residents for their strong show of solidarity “during this very challenging situation facing us here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 7, 2021 (SKNIS): Medical Chief of Staff at the JNF General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, says the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis is aiming for a full reopening in October of 2021.
He said this on April 6 during the virtual forum series ‘Leadership Matters’ hosted by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris
Dr. Wilkinson said, “The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has done exceedingly well in the fight against COVID-19, and we are grateful that to date we have had no major hospitalisations nor deaths from the virus.”
“As you move towards the full reopening sometime in October, we can expect the virus to return and re-enter our communities,” he added.
“The difference now compared to the early days in the fight is that we have a vaccine available that can protect us,” he said. “We understand the hesitancy of some due in part by the misunderstanding or the misinformation.”
Dr. Wilkinson congratulated “the near 10,000 persons who stepped forward and did the right thing and got their first shot taking us to nearly 30% of the target population.”
He encouraged the population to continue to do the right thing outlining that the vaccine is free, highly efficacious and effective, a lifesaver, safe, and protective of those around you and the vulnerable.
He said also that the Federation needs 70-90% of the population to be vaccinated to protect the Federation’s health systems, keep the population financially strong, help to prevent fake news, and get back to normalcy in the quickest way possible.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 07, 2021 (SKNIS): Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Racquel Brown, said that being vaccinated is necessary in order to open a doorway of opportunities within the tourism sector in St. Kitts & Nevis.
Ms. Brown, during her concluding remarks on the April 06 edition of Leadership Matters, noted that it is realistic for all to understand that stay over tourism and film are opportunities for the destination to be showcased.
“There is a range of opportunities, however, no matter what the opportunity is, we need to have the vaccination. That is the only way we are going to allow persons to come into the Federation and to remain safe,” said Ms. Brown. “We have to stop and think about the health of our nation. We also have to think about how we are going to rebuild tourism and rebuilding tourism has always started with the vaccination process because we have seen how difficult it has been over the last year.”
CEO Brown hailed the success of the vaccination programme since its rollout in February 2021, noting that St. Kitts and Nevis is progressing well.
“It is interesting that there are many Caribbean nations who would love to have the vaccination quotas that we have, and we may be refusing to take the vaccine whereas they are struggling, and they need vaccines. So, we are very blessed in St. Kitts and Nevis because for the past year we have had no deaths, no community spread,” she said.
She added that to get to the point of reopening, to earn a living, or to restart earning, vaccination is important.
“The vaccination process is going to help us as a nation to be healthy. It helps us to have a resistant population; it helps us to not have to worry about persons having to go to the hospital; it doesn’t place any stress on our health system and it allows us not having to deal with those issues to have a healthy society,” said Ms. Brown.
She encouraged persons who are having doubts to come forward and be educated on the importance of being vaccinated. She also encouraged them to think about their children and of tomorrow as the COVID-19 virus will be around for a very long time.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 07, 2021 (SKNIS): Persons receiving a jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to bring along a friend or two, who are also willing to get vaccinated to avoid delays at health centers across the Federation.
One vial of the vaccine is used to provide 10 jabs. Given the limited global supply and rising demands, local health officials are mindful to carefully manage the vaccines.
“We really do not want to waste any of the doses, and so I want to recommend that if you are coming for your vaccine bring nine other persons with you,” Dr. Laws stated on the April 06, 2021 edition of the virtual forum series Leadership Matters.
St. Kitts and Nevis received a donation of 2,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Dominica on February 11, 2021. This was administered primarily to frontline workers. On March 01, an additional 20,000 doses were added to the national supply following a generous donation from India. Of that 20, 000 vaccines, 2,000 were given as a gift to Grenada.
As of last evening, Dr. Laws said that 9,774 first doses were administered to individuals. In St. Kitts, 7,325 persons have received a jab while, in Nevis, the number is 2,449.
Another 21,600 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived in St. Kitts today, April 07, 2021. The supply was purchased from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility.
“The vaccines are free to the people in the Federation, but they come at a high cost,” Dr. Laws stated.
The Chief Medical Officer encouraged persons to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect persons from getting severely ill or dying from COVID-19.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 10, 2021 (SKNIS): Appearing on the virtual forum “Leadership Matter’s on March 09, 2021, Minister of Health et al, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, highlighted the significant role that women play in leading the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Minister Byron-Nisbett said that all women should have a future that is sustainable, peaceful, and with equal rights and opportunities for all.
She said that everyday amazing work is being done by powerful women across St. Kitts and Nevis and within her own Constituency #3, from opening new businesses to leading the communities.
“While we recognize the women in leadership across the world on International Women’s Day we must also remember the women in our own communities that are achieving an equal future here in St. Kitts and Nevis, some of whom are sitting here this evening,” she said while referring to the other leading women on the panel. These women included the Honourable Hazel Brandy- Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA); Giselle Mathews, President of St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Patricia Walters, CEO of The Cable.
Minister Byron-Nisbett said that she is proud to be part of a government that is committed to true equality for women in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there were more jobs and more opportunities for women in the Federation, particularly for our young women, said Minister Byron-Nisbett.
“There were more women in work than at any time in our recent history,” she said. “Yes, COVID did set our economy back, but we are rebuilding and we are rebuilding strongly.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Women in Leadership –Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” She said that women of St. Kitts and Nevis have played a leading role in our Federation’s fight against COVID-19 “which is why we have been so successful in our management and response to the pandemic.”
“Our Chief Medical Officer is a woman; our Financial Secretary is a woman; our Cabinet Secretary is a woman; our nurses, frontline workers, carers, all these occupations are made up predominantly of women.”
She noted that it is their leadership and commitment on the frontline that is keeping the Federation safe.
The Minister stated that while the Federation has made a start on making a more equal society where everybody has the opportunity to succeed, there is still much more to be done.
“As we look to build a stronger, safer future for St. Kitts and Nevis, we can only achieve this with the talents, the experience, and the ambition of our strong women here in our Federation,” she said. “As Minister of Health, ICT, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, and Talent Development, I am committed to ensuring that our women have every opportunity to lead our nation to a brighter future.”
The minister gave sound advice to women across the Federation.
“Women, this is time for us to put our hands up and stand up and take our seat at the table. Bring your own chair if you have to, but it’s time for us to take a stand; it’s time for us to do our part,” she said.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 10, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – With the observations associated with International Women’s Day continuing in St. Kitts and Nevis and around the world, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said he is proud of the twin island Federation’s celebrated history with the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.
Prime Minister Harris was at the time speaking on a special Women’s Day edition of Leadership Matters on Tuesday, March 09, in which he was joined by four distinguished women in leadership positions.
The prime minister said, “The role played, and the contributions made by and of women in our St. Kitts and Nevis are irremovable from our place as the best run, best managed small island state anywhere in the world; and one of the best places to live on this planet.”
International Women’s Day 2021 was observed on Monday, March 08. This year’s theme is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”
In recognition of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Harris highlighted the contributions of a number of outstanding women in St. Kitts and Nevis such as Dame Constance Mitcham, who was the first woman elected to the National Assembly in 1984.
“It has been a standard of St. Kitts and Nevis to have women, not just involved, but leading, at the highest levels in all areas of our national development,” Dr. Harris said.
The prime minister singled out a number of other trailblazers in St. Kitts and Nevis including Edris Lewis – Designer of the National Flag; Mercelyn Hughes – first female Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and first female Chief Immigration Officer; Meritza Williams – World Junior Silver Medalist; H. E. Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne – Ambassador to the United States of America; Virgil Hodge – Olympian and National Record Holder; Dawne Williams – former CEO of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Group; H. E. Shirley Skerrit-Andrew – St. Kitts-Nevis’ first resident High Commissioner to Canada; Jennifer Nero – former Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; Elsa Wilkin-Ambrister – former Vice Consul at the Consulate of St. Kitts and Nevis in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) presently serving at the St. Kitts and Nevis High Commission in the UK; and H.E. Verna Mills – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to Cuba.
“The achievements, advancement, and contributions of women in our twin island paradise is pleasantly storied. The story continues to get better. Over the past year we have seen a young woman elected to our National Assembly as the Representative for Constituency 3 (West Basseterre); a woman crowned National Calypso Monarch for the second year running; a woman elected for the first time as Leader of a National Political Party. Congratulations are in order for them in and of themselves, but indeed for all of us a people and Nation,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Prime Minister Harris was joined on the special edition of Leadership Matters by Minister of Health et al, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett; Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration, the Honourable Hazel Brandy-Williams; CEO of The Cable, Ms. Patricia Walters, and President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mrs Giselle Matthews.
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